I would really appreciate any help.

My Spanish language is currently at an early stage and basically bad.

I bought a prepay Movistar phone this week and have been frustrated ever since!

Here are my problems:

1. I have registered online at www.canalcliente.movistar.es and thought I'd be able to check my balance online, but can't see it anywhere - even though I am able to buy more credit if I like. Does anyone know if it is possible to get a balance online?

2. Does the *133# number you can ring from your mobile only allow one or two free balance checks per day? Seems amazing it would charge you at all.

3. The assistant in the shop didn't seem at all interested in explaining to me and a Spanish speaking friend about the different prepay packages and options that are possibly available (and basically I was too tired and forgetful at the time to ask more). Is that true? Are different packages available? I have a booklet, but am still not any wiser. I mean, I don't use this phone much for texting the UK, but when I did it cost over 80 euro cents to do one text.

4. And at the moment I don't even know how much per minute it costs to ring other Spanish phones, or whether it is cheaper to ring Movistar to Movistar - the assistant claimed it is 39 cents +IVA per minute irrespective of the network.

I'd really appreciate any helpm as it doesn't seem the most informative of companies. I used to use a UK SIM here in the hills north of Malaga, but it suddently stopped picking up a signal at my house last November even though it works nearby and my new Movistar SIM works fine at this house.

Dave

At the moment that page says it's not available and to try later, but at the left there's a Saldo option, that should give you your balance.

Other than that I can't help, I don't have Movistar

I think all companies charge after the first credit total daily.
Check your credit, phone a Spanish phone once and next day check your credit again.
If you get the booklet from a shop it should have all the packages and costs listed.

Thanks for the replies.

I tried clicking Saldo, but it doesn't give the balance, just the option to top up.

Yes, may be most Spanish companies charge after a couple of goes for checking your balance via your phone - but it surprised me, as this doesn't happen in the UK, at least with Vodafone.

Any other ideas would be welcome.

The main page I get now here has a Consulta tu saldo option, but since I can't log in I can't help any more I'm afraid. You need someone else who uses this option with Movistar to help.

I know movistar used to give you one free credit check within a 24 hour period but as far as I am aware that stopped a while ago.
Telefonica which is movistar are the biggest legal crooks in spain so don't expect them to make it easy for you to get info out of them.

I don't know about movistar. As we currently only visiit every 3 months or so we got an Eroski PAYG which we find fine top up from as little as 5 euro. You can register on line and check balance as much as you like on line all in English. If needs be you can also top up on line. I've had this 18 months now withou a problem.

I am often puzzled why people who are resident here do not get a contract.
Been with Movistar for years now on contract and never had an issue (or indeed with Telefonica)
I have a Free Contract & only pay for the calls/text, no standing charge.
Calls/Text are cheaper than P/A/Y/Go, never need to top up, always had the bill option rather than D/Debit.

What is this option called and how do we get it? Nothing like it in UK.

Contrato Libre.
I called 1004 and they switched my family contract to this one.
New contract ? I guess you would need to ask for this contract in the Movistar shop when signing up.


P.S could be called Tiempo Libre (will check the next bill and report back)

Is this tied into your landline, with free calls to "home"?

Not as far as I know ?

Thanks for everyone's replies. Seems Movistar is okay so long as one doesn't want to know the balance! I still haven't found it online on their website - and it is the right website and I have registered. Clicking Saldo for the balance does not give the balance. Pointless.

It was mentioned above about Eroski prepay. I had to get Movistar as it is the only network, I think, that I can pick up in my house.

I will also look into the free contacts mentioned above.

I think you will have to dial 333 and you will get a message in Spanish followed by a text message with you balance in euros, this is also in Spanish

I am interested in you info re movistar. I have been using movistar for 5 years on payg. What details can you give me about your contract. Anything has got to be better than using Telefonica, although I am tied to them as I need the phone line for my broadband connection