recharging our TIM phone
Apr 26th, 2006, 06:31 AM
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recharging our TIM phone
I realize that there are many threads about cell phone use in Italy, but I can't seem to find what I'm looking for.
We purchased a GSM phone for a trip to Italy last year. We have to add minutes to the phone before May 2nd or the phone will expire. We are going back to Italy this year, but not until June so I want to have the phone re-charged and ready to go. I tried going to TIM on-line, but they require a unique Italian "fiscal code" (sounds like our SSN) in order to register. Does anyone have information on adding minutes to a TIM phone from the US?
Thanks!
We purchased a GSM phone for a trip to Italy last year. We have to add minutes to the phone before May 2nd or the phone will expire. We are going back to Italy this year, but not until June so I want to have the phone re-charged and ready to go. I tried going to TIM on-line, but they require a unique Italian "fiscal code" (sounds like our SSN) in order to register. Does anyone have information on adding minutes to a TIM phone from the US?
Thanks!
Apr 26th, 2006, 06:50 AM
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If you go to www.prepaidgsm.net guess what...in the operators section of italian prepaid sims there are instructions (in English) of how to get an Italian fiscal code which anybody in the world is eligible to get! I know, I have one and got it there.
Apr 27th, 2006, 07:59 AM
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Thanks for your post, xyz123. I followed the link you provided and was able to get my "codice fiscale", which enabled me to register at the TIM site. Now the problem is that when I actually go to purchase minutes it seems that the registration information doesn't agree with my credit card billing information, so I can't complete the transaction. How were you able to get around this issue?
Thanks again for your help.
Thanks again for your help.
Apr 27th, 2006, 08:08 AM
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One correction. The phone doesn't expire. What expires is your account. You risk loosing the unused minutes and the telephone number itself.
I wouldn't worry too much. I don't know the TIM portfolio but in my operator a SIM costs 5 euros, with 2.5 euros of airtime.
I wouldn't worry too much. I don't know the TIM portfolio but in my operator a SIM costs 5 euros, with 2.5 euros of airtime.
Apr 28th, 2006, 06:09 PM
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Lobo_mau - Thank you for the clarification. I realize that I described the situation inaccurately. If our account expires, we will have to acquire a new SIM card and the price for that is at least $80-85. We'd much rather put those funds toward actual minutes. Thanks for the information.
Apr 28th, 2006, 06:31 PM
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You say you wuold need a new sim card for $80???? Sim cards do not cost $80 unless you are (fillin whatever blank you want) enough to use a rip off joint such as telestial which triples the price for the foreign sim cards they sell for "convenience."
