robt23

Good morning , on the hunt for a UK sim (uk number) , to be used from Spain?
So far it seems that you need a uk address to active and (when it comes to top up) can only use a uk visa.

Can anybody suggest a good , reliable uk sim.

Thanks.

calman014

Is there any valid reason why you would want to use a UK SIM/ a.k.a. Number in Spain?

Why not just use a decent Spanish provider? Or even WhatsApp?..

Have you considered the extra costs involved, i.e. roaming costs associated with a UK SIM?

The roaming costs with UK SIMs are in general much higher these days than EU equivalents (depending on your provider/contract).

bobd22

I think you will struggle to get a UK sim card set it up etc from Spain for the reasons you mention. I have a UK sim card but I had it before moving to Spain and as I have a UK bank account and card it's easy to top up. You could look up virtual sim cards? They somehow let you have a UK number to make and receive calls with UK number while using say a Spanish mobile. You don't actually put a UK sim in your phone so must work by an app or similar. I don't know anything about them other than you can get them for a monthly fee.

tebo53

I have a UK sim since before moving to Spain 8 years ago.

I top up directly through the EE app using my Spanish debit card, why do you think you are confined to a visa card?

I Dont know anyhere you can get a uk sim here in Spain.

Steve

bobd22

I agree it's easy enough if you already have the sim card or buy one in the UK while over there, register it at a UK address and then most you can top up easily wherever you are. I had a Three PAYG before moving to Spain they don't have any set periods you must top up either monthly or 3 monthly etc, so long as you are in credit it remains I think you must use it every 6 or 12 months. That's easy enough just send yourself a text and that does it. Only problem is since moving to Spain three has increased its PAYG call costs so not cheapest option but I just really use it for absolute emergencies or more for people in UK to call me.

bob_day

Plenty of reasons, aside from use when visiting the UK. For example I still have a number of bank accounts registered to a UK address. They need a UK contact number.

bobd22

I agree useful to retain a UK number for many reasons

calman014

There are also phones now which accept two sim cards, you can switch between them. That mih=ght be an option.

Fredbargate

Where in Spain are you?

I have spare Smarty sims

https://smarty.co.uk/

Barriej

Nationwide, HSBC and Santander UK are all happy with me only having a Spanish phone number and Spanish address, as are HMRC and my pension company (who can only pay to a Uk bank).

DLC

You can't use Nationwide's app if you give them a non-UK phone number though.

1p Mobile want you to top up £10 every four months but apart from that I can't see any restrictions.

snikpoh

I do all the time - Spanish number. Haven't tried in the last 3 months though, I must admit - maybe it's changed

DLC

I've only got a card reader and every time I log in it's been saying "By letting us know your UK mobile number you'll have another way to log in" for a few years now... maybe they made it work with foreign mobile numbers but never updated the text.

Barriej

Don't need the app, just use the card reader through a browser over wifi.
I do when we are not home.. Never have an issue.

robt23

Hello, thank you for your offer. I´ve just been reading the Smarty website, looks ok.The 50gb plan that was 30gb is fine until you read the small print :

- .......be resident in the UK ............and
- We may suspend your service if we have identified that you have used our services outside of the UK for a continuous period of 60 days or longer in a rolling 12-month period.

So thwarted by red tape.

I am in Granada city.

Thanks again,