Mobile phone sim-cards

[jantaz]

I am moving to Spain early 2006 is it better to get a new sim card for my mobile phone before I go( for example the ones offered on the 0044 wesite) or is it better to get one when I come out to live in Spain? I will need to keep in touch with people in UK.

[sunnyside]

I bought an Amena sim card from ebay. It cost £10 and had a credit
of 18 euros - works fine. We just top it up at the local garage.

[foremarion]

Sim cards are very easy to get out here - vodafone, movistar, amena, they are all reasonably priced and come with good credit. Can phone UK with them - obviously prices vary. Make sure your UK phone is unblocked then you can interchange your spanish/english sim card without needing 2 phones.

[Beachcomber]

If you will have the necessary documentation to enable you to do so you would be better off with a proper contract with Vodafone España. Calls are much cheaper and you can keep a better check of the calls you have made.

Plan Vitamina, for example, allows you to talk to another Vodafone or Spanish landline for up to an hour for the cost of one minute.

[poshtotti]

I was told my the Movistar team in El Corte Ingles that I couldn't go on contract because I wasn't resident! Has anyone else been told this?

I bought my 1st sim card from 0044 so I could give my new numbers & address to everyone before I left the UK, great service & worth doing so in my experience.

[Beachcomber]

I have several non-resident friends who have Vodafone contracts but you have to produce your escritura or long term rental contract, NIE sheet (the one from the police showing your NIE number) and statements from your bank or your 'libreta'.

I think requirements probably vary but they want to be sure that you are not going to run up a huge bill in the first month then quietly disappear.

[ian.wilson]

I asked Movistar for a contract and they wanted either Residencia or a Bank Statement with a Certificado de Banco so I said forget it. Two months later they phoned me offering me an upgrade to contract and didn`t require any paperwork.

[Nige]

On the question of Mobile Networks, I was under the impression that the reception coverage does and can vary in Andalucia. Am I correct in thinking that MOVISTAR has the best coverage in Andalucia generally? Followed by VODAPHOnE and Amena are poor 3rds? Or has the coverage improved in recent times?

[Beachcomber]

There is very poor Movistar coverage where I live but Vodafone has a strong signal. The converse is probably true in other areas.

Amena has a terrible reputation for both coverage and customer service.

[spanish_lad]

I am moving to Spain early 2006 is it better to get a new sim card for my mobile phone before I go( for example the ones offered on the 0044 wesite) or is it better to get one when I come out to live in Spain? I will need to keep in touch with people in UK.

how much are they from the 0044 website ?

prices here are :


amena 12€ with 15€ credit
movistar 18€ with 18€
vodaphone - no idea.

(these were the prices in fuengerola boot sale, from the stall of a phone shop, for a sealed sim card.)

[AguilaMike]

I bought a Vodafone one from a Vodafone shop in Arroyo last week. It cost 24 euros with 18 euros call credit on it. I get a further 6 euros call credit if I post the voucher in the pack.

[spanish_lad]

i´m just waiting for movistar to offer free calls and more importantly for me, free texts on their pay as you go network. i´m sure that you all know telefonica were bought out by 02...

we´ll see if it makes any difference

[dangerman]

i´m sure that you all know telefonica were bought out by 02...

Er, t'other way around, me thinks!!!

[masterob]

Beachcomber wrote

Amena has a terrible reputation for both coverage and customer service

Not in my experience, in fact quite the opposite, their coverage here in Alora is excellent and their customer service is pretty good, not least in having people who speak excellent English - a bonus for those who,like me have a very basic ability to speak Spanish!