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Buying a Cell Phone in US to use in France

Buying a Cell Phone in US to use in France

Old Apr 22nd, 2012, 01:13 PM
  #41  
 
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NO blh, yours is not the only report of credit card difficulties and it's unfortunate because I really thought we had a great solution for those of us who travel to France often and need inexpensive communication options.

The Lebara is indeed still there, it's just not clear how easy it will be for those of us wanting to use on line accounts to top up talk time with a credit card.
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Old Apr 22nd, 2012, 01:49 PM
  #42  
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Here's an update. I tried again, and this time, I was able to top up with my US credit card! Don't know what the difference was - but glad I was able to get it done. Now if I can just keep it active until September.....
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Old Apr 22nd, 2012, 09:16 PM
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I don’t think this is still the case but four years ago we went to France with Mobiho SIM cards, which I purchased here with credit on them. I was required to fax in a form with my passport number and address of our first stop within a few days of making a call. It was explained to me as being required for security reasons. Terrorists? My sister and brother-in-law were in France at the same time and bought an Orange SIM from one of their shops and needed to show their passport also. This might be the reason why Lebara is reluctant to send cards to the USA. Or just that the cost of cards and postage may not be worth spending on unlikely clients. Who knows?

Last year I ordered Lebara cards about 3 weeks before our trip and they didn’t arrive until after we left. I am one of those who need to have working phones when we arrive. I bought Mobiho cards from Amazon before flying, they now sell Lebara. They are $30 which isn’t as good as free. This year I plan on ordering my free Lebara cards 5 to 6 weeks before departing.

Up-thread someone asked about Honfleur. We spent our first 2 days there last year. I looked at the front of every Tabac we walked past; I never saw a Lebara decal. But since we had our cards I never went in and asked for one.

As for the SIMs expiring, it makes sense. The number of phone numbers is finite; if one isn’t being used assign it to a different card. As for the top-up credit expiring I didn’t see a chart on Lebara’s site but here is Mobiho’s. https://www.cheap-mobile.fr/public/en/1/tarifs_mob.php I would think most have similar time frames.

Did anyone who had trouble using their US CC notify the issuing bank about a foreign charge? That could be the problem and the charge was declined by your bank. In the past 4 years we have used our cell phone 3 times for month long trips; Mobiho twice in France and Lebara once in Spain. I was always able to use my US CC card to top-up on line.

If anyone has any luck keeping their card alive by sending themselves a text please post back. This year our trip will include about 3 weeks in France and a week in Italy. The Lebara site says to roam you need sufficient credit and to notify them where you are going. I think it also said the customer service rep would tell which networks they are partnered with. Another plus for Lebara is it sounds as if they have more English speakers than the other services.

I hope we can all get our free cards then get them to work in our phones.
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Old May 8th, 2012, 04:39 PM
  #44  
 
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Lebara promises on their website to send a SM in 2 to 5 days. If this is a commitment they do not intend to keep, then should at least explain same. After 7 days, I sent an email asking for an explanation, and am still awaiting a response 36 hours later. I would not recommend Lebara to anyone, and I have gone to a competitor.
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Old May 11th, 2012, 07:48 PM
  #45  
 
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I just want to mention that even though I will not be going to France till late in the year, I ordered and received the Lebara sim on less than 2 weeks. The ordering page was in English too. They had option to choose english if French.
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Old May 12th, 2012, 12:28 AM
  #46  
 
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Hi, everyone has given advice on buying your phone in the US. I thought you might also like some information on using your phone in Paris, particularly connecting onto the free wifi network: http://www.aussieinfrance.com/2011/1...aris-and-wifi/
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Old Aug 18th, 2013, 09:33 AM
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In looking for info on this topic, I found this old thread. I realize that things could be different now. But I did want to include my findings.

The Lebara SIM card worked great for trips in Sept/Oct 2012 and again in Jan/Feb 2013. I got the initial minutes in September by simply walking into a tabac in Nice, buy 10 euros worth, getting an authorization number and then dialing a phone number provided on receipt. I followed the prompts and voila!

I topped the phone in January while in France and was able to use my AMEX card to do so via online. I can't remember why I chose to use it instead of my no foreign transaction VISA card, but there was some reason at the time.

I have recently gotten an email form Lebara saying my credit card on file is expiring and that I need to update my online account. Will do that, even though I don't have any trips lined up right now. Not sure how long my phone number will last, if it isn't used or topped up.

So, now that I have updated, much of this could be moot. But hey, I kept my word to reply~
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