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How can UK citizens manage two-factor authentication while in Thailand without incurring heavy fees?

UK citizenstwo-factor authenticationThailandSIM managementroaming chargeseSIMinternet calling appsSMS authentication
Aug 12, 2024
4 months ago
Craig ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Have any other UK citizens successfully dealt with two-factor authentication with their UK numbers in Thailand? I've racked up heavy fees previously by having to turn on my UK sim to authenticate and wondering if there are methods to get around it.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
UK citizens in Thailand are seeking effective methods to manage two-factor authentication without facing high fees from their UK SIM cards. Several solutions were discussed, including turning off data roaming and keeping the UK SIM active without using it for data, utilizing apps like Devyce for receiving calls and SMS over the internet, and switching to services like GiffGaff that allow free SMS reception abroad. Other suggestions included using email for verification and ensuring that main communication is routed through a Thai SIM while keeping the UK number active for essential transactions.
Nigel ********
Turn off data. Only use WiFi I use a giffgaff sim which they sent to me here put £10 credit on it 2 years ago still have £10 on it now if I need to speak to bank eg I use Skype and put my uk number on the profile and the user thinks that you're ringing from england costs penny's to use
4 months ago
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Andy **********
use 1p mobile £40 for one year, it's free to receive text messages in Thailand, I think the SIM card needs to be set up and activated in the UK.
4 months ago
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Lee ***********
Update, I went back and turned off airplane mode, made sure sim was enabled, roaming off UK and on my phone, sim active for calls and text, but no network selected. Hay presto I tested a financial institution and I got a text through 👍
4 months ago
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Craig ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lee **********
 awesome. How long did I take to come through?
4 months ago
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Lee ***********
@Craig *****
 immediately 👍
4 months ago
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Lee ***********
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Lee ***********
I'm on thai data and don't receive bank texts, roaming off, understand if on WiFi and turn on WiFi calling texts work.
4 months ago
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Hathaway *************
I learnt before I came here permanently to arrange verifications to be emailed to me.
4 months ago
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Robert *********
Turning on a UK SIM overseas doesn’t cost anything assuming you turn OFF all data roaming and don’t make/receive calls.

However RECEIVING an SMS (for authentication) doesn’t cost anything.
4 months ago
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Nick ************
I have talkmobile uk sim and thai sim in dual sim Samsung. Only turn uk sim on when I am expecting an authorisation text. Dont do anything that makes your uk bank suspect you live in Thailand or they could close your account. That's what happened to me.
4 months ago
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Phil ********
I used Maya.net for an esim, currently offering 5Gb of data in Thailand valid for 30 days for £10.

Just check your phone will accept esims.

When I used it, it connected on 5G via AIS faultlessly- unlike another I tried that only used LTE (3.5G) which was diabolical.
4 months ago
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Peter **********
Get an e sim in your phone
4 months ago
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Tin **********
Use 2nd sim for 4g
4 months ago
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Jim ********
Get a Thai eSIM and turn off the roaming on your Uk sim. You’ll still receive texts but won’t be charged for anything
4 months ago
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Phil ********
@Jim *******
 Jim is spot on - I can confirm it worked for me last month
4 months ago
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Craig ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jim *******
 cheers. This is what I’m thinking
4 months ago
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Craig ******
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Michael *********
Check out the Devyce app
4 months ago
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Marty *********
I get codes via email. My US bank verifies me with a security USB on my computer.
4 months ago
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Vijay *****
You maybe able to use a two sim cell phone.....
4 months ago
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Graeme ******
@Vijay ****
 your phone needs to be a dual sim phone for this to work
4 months ago
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Vijay *****
@Graeme *****
 ...yes
4 months ago
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Graeme ******
@Vijay ****
 you need both the uk sim.and the thai sim in the phone at the same time to receive texts from the uk
4 months ago
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Graeme ******
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Martin ********
Use a uk Giff Gaff sim, add credit and as long as you either top up or send a text every 6 months no ongoing fees.

I have a giff gaff sim and a thai ais esim but giff gaff have recently started doing esims as well. Plus they will post a sim out to thailand for free!

Winner winner chicken dinner!
4 months ago
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Martin ********
Oh and just set the local sim as primary so all calls and data use the local sim, but the giff gaff sim is still on and if someone calls that number or text it comes through as notmal.

New iphones can have upto 5 esims..
4 months ago
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Martin ********
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Mike *******
I travel a lot, and keep my home phone number alive for multi-factor authentication. I disable data roaming on my iPhone to avoid high costs, but still receive SMS’s.
4 months ago
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Lynnette *******
My bank gives option of text, email, or call for verification. I don't receive texts when I'm overseas so can use email.
4 months ago
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Craig ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lynnette ******
 Yes, I'm trying to move it all over to other options avoiding 2FA via text but I just want to have an option incase that's not possible
4 months ago
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Graeme ******
@Lynnette ******
 yes I have also a number of options as you have said including using my banking app.
4 months ago
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Graeme ******
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Graeme ******
Hi Craig I have a uk sim and a thai sim, switch my uk sim off so i am only using the data or wifi from my thai sim. I manage to authenticate all my transactions without turning on the dat for my uk sim no problem and costs me nothing?
4 months ago
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Craig ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graeme *****
 Hey Graeme. Oh really? I also have a Thai sim and didn't know this was possible. How do you receive texts - from UK banks/companies - sent to your UK number if the UK sim is turned off?
4 months ago
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Graeme ******
I leave the sim in the phone, all texts to my uk number still come through without the uk sim data being on. I have bought flights , hotels and had no issues with authorisation. I still keep my uk sim telephone number on a monthly contract but everything works
4 months ago
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Craig ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graeme *****
 Good to know. Cheers!
4 months ago
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Graeme ******
@Craig *****
 just give it a try you are loosing nothing
4 months ago
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Graeme ******
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Phil ********
Swytch number for £6 a month.
4 months ago
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Craig ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *******
 Not heard of this company. Looks really good for this situation. I'll check it out.
4 months ago
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Phil ********
@Craig *****
It's an app that uses VOIP. As long as you have an internet connection you have a UK number.

Ive been using it for years.

My Nationwide will only accept a UK number.
4 months ago
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Phil ********
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Gary **********
Use what's app
4 months ago
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Craig ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Gary *********
 Thanks, Gary. Banks and other large companies won't send authentication via Whatsapp.
4 months ago
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Gary **********
@Craig *****
 ok ..was just a thought
4 months ago
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Gary **********
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Tom *********
I use
*******************
You have to port your uk number to it. But it allows you to use your UK number for making and receiving calls and sms anywhere in the world using internet connection. It works very well. Not ideal if you spend a lot of time in the Uk though and want to keep a normal UK sim.
4 months ago
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Mark ***************
@Tom ********
 so you need to have a wifi connection or using a thai sim to do data over 4G/5G in order to use devyce?

I'm a bit mystified how this works, you dial a number and the call is routed via the internet to devyce which then dials out to that number in the UK (or wherever it is)

And someone calls the number you port to devyce and then device sends it to your phone via the internet

Thanks
4 months ago
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Nick *******
@Mark **************
 I also use Devyce. it works in the same way as a regular mobile number using your data plan or internet. Inbound and outbound texts and calls. Works perfectly for dual authentification
4 months ago
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Nick *******
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Steve *******
Redo all your registered phone numbers to your new Thai number
4 months ago
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Phil ********
@Steve ******
Some UK banks only accept a UK number.

I use Swytch for £6 a month.
4 months ago
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Ralph *******
@Phil *******
 What is Swytch?
4 months ago
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Phil ********
@Ralph ******
An app so you can have any number you want.
4 months ago
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Ralph *******
@Phil *******
 But then you could take someone else’s number!
4 months ago
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Phil ********
@Ralph ******
Oh dear 🤦
4 months ago
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Phil ********
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Nick *******
Turn off roaming , receiving a text is free no matter where you are .
4 months ago
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Ralph *******
@Nick ******
 If you’ve swapped your sim to a local one, the text won’t get to you.
4 months ago
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Craig ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nick ******
 Thanks, Nick!
4 months ago
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Gareth ********
@Nick ******
 yep, as simple as this. I do it all the time.
4 months ago
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Gareth ********
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