AIS International SMS

[doctormann]

Hi

 

I'm trying to set up my mobile phone (Samsung Galaxy J2) to act as a virtual Pinsentry device so enable me to access my international bank account.  I'm with Barclays and they provide an Android application that is supposed to do this.  I've gone through the procedure and managed to input the activation code that they provided - by phone - and the details of my mobile phone.  However, I can't complete the procedure because an additional code is required that is supposed to arrive by SMS.  This code never arrives!

 

So, the question is, are there issues receiving international SMS messages with pre-paid AIS accounts?  Barclays say that there is probably a setting on my phone that is blocking international SMS but I can find nothing and local SMS messages arrive with no problem.  Do I need to get AIS to set up something specifically for international SMS?  I can, of course, try the AIS 1175 help line but I would appreciate any input from others who may have had this problem, before I do this.

 

If I can't get this sorted out I shall have to abandon the whole mobile Pinsentry idea as the whole concept relies on being able to receive access codes via SMS.  I don't know if the codes come from the UK, the Isle of Man or from their operation in Mumbai but they are sent out by SMS.  I can always use a physical Pinsentry device instead but my experience with these things has been less than happy!

 

Any help or constructive advice gratefully received.

 

DM

[mtls2005]

You should be able to receive international SMSes. That said, SMS services are not guaranteed, and I doubt Barclay's can deliver SMSes to some/many/any/all international destinations.

 

Do you know of anyone successfully using this OTP service outside of the U.K.? I assume you used +66 nn nnn nnnn, dropping the leading zero?

 

You may have to use a U.K. number, with roaming, here in Thailand?

[doctormann]

48 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

You should be able to receive international SMSes. That said, SMS services are not guaranteed, and I doubt Barclay's can deliver SMSes to some/many/any/all international destinations.

 

Do you know of anyone successfully using this OTP service outside of the U.K.? I assume you used +66 nn nnn nnnn, dropping the leading zero?

 

You may have to use a U.K. number, with roaming, here in Thailand?

 

I guess that the problem could be at the Barclay's end but, having said that, they are fully aware that I am in Thailand so they should know if their system isn't going to work here.  Frankly, they are not too helpful as I usually seem to end up talking to someone in their customer service division and that seems to be located in India, judging by the accent of the person at their end - often barely understandable.

 

I don't know of anyone else trying to use this service from Thailand - hence the point of the original post - but I surely can't be the only Barclay's customer living here. 

 

They do have my correct mobile number, including the +66 bit and without the leading zero.

 

I've just tried to use the AIS 1175 helpline but I haven't managed to negotiate their automated switchboard yet.  Many 'press n for x' options, none of which seem appropriate.  The 'roaming' option doesn't seem right as I don't need to use AIS from abroad.  All I need is to be able to receive SMS from by bank - don't even need to be able to send anything back.  I'll keep trying.

 

 

 

 

 

[mtls2005]

I can think of no reason why you shouldn't be able to receive an SMS which was originated in another country. I wouldn't waste any time checking with AIS. Maybe if in doubt, ask someone in another country to try sending you an SMS?

 

Some organizations which use SMS for verifications utilize third-party SMS providers, and they may not support international SMSes. Maybe Google for issues others may be encountering when using Barclays in international locations? I know my bank (in the U.S.) does not support international SMS so I have to use my U.S. SIM here in Thailand (where it roams) to receive the OTP. BArclays support may be assuming that you are using a U.K. mobile, roaming in Thailand?

[doctormann]

 

Update on this topic.

 

I tried talking to both Barclays and to AIS and got absolutely nowhere as they were blaming each other for the problem.

 

I did a bit of testing:  No problem with sending or receiving local SMS and no problem with sending international SMS to my sister in the UK.  Also no problem receiving SMS from her although SMS from Barclays were still not getting through.  This was curious - what is it about Barclays that is different?  Some sort of security issue maybe?

 

I though about it a bit more - couldn't find anything in the phone settings that seemed relevant, apart from maybe having Data Services turned OFF.  I normally have it turned OFF as I don't have a data plan and it is relatively expensive to have it ON, even if no data is being transferred.  So, I turned it ON and punched the RESEND CODE button on the Barclays app.  Voila!  The code appeared and I could then finish registering my phone as a pseudo Pinsentry reader.

 

I don't pretend to understand what's going on but it seems that Data Services doesn't even need to be ON in order to use the phone as a Pinsentry, only to register in the first place.  Ah well, problem seems to be solved but wouldn't it be useful if AIS or Barclays, or both, were aware of the solution!

 

 

[JaseTheBass]

Quite normal for a banking app to only use data not wi-fi for security reasons. When I set up my Kasikorn app, the girl made sure I had my wi-fi off and my data on. The app tells me to do the same whenever I use it.

Maybe Barclays can second a few people from Kbank to help with staff training and app writing? :D