Using phones abroad

Using your phone abroad is easy. You're probably ready to go right now. But before you go, it's worth setting up things like voicemail. Just follow the steps below.

1. Is your phone set up?

Make sure your phone is set up for roaming by giving us a call on 150. You can either speak to one of our advisers or use the IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system. If you use the IVR, select option 3, then 3.

Please note that some pay monthly customers may need to pay a deposit before roaming can be enabled.

2. Coverage

Check you'll have coverage where you're going

3. The right phone

Check your mobile will work where you're going

4. Voicemail

 Before you go

If you want to access your voicemail while abroad, you'll need to use a voicemail PIN. To set up a PIN, call your voicemail from your mobile before you leave, press 2, then 1 and follow the instructions.

Charges for receiving voicemail

If your voicemail diverts aren't set before leaving the UK, you might be charged for any messages left/received. Anyone contacting you will only pay for a standard UK mobile call. You might be charged at international rates for the part of the call that goes from the UK to your destination.

If you don't answer the call, you might then be charged at the roaming rate applicable for the country you're in for the message to be diverted to voicemail which is held in the UK. Find out if you pay for voicemail retrieval

Voicemail options and charges.

It's important to set up the right diverts before you leave the UK as you may pay for voicemail messages left for you while you're away.

5. Charger

Don't forget your phone's charger and any power adapter you might need.

6. Check the costs

Find out the cost of using your phone abroad by texting 150 for free. Just send RO followed by the name of the country you're going to, and we'll text you back the costs of using your phone in that country. This service is free to use - either before you go or while you're abroad.

First things first - switch your phone on

It might take a few moments to find the local network. When it's done, the network's name, code name or number should show on your screen.

If it doesn't, set the network manually in Network Selection (under Settings). Choose Manual and your phone will list all our available partner networks. Pick one you like the look of. If all else fails, call us on +44 7953 966 150 for help. Calls are charged as an international call to a UK mobile from the country you're in.

How to check your voicemail

If you have a pay monthly, U-Fix or Mix It account

  1. Hold the 1 key to dial voicemail
  2. Depending on where you are, you'll hear your own greeting or go straight to your messages
  3. To skip the greeting and go straight to messages, press # and enter your PIN

If you have a pay as you go account

  • In some countries you can hold the 1 key to dial voicemail, just like you would at home. Unfortunately there are others where you won't be able to access your voicemail.
  • A voicemail call costs the same as if you were making a call to the UK from the country you're in.
  • You can divert calls to voicemail at any time just like you would in the UK. Then you've got three days to pick up messages before they're cleared. If you want to keep messages longer, Voicemail Extra keeps them for three weeks and costs an extra £1.53 a month (inc VAT).
  • You can use call return for UK numbers only while you're away. Calls are charged as if you were in the UK, and you'll be charged for calling your voicemail for the full length of the call. Just press # after listening to a message to use call return (it saves you hunting for a pen and paper).

How to make calls

If you have a pay monthly account

Calls to the UK

  • Dial the full international number, including the country code for the UK (+44), but drop the 0 from the start of the area/mobile code
  • So for a UK number starting 020, you'd dial +44 20 then the rest of the number (on most phones you get a + by pressing * twice)

Calls to the country you're in

  • Dial them as if you were using a local mobile. You need the area/mobile code but not the country code

Calls to other countries

  • Dial the full international number, including + and the code of the country you're dialling

 If you have a pay as you go or Solo Fixed account

  • In most countries, you can use your phone as you do in the UK. But there are some networks that won't let you make calls or access voicemail. You'll still receive calls and can send and receive text and picture messages.

If you're on one of our direct dial networks

  • When roaming on one of our direct dial networks, you simply dial the number you want. Don't forget to use the international number format. So for a UK number starting 020, you'd dial +44 20 then the rest of the number.

How to receive calls

While roaming, someone calling you from the UK pays the same to call you as they do normally, but you pay to receive their call. You're really paying for the call to be forwarded to the country you're in. You'll both pay the relevant rate for the whole call.

To send a text

You can text from most foreign networks, but prices will vary. Use international format numbers (eg +44 20 8XXX XXXX), just like making a voice call.

Other services

Our different partner networks offer different services, depending on where you're going.
 

If you have any problems

If your phone is lost or stolen, call us on +44 7953 966 150 (calls will be charged as an international call to a UK mobile from the country you're in).

You'll be liable for calls made on your phone until you have reported it lost or stolen.

If you need the emergency services (fire, police, and ambulance), you can call from your mobile. In most countries the number is 112.

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