UK SIM card

[gerryh]

I'm after a UK SIM card to use here in Spain in addition to my Spanish SIM card.
It is sometimes handy to have a UK telephone number
Any recommendation for a UK SIM card?
I have used Three but they cut me off after using it on roaming for more than a month in a 12 month period.
So after a SIM card that doesn't have this restriction and one which, preferably, has cheap rates for phoning the UK from here.
Cheers
Gerry

[Enrique]

Hi gerryh,
I've got a Orange UK SIM, not had any problems with it being cut off when over on my extended visits.

[Wicksey]

I have a Virgin PAYG phone and for me it is cheaper to use than the Spanish Orange PAYG tariff that I currently have. Phone calls to UK and Spain (including mobiles) are 4p a minute, and texts have just been reduced to 1p. As we don't regularly make calls and don't want a monthly contract, it is by far the easiest and cheapest option for us.

[gerryh]

Thanks both for the replies.
I assume Orange use the Orange network here in Spain but who do Virgin use?
Where I live I get a very good Vodafone signal but the Orange one wasn't very good last time I tried to use the Orange network.
Cheers
Gerry

[costakid]

EE sim only @ £12 per month. Minutes, texts and data while roaming. I pay £16 for a bit more of everything.

[BENIDORM]

Gerry,
I've used Tesco PAYG for many years, never had a problem, normally I put £10.00 credit on every other month ,more than enough and I currently have £75 credit, I use every day for texts and telephone at least 3 times a week for 10-15 minutes a time.
My family also ring me most days and it's cheap for them to use.
You can also get a very cheap phone from them usually with credit on that almost covers the cost....
Regards,
Gordon

[Miro]

I'm going over to the UK in a couple of weeks time for just a few days, and want a UK number and some data alowance for while I'm there, to avoid roaming charges on my Spanish mobile and so others can call me without international call charges. I came across Freedompop while searching the comparison sites, and their introductory offer of 99p for unlimited texts and talk plus 6GB of data with no contractual commitment seemed worth a go. After the first month, I have the option to either cancel, or switch to their free service which gives 200Mb data and 200 minutes per month. Haven't heard anything about them and haven't used it yet (UK SIM card will be waiting for me over there) so cannot recommend or otherwise, but I'll report back after I return. https://uk.freedompop.com/offer/uksim12 ... 20MSM/M4E)

[baroness]

Check out ASDA mobile prices for roaming, very cheap. They use Orange, with 3 months before any chargeable use keeps credit for a further 3 months, jeff

[PavAmber]

Am I right in assuming that you can simply get a SIM from the various providers mentioned sent out here? Currently with 3 but assume a cut off is imminent!

Sorry Gerry!

[gerryh]

I believe that most provides will supply a sim card free but only to a UK address.
So get it sent to a friend/ relative in the UK and then get it posted to you.
You can buy SIM cards from Ebay, usually about £1.50 including post to Spain.
Cheers
Gerry

[Stevemul]

Three.uk get upset if a uk simcard is used for more than 2 months in their designated non uk areas in any 12 month period. A message is then sent advising that the " allowance" has been exceeeded and that the " roaming" concession will be deleted. I confirmed this with a Three.uk CSR today when talking to him about another matter.

[Wicksey]

I think my UK phone picks up Orange when I'm here. I have been using it for some time here and haven't (so far) been cut off or warned against using it. I think it just has to be used at least once a year to keep the card active. I bought it about 8 years ago and asked what I would need to do to keep the SIM active as, at that time, I was only expecting to use it very occasionally when in the UK. We do not need a monthly contract for calls etc as we use the phone very little, so this PAYG rate suits us.

[patricia]

I use a Vodofone sim and have had the same number for years. As long as you have credit on it and receive a few texts now and again you can keep it forever. You can also top up on line if you want to.

[gerryh]

I took Wicksey's recommendation and got a Virgin UK SIM card.
Bought it off Ebay on Thursday and it arrived today.
Very easy to get connected and set up an account with Virgin Media.
Their call charges to numbers in Spain or the UK seem very cheep.
Only need to make one phone call or send a text every 180 days to keep the account/ number active.
Cheers
Gerry

[PavAmber]

Is it easy to transfer contacts etc. from the old SIM onto new?

[Enrique]

Hi PavAmber,
Will depend on your current phone / set up................

Some light reading.........................

http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/How-to-Transf ... 576/g.html

[peteroldracer]

Their call charges......... seem very cheep

Useful if you tweet a lot?

[firsttango]

Classic Peter

[Wicksey]

I want to put my UK SIM into a new Smartphone. I know it needs to be cut down in size but the shops I have been to seem to think that it may not work in a Spanish (libre) phone. I can't see why it shouldn't ...... anyone done this without any problems? The shop I used before in Nerja next to Supersol has gone which is a shame as the girl in there was really helpful. I have tried Eroski, Carrefour and The Phone Shop so far without much luck.

[Stevemul]

I seem to recall seeing ( in the UK), a phone shop person using a hand punch type machine to cut SIM cards down to the micro sim size. I would think it a bit risky to just use scissors.
Could you not ask your UK supplier to send you a new Sim of the correct size for your new phone, or, if you are PAYGO, buy a new one and port the number over?7