To ask what to do with phone access in NYC?

[Runnerinthenight]

I am currently in NY. I have a UK mobile with a Tesco contract and I feel so limited by what my phone can do! My bank has even frozen my account due to the foreign transactions, and I can't text them to tell them it's me!!

What do other UK visitors to NY do? I had the same problem when I was here 6 years ago!!

Buy a local sim card with data and then you can use What's App on your phone. Or even get a local sim card with a number and data. If you have a newish phone, you can just purchase an eSim.

I just use my phone when I’m in the States. I think it’s £5 a day to use a certain amount of data/calls. Pp’s suggestion of buying a local sim is good but I’m also confused as to why you can’t use free wifi to text your bank?

I use an Airola SIM for overseas

Because texts (the old-fashioned sort) need a phone signal rather than WiFi.

Yeah you need an eSIM

If you had the same problem before, you really should have sorted this before you left.

Anyway, go somewhere with free WiFi and either buy a roaming package from Tesco or buy an esim. If your phone won't use an esim, go to a shop to buy a sim card to use while you're there.

Buy a virtual sim on line. There are loads to choose from. You don't need a physical sim. I was recently in nyc and did this it was fine. Not too expensive either. About £10 for 30 days.

Did you speak to your provider before you went? I went to NYC earlier this year and just bought a 7 day data bolt on from my provider - Three - and it was fine.

Also use wifi wherever you can.

Tesco is crap, they don't give you the option of a bolt on in the US inly in Europe.

Of course you can send an sms message with WiFi!

I can't.

Cant you download Skype on free wifi and call through that?

The rest of the world can!

I'd used up my safety buffer. Although I made a payment yesterday, for some reason it didn't seem to have been applied to my account. I made another payment this morning and the bank block is now sorted.

I know, I'm a dick!!

I speak to my phone provider before travelling to add a roaming package and tell the bank in advance.

Does your phone provider have an online chat service? If yes, you can use the hotel WiFi to chat to them about adding a roaming package to your account.

Once done you can call the bank. Or use the bank card to withdraw mo ey from an ATM, withdrawal fee will be added as well as usual charges.

I use the Zim app to buy esims if I am somewhere for a few days. Cheaper to buy a local PAYG sim, but esims save the hastle. it is really easy. Download the app using wifi in your hotel, load the app, activate the esim.

Skype for calls and an e sim for data.

I'm with EE and when we were in NYC our contract covered international roaming there anyway so it was no different to being anywhere else

We literally just used WiFi all the time. No issues at all.

I just used Whatsapp on Wi-Fi. There's free Wi-Fi everywhere.

I buy a three pay as you go SIM for the US. It includes 10gb and roaming. I don't have a phone that will accept an eSIM otherwise I'd look into that.

I have my UK SIM in an old phone and turn off all notifications but texts so I can get any codes I need to access accounts, etc.

use various cafes free wifi ?@Runnerinthenight

That's what I've been doing, thanks @SugarHorseSpooks.

ill admit these days its handy, especially when im connecting all over (although i should be more cyber security aware)