Low cost way to have a USA phone number

[JohnOFphon]

5 or 6 times a year, my bank and or credit card sent me a OTP..for issues with my accounts. 

They will not send emails with a code.

Now I have a friend in the states phone number listed as my contact number. When there is a need for a code to be sent, I must call him before I click "send a code". Once the code is received, I enter it , and all is well...

I am going back for a visit next week, and if necessary I can buy a cell phone while there.

But how can I get the phone to work here? Receive a message the same as if I were using my friends phone?

Of course the cheapest option that works is of interest.

Thanks

[bamnutsak]

Buy and activate an UltraMobile PAYG SIM, $3/month.

 

https://www.ultramobile.com/paygo/

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/285112988423

 

 

 

Then get a Google Voice number (free), as a cost-effective back-up option.

 

 

[G_Money]

I maintain my T Mobile account even when in Thailand.  Switch back and forth between them and DTAC via eSIM when I need to.

 

All of my accounts, bank, brokerage, websites that require authentication are registered with my USA phone number.

 

Have read some negative reviews about Google not working when needed so I prefer a sure thing when needed.

 

Cheaper is not always better 

 

 

 

[timendres]

I use Skype. I pay $15 every three months for an unlimited minutes plan with the US.

I also pay $15 every three months for a US phone number attached to my Skype account.

I can receive the OTP SMS messages from my credit card bank to confirm purchases.

Family and friends can call a US number that rings my phone and computer simultaneously.

I can call US phone numbers from Skype for free. Nice when I need to call my bank.

It is not super cheap, but it works well.

[Jingthing]

1 hour ago, timendres said:

I use Skype. I pay $15 every three months for an unlimited minutes plan with the US.

I also pay $15 every three months for a US phone number attached to my Skype account.

I can receive the OTP SMS messages from my credit card bank to confirm purchases.

Family and friends can call a US number that rings my phone and computer simultaneously.

I can call US phone numbers from Skype for free. Nice when I need to call my bank.

It is not super cheap, but it works well.

My understanding is that most US financial firms will not accept skype for 2 factor codes.

[The Fugitive]

20 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

My understanding is that most US financial firms will not accept skype for 2 factor codes.

Correct. US financial institutions are wary of sending OTP's via VOIP services. Also, Skype itself does not (or doesn't any longer) support 2FA; 

 

'You can receive SMS messages on your US Skype Number from US and Canadian mobile numbers. However, SMS messages sent from services such as identity verification are not supported on US Skype Numbers'.

[timendres]

On 10/20/2024 at 5:53 PM, Jingthing said:

My understanding is that most US financial firms will not accept skype for 2 factor codes.

 

There is something about "how" the SMS is sent. I read about it once, but have forgotten now.

However, I receive OTP codes via SMS sent my Skype phone number for both logins and for online purchase confirmation.

It has worked for several years now. This is with CapitalOne.

If I remember correctly, my Bank of America purchase confirmation SMS would never arrive.

[GypsyT]

On 10/20/2024 at 3:58 PM, bamnutsak said:

Buy and activate an UltraMobile PAYG SIM, $3/month.

I've had this and working fine for 2 years but recently T-mobile shut off my account when I used VPN and laptop to add money to the wallet.

Now I need to call to 1.800 using my smartphone but not possible - roaming not activated, and not enough money in wallet and 1-800 not working aboard. I'm stuck till I go to US.

 

My fault. I should have had roaming and WiFi activated. Plus enough $$$ in wallet (I never keep any cards "in file").

Increased US paranoia over security? Maybe, maybe not. It's same in everywhere.

PS. Luckily verification SMS codes from my banks are still coming OK.

[youngexpat]

i use a google voice for my OTP's from schwab

[NanLaew]

On 10/25/2024 at 3:28 PM, youngexpat said:

i use a google voice for my OTP's from schwab

 

Last time I checked, Google voice asks for a non VOIP number as part of the account setup.

[NanLaew]

An American friend of mine is using a Tello eSIM that he set up online while here in Thailand. It's $5.50/month and works for 2FA with his banks and online stuff.

Edited November 2 by NanLaew

[NanLaew]

This also seems like a good option. Scroll to the last post from @FarangRimPing

 

 

[mogandave]

Having a US phone seems to be more and more critical. I recently had to do a fee large (to me) transfers which I would normally go through without a hitch. I ended up on the phone five or six times to get the first one to go through. 

 

I have mint mobile in an old iphone. Works here and in the states.  WiFi calling lets me send and receive calls and whatnot free while in Thailand.

[digbeth]

while it's much easier to get a sim card like e-sim with us numbers from Thailand without even having to leave your house just activaste e-sim on your phone, the use case seem to be targeted towards travellers to the US

 

if any of those sim supports wifi-calling it could work in Thailand without the need for roaming charge to use US number in Thailand

[NanLaew]

16 hours ago, mogandave said:

Having a US phone seems to be more and more critical. I recently had to do a fee large (to me) transfers which I would normally go through without a hitch. I ended up on the phone five or six times to get the first one to go through. 

 

I have mint mobile in an old iphone. Works here and in the states.  WiFi calling lets me send and receive calls and whatnot free while in Thailand.

 

Mint mobile used to have a pay-as-you-go UpRoam option that enabled 2FA messages to be received for a few cents whenever you needed them. However, that option is no longer available and has been replaced by Minternational Pass which has three options: 1-day for $5, 3-day for $10 or 10-day for $20. So that's going to be minimum five bucks each time you need to do a single 2FA procedure.

[JohnOFphon]

The Esim option from Tello looks good...except my new phone, I bought last week, won't except Esim....bummer.

 

gonna do so  thinking bout that.

[mogandave]

While I use mint for primary business number, US calls and whatnot, my AIS post-pay phone is my alternative number at my my US bank (Chase) and broker (Fidelity) and they send the code without difficulty. 

 

I like the idea of the e-sim. Next time i’m in the  US I may look at that. 

 

Does it allow you to have two active sims at the same time? 

 

Right now I generally leave the US phone at home and let it go to voicemail if I am not expecting a call. 

 

I can always use the Thai phone hot-spot for to make and receive wifi calls on the US phone.

[shdmn]

On 10/20/2024 at 1:58 AM, bamnutsak said:

Buy and activate an UltraMobile PAYG SIM, $3/month.

 

https://www.ultramobile.com/paygo/

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/285112988423

 

 

 

Then get a Google Voice number (free), as a cost-effective back-up option.

 

 

SMS verification will sometimes not pass the phone number security check if you use Google Voice.  No way of knowing for sure until you try and that is no guarantee it will continue working. 

 

I couldn't find anything about international roaming on the paygo site so I am guessing it can't do that.  So you would have to be in the US to use that service.  Better off getting a US phone number from voip.ms, which can be done from Asia, and using their SMS-to-email feature to get a GV account set up.

 

The most fullproof way to maintain a US/Can number, that should always work for bank SMS verification, is to use a SIM provider and plan that has the WiFi calling feature.  That way it's a 100% legit mobile number that passes security checks, and avoids international roaming fees. 

 

Note that WiFi calling is not the same as VoIP services like google voice or voip.ms.  It's done through your mobile SIM provider, so it's using a 100% legit mobile provider number.

Edited November 4 by shdmn

[bamnutsak]

On 11/4/2024 at 10:59 AM, shdmn said:

SMS verification will sometimes not pass the phone number security check if you use Google Voice. 

 

For me, with some ~ 20 applications GV works with all of them.

 

I do have UltraMobile PAYG (int'l roaming/WiFi Calling) as back-up.

 

On 11/4/2024 at 10:59 AM, shdmn said:

I couldn't find anything about international roaming on the paygo site so I am guessing it can't do that. 

 

Incorrect, UM PAYG roams here fine, on mobile signal ("R" displays above mobile signal strength) OR with WiFI Calling.

 

On 11/4/2024 at 10:59 AM, shdmn said:

So you would have to be in the US to use that service. 

Incorrect. (It does work in the U.S. too, of course, so that helps if you make trips back home.)

 

On 11/4/2024 at 10:59 AM, shdmn said:

The most fullproof way to maintain a US/Can number, that should always work for bank SMS verification, is to use a SIM provider and plan that has the WiFi calling feature. 

 

Meh. But UM/PAYG supports all of your "foolproof" requirements.

 

On 11/4/2024 at 10:59 AM, shdmn said:

Note that WiFi calling is not the same as VoIP services like google voice or voip.ms.  It's done through your mobile SIM provider, so it's using a 100% legit mobile provider number.

 

Correct. UM/PAYG supports WiFi Calling.

 

 

Fidelity offers OTP via their mobile app (for desktop/web login). In addition to SMS. 

 

BofA supports a FIDO key.

 

 

 

 

[RobbieJis]

If you’re looking for a low-cost way to get a USA phone number, I have a few ideas that might help you. These can be handy for signing up for stuff or keeping your number private. One of the easiest ways is to use a service that offers disposable phone numbers. You just pay a small fee and can get a number that works for calls and texts.

I’ve tried a few apps like Google Voice and TextNow, which offer free options, too! You can even get an actual U.S. number without breaking the bank. Just remember to check if the service works in your area. It’s pretty straightforward and a budget-friendly solution.