Hi all 

Could anyone let me know if they have a UK Vodafone sim and whether they are able to receive SMS messages? I have O2 and it works fine, wondering if it's the same for Vodafone sims

Thanks

not be facetious, but, why don't you get the vodaphone number from google and give them a call, they'll be able to answer your question. 

I've been using a Vodafone sim here for more than 15 years and it works just fine, it's one of those pay monthly deals.

But there's a problem - if you ever get a new sim it needs to be 'activated' in the UK which means you need someone there to activate it and then mail it over which means that unless you happen to be going back it's a bit of a pain.

Probably the same with most UK companies as I think as it's a 'telecom industry requirement' I believe.

 

So don't just get one and have it mailed out here - not without getting someone to stick it in a phone first and 'activate it' - whatever that involves.

I still have a larger sim card from before the current size was introduced and I can tell you that they can manually trim them down with some kind of cutting template but if that fails in some way then I'm stuck without the UK phone number for a while which is a bit of an inconvenience as I do use it for some things, so for now I leave it in a really old phone which is still chugging along - they don't sell phones which accept this type of sim any more - even used ones - I've looked and couldn't find any.

It may be the same with 'UK activation' for the modern e-sims issued in the UK as well. Activate first then never a problem....

So that's something to consider.

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

I've been using a Vodafone sim here for more than 15 years and it works just fine, it's one of those pay monthly deals.

But there's a problem - if you ever get a new sim it needs to be 'activated' in the UK which means you need someone there to activate it and then mail it over which means that unless you happen to be going back it's a bit of a pain.

Probably the same with most UK companies as I think as it's a 'telecom industry requirement' I believe.

 

So don't just get one and have it mailed out here - not without getting someone to stick it in a phone first and 'activate it' - whatever that involves.

I still have a larger sim card from before the current size was introduced and I can tell you that they can manually trim them down with some kind of cutting template but if that fails in some way then I'm stuck without the UK phone number for a while which is a bit of an inconvenience as I do use it for some things, so for now I leave it in a really old phone which is still chugging along - they don't sell phones which accept this type of sim any more - even used ones - I've looked and couldn't find any.

It may be the same with 'UK activation' for the modern e-sims issued in the UK as well. Activate first then never a problem....

So that's something to consider.

That's great thanks, I'm in the uk at the moment before i head back to Thailand in September. I'm moving from O2 to a much cheaper deal on Vodafone network... 

13 hours ago, ukrules said:

Probably the same with most UK companies as I think as it's a 'telecom industry requirement' I believe.

Giffgaff used to be a popular option for payg to receive OTPs especially for UK financial institutions. They will post sims out to anywhere and it appears you can activate it online.

 

You may well be right for the others.

15 hours ago, it is what it is said:

not be facetious, but, why don't you get the vodaphone number from google and give them a call, they'll be able to answer your question. 

I don't like calling people... 🙂 Thanks though 

On 8/11/2025 at 7:44 PM, Wyabcp said:

That's great thanks, I'm in the uk at the moment before i head back to Thailand in September. I'm moving from O2 to a much cheaper deal on Vodafone network... 

 

I am on O2, I just use it to received text messages if I am signing onto UK bank apps etc, or other such things.

 

I Have been paying £12 per month since 2022. 

 

No charge to received text in Thailand. 

I've recently managed to get an e-SIM with a phone number to receive phone calls, texts, and SMS from financial institutions in the UK, while based in Thailand, and it's proved invaluable.

 

Very inexpensive and no contract.

 

It has helped with banking matters tremendously.

10 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

I've recently managed to get an e-SIM with a phone number to receive phone calls, texts, and SMS from financial institutions in the UK, while based in Thailand, and it's proved invaluable.

 

Very inexpensive and no contract.

 

It has helped with banking matters tremendously.

May be useful for others to name the provider especially for those not travelling back and can use an esim?

On 8/15/2025 at 11:27 AM, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

I am on O2, I just use it to received text messages if I am signing onto UK bank apps etc, or other such things.

 

I Have been paying £12 per month since 2022. 

 

No charge to received text in Thailand. 

Yes, i was on o2 too. Now got Lebara Sim, £1.99 or 6 months and  then £8 a month. It's on Vodafone network