How can I access my Virgin Money account from Thailand without a UK phone number?

August 3, 2022
2 years ago
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok so I arrived a week ago in chiang mai 2 days later I bought a new phone, now i have a thai sim card and carn’t get on my virgin money account as i need to transfer money for my retirement visa, so I’ve been in touch with virgin money and im going round in circles now because I carn’t get on my account they say i need a uk phone number to access my account!! And the phone ive got now won’t let me ring out of Thailand to sort this out… anybody else have problems like this?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat recently encountered difficulties accessing their Virgin Money account after acquiring a Thai SIM card upon arrival in Chiang Mai. Virgin Money requires a UK phone number for account access, and the user is unable to make international calls to resolve this issue. The community offered various solutions including using VPNs, internet banking, and specific calling apps to connect with UK numbers. The discussion highlighted the challenges expats face with banking abroad and shared potential workarounds.
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Giri ********
Where’s your UK Sim? Put it in the new phone and call Int’l.
Jay ******
I’ve been using this app for about a year now to access my accounts requiring a U.S. number. Works great & they have UK area code:
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5964
Paddy *********
Swap your home country sim back in

Costs a little more but let your bank know new number

Maybe can be done as a secure message once logged in

This is why dual sim phones( physical ones are more reliable) ie sold in Hong Kong are so great but one cant buy these in Australia of course
Brett **********
@Paddy ********
you can. Xiaomi phones are available in Australia and they have dual physical sims. There are other brands too
Paddy *********
@Brett *********
good to know but I am a diehard Apple girl.

Should have got my latest dual sim one on trip to HKG last year but there was a 2 week wait and I let it go.

Have a Xiaomi fitbit from Macau Taobao
Brett **********
@Paddy ********
well you can have an Esim and a physical SIM on the iPhone. The OP is off on his way to the DTAC shop to sort it out now
Cyndee *******
I use TextNow. You can make your own number.
Edwin ********
Try using Skype to phone in order to call Britain? Just guessing.
Justin *********
Use uk phone with uk sim in hotel with WiFi simple

Then change over or have two phones like I do or use dual sim phone
Will ************
You will need a UK mobiole number for the bank to send verifying texts to you when moving money via a website etc as all banks are using enhanced securtiy. You usually get a 6 digit code ro put in to make sure it is in fact you moving/spending the money. You couls always use a PIN sentry card reader.
Steven *********
If you have your original SIM card you can put it back in. You will likely run up charges for the out of country call but it may help you to get going.
Robert **********
@Steven ********
thats the answer. If you lost your sim have a new one sent from UK
Christopher ***********
Try ‘VYKE’. For £12 per annum you rent a virtual U.K. mobile number. You can receive OTP’s and make and receive voice and SMS anywhere in the World using either mobile data or WiFi. Works perfectly for me.
Martyn ***********
local phone app would sort you out. you can call the uk and they can even provide you with a uk number.
Dave *********
@Martyn **********
what’s the name of the phone app??
Martyn ***********
@Dave ********
localphone International on playstore ...
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Martyn **********
ok cheers for that
Martyn ***********
@Andy ********
It works great it intergates with your address book etc,call rate to uk is about 1.5 cents a minute . You load about 10 dollars on it lasts forever...
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Martyn **********
thank you 👍
Mike ******
I have several accounts that won't let me in out of country. I installed a VPN, set it to a location in country and no more problem.
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mike *****
not heard of vpn
Mike ******
@Andy ********
I use CyberGhost, very inexpensive
Mike ******
@Andy ********
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Berto ******
@Andy ********
Not the cheapest, but never had any problems.
Shane ******
Dtac 004 before the number you call for international
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Shane *****
thanks for that
Drew *******
I use mytello to call UK from my Thai phone or via the internet. 0.3B a min with 1.6 B connection fee. No time limit on calls whilst you have credit. I call UK every week using it.
Andy *********
Andy *********
Use PT app - 1p per min to call landline in U.K. - I use for Hmrc / Wise and HSBC - works well over 4g or Wi-Fi
Peter ********
I am in Vietnam and have been for 3 weeks. Tried to use the virgin card last week unsuccessfully. Got an e mail the following day to contact them. Despite advertising open 24 hours they are not. Phone numbers from Vietnam won’t connect. Tried to reply to their e mail but it got returned. Contacted them via Facebook and was asked did I tell them I was abroad. Told them literature said no need to tell them and surely they should be aware of that. They gave me another e mail address but a week I still no reply so now writing a complaint e mail. Poor service from virgin. Fortunately Chase bank and Starling bank do work ok here
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter *******
i can still use my debit card (thank god) but virgin just don’t seem interested to put it right and like i said i need to transfer 800,000 bht asap
Robert ******
If all those ideas fail, try using Remitly. BTW Remitly charges no fee on your first transfer under about $2500.
Bob *********
Use Internet banking instead of a mobile phone app. You should be able to log on to Internet banking through your browser or use a pc or laptop to do it.
Stuart ********
Try setting up a UK vpn and then open your virgin app in the vpn.

The vpn will tell the server u are in thw UK and you can access your money from Thailand.
Brett **********
Do you still have your UK SIM and does your phone have dual SIM capability?
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brett *********
yes i have it but i dont have the internet for it…
Brett **********
@Andy ********
but don't you just need a text from your UK number initially just to get it set up and then you should be good to go? I don't bank with them myself so can't say for certain but know most others work like that
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brett *********
yes i need a txt with a code but when i put my thai sim back in will it work?
Brett **********
@Andy ********
but yes, it should. If you have a dual SIM phone though, you can leave both Sims in and turn on the thai one for data use and set the UK one to and call when you want it to. Then you don't have to keep swapping Sims
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brett *********
its an iphone 12 so don’t know yet if its duel sim
Gareth ********
@Andy ********
if your iPhone 12 was brought in Thailand, it should be dual sim. Take it to a phone shop and get them to check for you.
Brett **********
@Andy ********
do you want to DM me? Easier than trying to walk through it on posts
Brett **********
If you're unsure, post the phone model and I'll check for you. Most do nowadays
Bobby ********
What Thai SIM do you have?
Andy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Bobby ********
@Andy ********
No reason why you can't call overseas with dtac
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