Which mobile operator and plan to choose?

[SamSpades]

Hi guys!

I've had a DTAC number for 4 years - just bought in 7-11, went to DTAC office and said I want to use it

permanently, that was it. Never expired.

However, I stayed in EU until Nov this year and due to that new and wonderful law, they've cancelled it.

Along with the remaining balance of 1500thb (lovely) )

Now, whats the best way to get a permanent number now?

With a non-expiring balance - I see some simcards would demand you to add some money every month, otherwise

get locked.

Thanks alot!

[CharlieH]

MOBILE DEVICE FORUM

MOVED

[Suradit69]

A long time ago I signed up with AIS for one of their calling programs, can't recall the name or whether it's still on offer, and each time I topped up the balance the validity of the balance was for a year from the top up.

Anyway, I went into an AIS office at a mall in Bangkok and explained what I needed and the service agent showed me what was available. Suggest you do likewise. They keep coming up with new promotions.

BUT I'm pretty sure all phone service agreements require that there be some activity during either a 3 month or 6 month period ... i.e. calls in or out ... or the number will be reassigned and the balance will be forfeited. I know no one reads the agreement/contract, but you'll probably find it's a standard clause.

Seems reasonable that they want to give the number to someone who will use it since they are running a for-profit business and it's reasonable to assume that if the phone number is not used for months that it's been abandoned by the user.

Edited March 10, 2016 by Suradit69

[extercy]

I am on DTAC Happy for 6 years now with a tourist SIM that was on promotion during that time. As long as I top up any amount, the validation will be extended for a year. No other clause as I tried using it once a year before and there was no issue.

The new law requiring all active SIMs to be registered by March/ April 2015, if I am not mistaken. I went thru the same problem as I change my SIM earlier in December 2014 and gave all my details but apparently, I need to re-register before the date line as the enforcement only came in January 2015. All those that did not register before the dateline will be terminated.

Luckily, DTAC customer service managed to help me thru e-mail, although it took months and a second e-mail with all the necessary details, to get the confirmation.

I know the new tourist sim promotion is different now, as it includes data, so you might need to check it out at a DTAC shop as suggested. Then you can do the top up online every year to keep the SIM active.

Sorry for your lost dude.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It really depends on your intended use of the phone number, and whether you're full-time or not in Thailand.

If you're living here, the easiest way to get a permanent, hassle free number is to sign up for a monthly post paid plan where you get billed in the mail every month. Thus no topping up at all. And no validity periods to worry about.

If you're a tourist or transient, AFAIK, one of the better options is to get a regular prepaid DTAC SIM which you'll probably have to register upon purchase. But after than, you can extend the validity of whatever balance you have on the SIM for an extra 6 months at a time, pretty much indefinitely, for the small cost of 12 baht per 6 month period. And that can be done online via the DTAC website, so you don't even have to be in Thailand or use a Thai payment method to accomplish it.

[extercy]

Interesting.

So the regular prepaid sim is different from the tourist sim ?

I guess it is mainly for calls and sms, no data like the tourist sim ?

12 Baht / 6 months .. nice option.

Good info .. thanks.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

No... regarding DTAC, the regular prepaid SIM and the tourist SIM are pretty much the same. But I believe they have different pricing rates, and may have different validity periods.

For example, at least according to the DTAC website, the 6 month extension for the regular prepaid SIM is 12 baht, while the price for the same extension for a tourist SIM is listed as being considerably higher.

And with the regular DTAC prepaid SIM, you most certainly can use data, same as any other SIM. They'll just deduct the price off your SIM balance for whatever internet you use, unless you select a specific internet add-on plan, which is going to have lower rates than just ad hoc use.

[SamSpades]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Basically, I need it only for my bank OTP codes. The girl at DTAC suggested a Tourist SIM.

They'll deduct 110thb annually to keep the number and there is no expiration of balance

(I still think you have to simulate some activity every month, othervise Devil knows what).

Does it sound plausible? I'll go to their office tomorrow to find out!

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Thanks for the replies, guys! Basically, I need it only for my bank OTP codes. The girl at DTAC suggested a Tourist SIM. They'll deduct 110thb annually to keep the number and there is no expiration of balance (I still think you have to simulate some activity every month, othervise Devil knows what). Does it sound plausible? I'll go to their office tomorrow to find out!

Seems that you aren't listening. Standard 49 baht SIM. Once you used it for 90 days or spent at least 200 baht on it, you become eligible to extend validity by 30 days for 2 baht. For instance 180 days for 6 baht. So no need to spend 110 baht per annum, when it should cost just 24 baht.

*113 *desired extension days (30/90/180 days)*9#

Example: *113*180*9#

https://www.dtac.co.th/en/prepaid/services/jai-dee.html

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

These are the extension rates for the regular DTAC prepaid SIM. Their Tourist SIM extension rates are higher.

[Muzarella]

If you are a permanent resident with proof of address, may qualify for any AIS monthly plan. For long time now I am paying TH 299 + tax for phone service plus unlimited Internet. Not so many minutes on the phone, but enough for my use. Just have to be careful do not pass the limit. Unlimited Internet works very well. Very good signal everywhere.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Just to be clear about terminology, the AIS plans don't require someone to have "permanent residency" -- in the Immigration sense of the word -- in order to qualify. You just pretty much have to be living here, have a fixed address and showing a retirement extension is fine.

Also, AFAIK, the AIS postpay plans are only unlimited for internet in terms of, once you go beyond your plan's designated data amount at full speed for that month, they throttle you down to various lower speeds, ranging from 64 to 384 kbps, depending on the price of the monthly plan you've subscribed to. Generally, the higher priced plans get the higher data speeds for "unlimited." But most of their "unlimited" data is pretty slow.