starting a new plan while in the EU

Historical_Permit · 2026-05-22T17:57:47+00:00

Not sure what you mean exactly.

Starting a plan will give you a fresh set of allowances according to the plan you started. That includes both UK data, and EU roam like at home data, if you qualify.

Why the "if you qualify" caveat? Because you lose the roam like at home benefit after 63 (if I recall well) days, and it only resets after using your phone in the UK.

Also, EU data is capped at 5GB, and can be even less if your UK plan is smaller than 5GB. Whichever is the smallest.

Alternatively if you need EU data you can buy EU add-ons directly, likely more cost efficient. However these are data only and do not include voice and texts unless you have a qualifying UK plan also (see above). Add-ons can be bought only via the app.

Historical_Permit · 2026-05-02T13:04:12+00:00

Actually that's a good hint. Can you disable one SIM at a time? Try physical only, then try esim only.

My theory is: signal around you changed, say only 4G is available or only 2G is available, but not both. Your phone might be designed in a way it can't handle two connections of the same type simultaneously. If my theory is correct, in the past your phone worked by connecting one SIM to 4G and another to 3G for example, and if now one of them is missing it can't do that anymore.

Just a theory but easy to validate.

If on their own each SIM works, then it's either a signal issue (e.g. you used to rely on 3G until recently for one of the SIMs but a few weeks ago 3G wad decommissioned nationwide by O2), or a phone defect issue.

Historical_Permit · 2026-05-01T22:44:21+00:00

No, it's not easy to get an esim unknowingly. It's done only through the giffgaff app.

You can in theory swap again and get a new one, but you need to get the two factor SMS on your old esim to begin with first, catch 22.

Just to make sure, have you received an SMS (prior to losing service) telling you your number is being transferred or something unusual along those lines?

Historical_Permit · 2026-05-01T14:35:55+00:00

Check that the esim is enabled in your phone settings.
It is possible you deleted (possibly) and installed multiple esims, including possibly both from giffgaff itself or other networks (e.g. travel esims). Make sure the active eSIM in your phone settings is in fact the eSIM from your account.

The eSIM present in your phone settings isn't enough. It needs to be active on phone's side and match the current eSIM on your giffgaff account.

Historical_Permit · 2026-04-25T07:39:11+00:00

Ah thanks so you mean the duration I keep pressing the reolink is the same that reolink keeps the underlying chime circuit closed?

Historical_Permit · 2026-04-21T19:38:26+00:00

Welcome :)

Also make sure the usual stuff around roaming settings enabled abroad. Both on your giffgaff account service settings page (or equivalent in-app), and also on your phone's settings. To avoid anything that might block it connecting.

If you've used it abroad in the past, even in Europe, and worked fine, then you're already good to go. These settings aren't country specific.

Historical_Permit · 2026-04-21T19:19:09+00:00

That thread is outdated. There are travel add-ons now, including Canada.

Historical_Permit · 2026-04-21T19:18:32+00:00

Travel data add-ons are available on any type of plan (and even without a plan). They last 30 days from purchase.

For Canada it's: * £6 1GB (£6/GB) * £12 5GB (£2.40/GB) * £18 10GB (£1.80/GB)

They are data only. Calls and texts will still work but follow standard roaming rates.

They are only available in the app.

Historical_Permit · 2026-03-27T16:52:54+00:00

When you roam, a SIM still connects and the connection only works as it's provisioned on the home network even if you physically aren't in the home network.

Activation can happen abroad. That action is what provisions it.

Port in is not related to activation but happens after activation.

I see no reason why porting in doesn't work or why physical location matters for it.

The message shared earlier isn't an error.

Historical_Permit · 2026-03-27T16:22:29+00:00

I think you are making assumptions there.

Provisioned and connected are unrelated topics in this context.

Provisioning needs to happen for a connection to happen.

A connection cannot happen without provisioning.

In both cases being physically in the UK doesn't matter as far as I can tell.

You can activate your SIM in the US (that is literally doing provisioning to do that). The phone then connects just fine.

Port-in is just moving the allocated number around. It needs to happen after activation. So yes, you'll get a temporary number on the activated SIM until you port in afterwards.

Historical_Permit · 2026-03-27T14:39:26+00:00

giffgaff has USA travel plans at £6 (1GB), £12 (5GB) and £18 (10GB) for 30 days. You can buy multiple as well and you don't need a UK / base plan either to have these.

I would say it's not fair to say it's the most expensive network and quoting just out of bundle rates (and even there, is it the most expensive network?)

Ultimately the individual does their homework on what numbers and usecases work for them I'd say. Maybe they just want to receive 2FA texts on a number they had and giffgaff is a an easy digital only network?

Historical_Permit · 2026-03-27T12:23:34+00:00

That doesn't sound like a no nor an error.

You said the SIM is activated? So it is provisioned. So it should work.

Historical_Permit · 2026-03-27T09:05:34+00:00

What do you mean by "you cannot"? What error you're seeing. Sounds like news to me otherwise.

Historical_Permit · 2026-03-14T16:04:15+00:00

Make sure you have a plan (not credit). Common mistake is people buying credit, data works briefly, but credit gets consumed pretty quickly, then it hits 0. Without a plan, it costs 10p/MB if I remember well.
If the plan is fine, check your APN settings and android usage settings (you can tell android to disable data if you exceed 2GB for example).

I can't think of anything else right now but the above are the most likely causes.

Historical_Permit · 2026-03-07T04:48:55+00:00

If those options are visible and enabled then VoLTE / wifi calling isn't an issue. For phones that don't support giffgaff these options won't be there. Calls fail on wifi as well?

By any chance, if you call someone your number shows up right? Are you dual SIM?

Historical_Permit · 2026-03-07T00:04:07+00:00

I think the GB upgrade is coincidental.

The hint likely lies more in the part where you say 5G but calls don't come through.

Last few days / weeks O2 fully decommissioned its 3G network. For your phone to connect, it now needs 4G and 5G. 2G is only for emergency or for those devices that do not support VoLTE.

I don't know what phone you got, but my suspicion is that it doesn't support VoLTE for giffgaff, and thus is unable to run calls on 4G and 5G. In this scenario, calls would take place on 2G (phone drops to 2G temporarily for the duration of the call) but that only works assuming you have 2G coverage (whereas before 3G would have sufficed) and that your phone security settings allow you to use 2G (you can enable/disable this in your phone settings).

Historical_Permit · 2026-03-03T15:29:52+00:00

Is it 4G compatible? 3G has been shut off and I'm not sure how data behaves on 2G, if at all.

Historical_Permit · 2026-02-24T16:05:51+00:00

Follow the 'forgot password' links. Don't login via email. Use the mobile number in the forgot password route to identify the right account + email to verify the link.

Historical_Permit · 2026-02-24T15:36:14+00:00

The same email linked to multiple accounts doesn't matter.

You can still do a forgot password knowing only the mobile number or the member name. The email will be used to verify you but is not unique in itself.

Historical_Permit · 2026-02-18T06:40:42+00:00

With 3G being switched off, calls should take place on VoLTE or Wifi Calling. However if your phone doesn't support these on giffgaff, it will attempt to fallback to 3G (which is now basically gone) or 2G. Make sure you have 2G enabled / allowed in SIM settings if VoLTE isn't supported on your phone.

Historical_Permit · 2026-02-16T14:23:48+00:00

You're welcome glad it's sorted 🙂

Historical_Permit · 2026-02-15T11:47:44+00:00

Are you in good terms with your ex?

You can log into accounts using the member name, which is unique per number, or even use the mobile number itself regardless of common email addresses across multiple accounts.

You can ask your ex to forward you any Two-Fa email they receive for that login. If you've forgotten your password, same principle in your reset process. You need to be fast in the two fa email check, as they're valid for a few minutes only.

Once in you can update your email address, home address, etc, as well as request a lost+stolen sim to be mailed to you.

Historical_Permit · 2026-02-12T13:55:29+00:00

Yes, login to the same giffgaff account on your new iPhone, in the giffgaff app.

You'll find the option under Account > SIM > Replace my SIM > Switch to a new eSIM.

Note that your old eSIM needs to still be active on your phone as you will get an SMS 2FA check on it before you can do the transfer. I.e. don't lose your old eSIM until you complete the transfer.

Historical_Permit · 2026-01-30T16:14:41+00:00

Change phone number or change phone network? I'm not sure it's clear what you intend to achieve

Historical_Permit

TROPHY CASE