Travel Sim Cards - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions...

Where does TravelSim work?
What do calls cost?
What does sending a text cost?
Will it work with my phone?
What network do you use?
How long does my unused call credit last?
Is there an annual renewal fee?
How do I pay my renewal fee?
How do I add call credit?
How do I check my call credit balance?
Does TravelSim have voicemail?
Can I forward calls from TravelSim to another phone?
Can I transfer my existing number to TravelSim?
What does it cost people to call me?
Does TravelSim Support Email & Web Browsing?
Is caller ID supported?
What is a roaming charge?
How do I unlock my mobile phone?
What if my call doesn't connect first time?
Can I download a user guide?
Where can I read the TravelSimCards formal terms and conditions?

Where Does TravelSim Work?

TravelSim works in over 100 countries, in many of which, receiving calls is free.

What Do Calls Cost?

Call costs vary. See our Comparison of Charges for examples and use our Call and Text Cost Calculator to check the rates for the country you are visiting.

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What Does Sending A Text Cost?

Text costs vary depending on your location. See our Text Costs for examples and use our Call and Text Cost Calculator to check the rates for the country you are visiting.

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Will It Work With My Phone?

Yes, TravelSim works in 99.9% of GSM handsets.

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What Network Do You Use?

TravelSim uses the existing GSM networks, such as Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile, O2, ATT, Telefonica, SFR, MTN, Digicell and many other GSM networks around the world. It will automatically select the strongest signal and lock on to it. You may find that as you move around, the network to which TravelSim uses changes. Regardless of which network you are on in a particular country, the charges will be the same. This means you actually have a better service than the locals!

TravelSim will operate on the following networks:

GSM 850 (USA)
GSM 900 (Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, parts of South and Central America)
GSM 1800 (Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia/Pacific, Brazil)
GSM 1900 (USA, Canada, South and Central America)

Note: In some countries you will require a Tri-band mobile phone.

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How Long Does My Unused Call Credit Last?

Your call credit will last at least 12 months from the time of purchase. See below regarding annual renewal fee.

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Is There An Annual Renewal Fee?

Yes. A nominal annual fee of £11.91 + VAT is charged. This fee is charged to us by the telecom network service provider and unfortunately is one that we must pass on. It is not a charge levied by ourselves.

Before the annual anniversary of your card, you will be contacted to see if you want to keep your TravelSim active and keep your call credit. If you do, we will charge a £11.91 + VAT service access charge. This will keep your TravelSim active and your call credit will roll over to the next year. If you decide not to keep your TravelSim active your service will be permanently suspended by the carrier and any call credit cancelled.

Our advice is to keep your SIM active by paying the £11.91 annual fee - it's very cost effective and means you won't lose any call credit.

Unlike many Global SIM companies, we do not take unused call credit away from you if it is not used within a short period of time - some companies will take unused call credit from you after just 45 days.

One "Leading Brand" charges a daily usage charge of 39p and "Credit Holding Charge of £2 per month". This means that if you use your SIM, you are charged 39p per day (£142.35 per year!) and if you don't use it, £24 per year.

In line with our Clear Pricing Policy we do not hide this fee in higher call and call connection charges, or charge for non connected calls.

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How Do I Pay My Renewal Fee?

You will be contacted by about 6 weeks, 3 weeks, 1 week and on the due date, email reminding you to renew. The email will contain a link to the relevant page on our website so you can pay by by credit card or PayPal.

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How Do I Add Call Credit?

You can add call credit 24/7 via this website at our top up page.

IMPORTANT: For immediate notification of your Top Up Code(s) you must click the "Return to TravelSim" button to return to this site once you have made your payment. Enter the code into your Travelsim phone and send. Your credit will be topped up automatically.

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How Do I Check My Call Credit Balance?

Dial 187 from your handset. After each call you can opt to receive a free text detailing the cost of your last call and your remaining balance. Dial 188 to switch this feature on, and 189 to switch it off.

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Does TravelSim Have Voicemail?

Yes. You can listen to your voice mail from your handset. Retrieving voice mail is FREE.

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Can I Forward Calls From TravelSim To Another Phone?

Yes. You can forward calls to your TravelSim onward to any number in the world (charges apply).

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Can I Transfer My Existing Number To TravelSim?

No. "Porting" of your existing number to TravelSim is not currently possible.

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What Does It Cost People To Call Me?

TravelSim is a UK (Isle of Man) mobile number in either the 07624 or 07924 number range. Calls to these numbers from a BT (British telecom) landline cost about 13p per minute during the day, 8p during the evenings and night and 5p at weekends.

The TravelSim number range is also eligible for BT Friends & Family discounts which reduce the above prices by 10%.

O2 allow calls to TravelSim from your monthly bundle or allowance. Other networks may charge, but normally charge their "standard Rate" which is normally between 10 and 20p per minute. Please check with your service provider.

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Does TravelSim Support Email & Web Browsing?

Yes. TravelSim is a data sim and works if you want to use email and surf the web

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Is Caller ID Supported?

Yes. Caller ID is supported on TravelSim.

Caller ID does depend on any intermidiary carrier passing it through their system, provided they do, TravelSim will present the caller ID on inbound and outbound calls.

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What is a roaming charge?

If you are abroad when someone rings you on your mobile/cell phone the roaming charge is the amount your Mobile Network Provider charges you for the cost of the call from the UK to where you are. In many instances the cost is £'s per minute.

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How do I unlock my mobile phone?

Before getting down to it, have you tried putting a different SIM in your phone to see if it works?

You can unlock your mobile for free. Do so and it'll accept any network's Sim card, giving you access to promotional offers, cheaper texts, lower roaming costs and the ability to pass on your phone to others. Go to http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/unlock-mobile-phone#step for a step-by-step guide to freeing mobiles from their digital shackles, covering all the available methods.

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What if my call doesn't connect first time?

If you experience a call not being connected please retry or wait a couple of minutes then try again. This could be due to signal strength, volume of calls via the switch or adverse weather conditions.

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