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Michelle James
A personal story of wireless transition
Six months living in the UK has taught me a few good lessons in going global, with my phone. My big European adventure started the day my other half took an ex-pat position based in the UK. Greater Manchester, in North West England to be sort of exact. One initial thought was that this would be a very exciting way to see how the wireless retail industry is doing in Europe having spent the better part of my career observing and participating in wireless retail in the US.
Couple things I learned quickly and personally. Unless you are on the corporate expense plan for your phone, do not plan to use your US number too long while you are on permanent work visa. 356 minutes into the “I’m just going to use my US phone when I absolutely need to” thinking, wound up costing me $872 USD. And, since I was an easy-pay customer, it automatically deducted from my US credit card leaving no room for negotiating with my favorite carrier. Immediately, I went to Phones 4 U, my friendly UK wireless retailer in my village, another name for suburb here.
The store was brilliant with beautiful displays of phones not available in the US now or ever. I was a kid in a candy shop. The salesperson was so smart to inquire first if my phone was “unlocked” before offering me a ‘World SIM’ prepaid card.
I explained I preferred the advantage of saving money on a contract, since I was already $872 in the hole and my US carrier had a presence here in the UK. The contract approval process was a phone call from the store salesperson to a central office I imagined was somehow connected to the MI5, to verify me. Since I have no record of any kind of ‘credit’ anywhere in the UK - at this point I am only in the country for 5 weeks and 3 days - the friendly sales bloke chuckles and says, Miss America, your only option is prepaid. Wow I thought, cash really is king in the global market. They could have cared less that I had perfect credit scores in the US, still own a respectable home in the US, had plenty of US dollars in a business bank account and a new account offshore in the Isle of Wight, wherever that is. After using my first thirty British pounds in cash (or the equivalent of $49.50 USD), my phone just stops. No warning. Just no more calls my friends. So I call the * number on the back of my World SIM, and they ask me if I want to Top Up.
Topping Up is a verb I have learned. You can top up many things besides your drink here in the UK. Apparently, everyone ties their bank account directly to anything they want to “top up.”
Locals literally know their bank routing numbers by heart. I am an avid online shopper, but somehow I was uncomfortable at first with giving everyone I needed a little bit more of anything my bank account information. But, a really nice Irish voice on the Top Up helpline convinced me it would all be ok. So, now I, too, “top up.” I top up often, and so far no foul play. Apparently the one thing they immediately put you in jail for here is bank fraud. The laws are tight on scamming bank accounts. Who knew?
Back to my phone. When the balance is less than 5 pence (we are talking pennies) I get a nice, very quick reminder in a soft British accent saying, “your account is getting low, please top up.” I always hope I am not too distracted at the beginning of a call to hear it! I can check my balance on the phone or online, but I continue to take my chances hearing the voice and know that when my phone just stops it is more likely I need to top up than plug in for a charge. The lovely Irish top up team is there to help me add money day and night on my big European adventure.
Moral of the story is, I did cancel my US contract with my US number (they promised I would be welcomed back with open arms in two years when I return) and flipped it to a prepaid account with the same carrier to keep the US number active. After all, I am not sure where my next adventure will be but my US mobile number is already in hundreds of friends, family and colleague contact lists. I will soon call to refill it - or top up as they say here. Though I never thought of myself as a prepaid customer, it has been the key to keeping me in touch and in business with the world during my wireless continental transition.