Phone Problem

[Caran]

OH is on holiday in Germany. He tried to phone me on his mobile but got the message call not allowed, does anyone know what this means and how to get round it.
Thanks.

[sunny-dave]

He needs to have 'roaming' enabled in his phone settings.

He needs to call you as [phone] (not 01234 567890)

[Caran]

How does he get the roaming feature?

[sunny-dave]

It will be in phone settings somewhere - what phone is it?

[Caran]

No idea what his phone is, it's a new one and he is not very confident with it.

[sunny-dave]

Find a helpful teenager - they'll make it work!

[Prudie]

Rather than a roaming feature I'd have thought this was more to do with not having international calls enabled through his service package provider.

[Neveracrossword]

Germany shouldn't be classed as 'international' - we're allowed to roam throughout Europe (well, where mobiles are concerned!)

[sunny-dave]

Prudie - if he's in the EU he should be able to use the phone exactly as if he was at home - in fact it's better than at home, because international calls within the EU are included in bundles.

I've got International Calls turned off (to prevent me accidentally dialling anywhere expensive), but Roaming is turned on and my phone works all over the EU.

[Prudie]

Dave it's just I've also travelled abroad in Europe loads as has husband and we have neither ever had to go into settings on any phone to use it abroad. I'm not sure there is even anywhere to turn off international dialling but then I've never looked. And Roaming to me is roaming internet data, nothing to do with phone calls (unless you're on Whatsapp). I'll bow out as I obviously don't really understand the problem.

[Neveracrossword]

Prudie, the fairly recent 'roaming in the EU' thing affected calls as well as internet stuff. I've phoned home from France, Holland, Spain and Germany and it didn't cost a penny (it came out of my 'minutes'). I was very suspicious the first time I did it!

[Prudie]

I know but you don't have to have roaming data switched on to use it do you? I have hardly ever had that switched on.

[Buenchico]

I disagree with Dave about the need to include an international code. The phone system should detect that it's got a UK SIM in it and automatically route calls through the UK service provider (removing the need to use an international code). That's how my phones have always worked abroad.

I'd also be extremely surprised if there was any need to enable roaming.

One of the main reasons that people find they can't use their phones for international calls is because they've got the wrong type of credit on them. If it's a pay-as-you-go phone with a 'bundle' on it (giving so many texts and minutes, plus a data allowance) it's likely that international calls aren't included within the 'bundle'. Your OH would need to add some 'non-bundle' credit to it before he could make international calls.

If you know that he's got a PAYG phone (rather than a contract one) and you want us to check out whether he needs extra ('non-bundle') credit in order to make international calls, please tell us which service provider he's with.

[Sqad]

Buenchico is right on the money.
When mrs sqa is in the UK using a mobile with a UK sim card on PAYG......she cannot make an international call.
That is with Vodafone.

[Caran]

He has just emailed me. He didn't tell me before that the phone worked on his way through Belgium.
It's probably there is no signal where he is staying, it's very remote.
He forgot to take it with him when he went out today.
Thank you all for your help. Most appreciated.