10 years ago I bought a phone in England that came with 40 minutes of calls. However I was unable to call any toll-free numbers. It worked fine for regular numbers but none for toll-free. I never found out why.
I'm considering a plan from eSIM.net that includes voice calls. I assume that should work for toll-free, but that's what I assumed for the England phone too and it wasn't true.
Anyone have experience with this situation?
Thanks.
What toll-free numbers? Back to the US or a free number in the UK?
the UK mobile (cell phone) market has changed a lot in a decade.
could you please be more specific.
from which country to "toll free" numbers in which country?
which proposed e-sim(s)?
do ypu want to use a British e-sim in Italy or an Italian one? or one from home?
I was in England trying to call England toll-free numbers. It happened 3 or 4 times.
One that I remember was AutoEurope. There was a hassle with our car rental and I had AutoEurope's toll-free number for England, but my phone would not complete the call. It was a decade ago so I don't remember the error message, but it happened each of the few times I tried. Yet I could call "regular" numbers no problem.
The eSIM that I'm looking at is from eSIM.net. The plan says:
EE Europe Travel
A definition for that last line:
A KYC (Know Your Customer) or eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) check for an eSIM is a digital identity verification process. It requires you to submit a government-issued photo ID (like a passport or national ID) and sometimes a live selfie to prove who you are before your mobile plan or local phone number can be activated.
Why eSIMs Require KYCLocal Laws: Many countries legally require mobile network operators to tie every active cellular line to a verified real person to prevent fraud and crime.
Phone Numbers vs. Data: Standard data-only travel eSIMs rarely need KYC. However, plans that include a local phone number, voice calling, and SMS usually mandate a KYC check.
Yes, I don't understand the KYC situation. It seems like most of the eSIM "install before you go" options do not require KYC. TIM's downloadable eSIM does though; they apparently do it through video verification online. But if you go into a phone store in Italy for an eSIM, you have to go through the verification. It's a no-brainer that if someone has something to hide they'd just do the remote eSIM. So it seems like a very flimsy check.
I wasnt making any comment. I didnt know what it was so I googled it and thought others might be interested.
China? I'd have thought calls to US/Canada/Mexico would be preferred
I guess you mean what in Italy they call "numero verde"? phone numbers starting by 800?
You can try to call them and see if it works, if not usualy call centers have also public a regular phone number that is mean to be used for people calling from abroad (EG if you wanted to call the center from another country), and that is a regular landline usually, so you will surely have no trouble calling the regular landline numbers.
If you need to be bale to call specific call centers (for example the rental car one) I'd suggest you prepare in advance and search for the numbers before traveling, something google them requires time and patience, and if you are in a situation where you are in need you likely want to have them handy.
China? I'd have thought calls to US/Canada/Mexico would be preferred
It will be a Chinese company selling the eSIM. Hence them getting around EU and UK laws for KYC by ignoring them. They're just resellers of European network data / minutes that they've bought in bulk at a discount.
However I was unable to call any toll-free numbers. It worked fine for regular numbers but none for toll-free. I never found out why.
UK toll-free (we call them freephone) numbers starting with 0800 and 0808 are free from both mobiles and landlines. Any other "08" numbers will only work from landlines, or at least be free. 0845 is a common one that isn't free from mobiles, and may indeed be blocked to them.
If you need to be able to call specific call centers (for example the rental car one) I'd suggest you prepare in advance and search for the numbers before traveling
Good suggestion. It shouldn't be necessary -- these days most people, especially travelers, use mobiles -- but seems advisable.
UK toll-free (we call them freephone) numbers starting with 0800 and 0808 are free from both mobiles and landlines. Any other "08" numbers will only work from landlines, or at least be free. 0845 is a common one that isn't free from mobiles, and may indeed be blocked to them.
I wasn't aware of this and it's possible that was the case. However it seems odd that the 4 times I tried all the calls failed. I got an error recording but I don't remember what it said.
To elaborate on my initial post, we had reserved a car through AutoEurope with Europecar. At that time Autoeurope offered an additional driver for no extra charge. (They've since dropped that.) When we went to pick up the car from Europecar, the clerk said we owed $10/day additional driver fee, which came to $170. I had the Autoeurope agreement with me but he wouldn't even look at it. I also had the toll-free Autoeurope number and my newly acquired mobile with 100 free voice minutes. The call would not go through. The weasley clerk refused to make the call on his line. He was a jerk with a bad attitude and he seemed to take pleasure in hassling me. I don't know what his problem was (resented American tourists?). $170 was too much to accept so we spent at least 90 minutes arguing over it. This was a Sunday and he was the only one in the office. Finally a supervisor arrived, we explained the situation to him, he read the Autoeurope voucher, and gave us the car without hassle. It worked out okay but was a lousy way to start our tour of England.
Why use a Chinese company rather than Holafly or Airalo?
Why use a Chinese company rather than Holafly or Airalo?
I'm going to correct what I said above about the OP's choice of eSIM from esim.net.
I was only guessing.
"Calls back to China" would indicate that it's for the Chinese market. I've looked it up and KYC checks on prepaid mobile services such as these tourist eSIMS aren't mandatory in the UK. esim.net is registered with Companies House as a UK business. Whether they have links to China, well, that would take a bit more digging. "Calls back to..." would certainly suggest some connection, a direct translation of how the same product is marketed in China?
I think the way they're advertising their eSIMs is slightly disingenuous however. They're using the logos and trademarks of recognised UK networks, but they're just resellers, like I said above. Not actual services provided by the companies they name their eSIM deals after. All a bit sus.
Holafly is registered as a company in Spain, Airalo in Singapore. I don't think it makes much difference if it were a Chinese company. I don't consider Chinese business practices any more or less trustworthy than any other country globally, certainly not the US in this day and age.
Finally a supervisor arrived, we explained the situation to him, he read the Autoeurope voucher, and gave us the car without hassle. It worked out okay but was a lousy way to start our tour of England
Jim, if you’d care to report your experience to Europcar, they will be sending you a survey request by e-mail shortly after you return your car. We just turned in our Europcar rental last week (Wales and England), and desks at both the pick-up and drop-off offices were staffed by a single person. Long wait for us, longer wait for others behind us. The persons waiting on us weren’t particularly friendly, but at least weren’t hostile. It certainly wasn’t because of you that the clerk was a jerk.
the experiience with toll free numbers in the UK was 10 years ago, yes? It is true that 0800 numbers were not free from mobiles at that time. At least they weren't on my O2 phone. They are now.
the experiience with toll free numbers in the UK was 10 years ago, yes?
Yes, at least 10 years ago, may even have been 15.
Good to know they've adjusted that.
Been using an eSIM on my iPhone for four years now. Much better and more reliable, and cheaper, than the international connection that Tmobile has which STILL entails one to buy an international package at $35-50. eSIM, like from Airalo, are the best. No need to register like OP says. It’s obvious he’s out of touch with modern technology.
And helpful replies will help get him up to date, and in-touch right?
No need to register like OP says. It’s obvious he’s out of touch with modern technology.
I don't think I ever said anything about "registering".
If you're talking about KYC then that is still officially required if you buy a SIM or eSIM in Italy that includes voice, as opposed to only data. In fact the Italy TIM eSIM (which includes voice) can be downloaded in your home country but you have to go through an online video identity verification.
Most of the eSIMs only provide data which is how I think they get by without KYC. As a previous poster stated, it's likely that the eSIM.net voice plan should technically require KYC but they just ignore it.
I have used eSIM a lot for trips to Europe, but I don't believe any of them would allow you to make a voice call, not even to a toll free number. Having said that, in the last 5 years that I have travelled and used eSIM, I never needed to make a voice call. iMessage still works on eSIM, but regular Android phone would not be able to text. Most people or business in Europe have Whatsapp if you need to actually talk to them.
For your upcoming trip to Italy, I echo one of the previous comments -- an eSIM from a reputable online sites would be a better choice. I personally like Airalo. Unless you will be in Italy for 30 days, there is no reason for you to buy one that lasts 30 days. If you will be in Italy for a week, buy a 3 GB eSIM with a 7 day duration for only $7.50. The key is to turn off the background refresh on all the apps, turn off Cellular Data Access to all but the essential apps when you are out and about (Google Map, Weather, and whatever apps you need for local transportation). You can upload your photos or update social media or check emails when you are back to the hotel or Airbnb with free WiFi. I often use less than 1 or 2 GB of data for a 7~10 day trip.
Better yet, on one of my recent trips, I found a coupon code for Airalo that gave me $3 off. "MINFEI4587" Quotation marks are not part of the code. I used it on multiple purchases and it worked fine, so it's not single use. With it, you basically pay $4.50 for your data needs for the entire trip. Can't beat the price!
Okay, I'm reconsidering. I'd prefer to have "regular" voice and SMS -- if I want to call a restaurant, for example, can I rely on Whatsapp -- sounds dicey to me. I know that generally wouldn't work here (U.S.), but is it that widespread among businesses in Italy?
BTW, I'll be there for 17 days so I wouldn't need a full month.
Thanks for the advice.
“If you're talking about KYC then that is still officially required if you buy a SIM or eSIM in Italy that includes voice, as opposed to only data. In fact the Italy TIM eSIM (which includes voice) can be downloaded in your home country but you have to go through an online video identity verification.”
As a long time traveler to Italy, and one who’s been using an eSIM for five years now, I’d NEVER use the TIM esim. I tried it one year and had to download and use my go to esim, Airalo, which always works flawlessly. As far as registering your esim in Italy, well, like I said, there are many companies that sell eSIMs and TIM is the last one I’d choose. Also using WhatsApp as voice calling device is what Italians mostly use to leave voice messages as jt reaches its destination inch faster than a regular voicemail, and, yes, people do this here in the USA too. You CAN get eSIMs with voice, but, they’re unpredictable and honestly, after five years of using eSIMs I’ve never purchased one with voice even when traveling to the outer reaches of the Guatemalan jungle.
Jim,
In my admittedly limited experience, It's super common for tourist-facing businesses like drivers, innkeepers and restaurants in Italy and other places to use WhatsApp as their communication. And you can always use Google voice for calling places with landlines.
Thanks.
Based on advice here and my own research I plan on going with Airalo. I had a little trouble confirming that my Pixel 8a was compatible. I know it handles eSIMs because that's what I have for my Verizon number. But it wasn't on the main Airalo list. I found it eventually in a FAQ.
The only minor annoyance is that they offer 15 day and 30 day plans. My trip is 17 days and I'll need the phone right away for navigation to the hotel, and on the other end for checking on the flight. So I'll have to pay for the 30 day plan.
EDIT: I discovered that I was looking at costs for the unlimited plans. For the 20 and 50 gb plans the cost for 30 days over 15 days is minimal.
Jim,
When are you going to Italy? 17 days sounds awesome. Are you doing a grand tour of multiple cities? Come back to this forum after your trip and give us a report.
We're going in a few weeks. The 17 days include travel there and back. We used to do a lot of touring when we traveled -- multiple cities, two or three day stays, sometimes even just one night. But we're tired of being so much on the go so the last couple trips we've spent more time in one place. This trip we'll be just outside Siena the whole time. We'll spend two or three days in Florence and do several day trips around Tuscany.
One option worth keeping bookmarked for exactly this situation is WorldDial.
Full disclosure, I built it. It lets you call normal landline and mobile numbers directly from your browser, without needing a local SIM or installing anything. I originally built it for situations like needing to reach a bank, car rental company or other normal phone number while abroad.
It's pay-as-you-go, designed to be cheap and transparent: you see exactly what the call will cost per minute before you connect, with no subscription.
If the toll-free number itself won't accept international calls, finding the company's regular geographic number is still usually necessary, but once you have that number you can call it through WorldDial.
Thanks, that could be useful.
I assume the charge of $.03 means 3 cents per minute?
Yes correct
3 cents of dollars per minute
