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Getting a SIM card

Posted by on

When I visit London this fall I will bring an unlocked GSM cell phone. I will purchase a SIM card to use with the phone so I am asking for any advance/tips from recent London visitors so I won't stumble in the process of getting the phone operational. I would like to know the retailer from whom you purchased the card, the name of the wireless service, and any pro's and con's related to the transaction. The card will have a 30 day roll over (ie, pay go), and the phone will be mainly used as an electronic guide for my travel in and around London; phone calls will be kept to a minimum (I will be using MagicJack to phone to the USA).

About ten years ago when I first visited London I went to a Car Phone Warehouse where the staff set me up with an inexpensive flip phone. They did all the work to get the phone operational and I left as a satisfied customer. In 2014 I decided to get a phone from Argos that was located in a Sainsbury's. The sales person knew very little about getting a phone operational; all that person did was give me a box with a phone in it and a SIM card and send me on my way. I wasn't happy about the treatment. This time I want to walk from the retail establishment with an operational phone in hand.

Posted by
9273 posts

First, does your phone require a physical SIM, or can it use an eSIM?

If an eSIM (and from different places a physical SIM maybe) then you can use any number of online sources before you go, I have used Airalo, and will again for a couple upcoming trips.

If a physical SIM, then go to a place dedicated to cellphones, so yes, Carphone Warehouse, or a brick and mortar cell store like Vodaphone or O2. The advantage there, is that you can tell them what you want to do, how long, how much you might use the phone, then they can recommend a plan or special they have. Most will also install the SIM and help verify that everything is working.

Posted by
13 posts

Paul:

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately my phone requires a physical SIM card. I consider it to be a throw away so I purchased it from backmarket.

Posted by
4094 posts

https://www.giffgaff.com/

I’ve used simcards from giff gaff on two different trips.
They work very well indeed.
Also once activated in the UK you can use them in the EU.

Posted by
13 posts

S J

Thanks for your reply. Did you acquire the giffgaff SIM cards while in the UK or did you have any of them sent to you while you were in the USA (or whichever non-UK nation in which you reside). If the latter: how does that work? (what is the point of receiving a card which is not able to download data, or transmit verbal or text messages?)

Posted by
1172 posts

"what is the point of receiving a card which is not able to download data, or transmit verbal or text messages?)"

I'm not sure I entirely understand your question, but yes, I had it sent to me overseas, and I activated it prior to arrival. Activation involves going online and entering the activation code on the pack.

For what it's worth, the card is of course able to access data and voice once activated, even overseas, with roaming - it's just a normal SIM that operates the same way as any other SIM.

Personally I prefer to have things set up before I arrive, but you can also buy their SIMs in supermarkets and some other shops.

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