Skype alternative.

[Jaime C]

This is why I still have a business cellphone in the US. While the $25 I pay every month isn’t huge, I can get slow data, phone calls, and texts in Indonesia.

It seems many of my US credit card and bank apps require texted security codes. Often at every login.

 

[jstar]

Same here. A cheap 1 GB subscription. Just need to be careful it’s on WiFi and roaming is off when activated.

 

[Hawk256]

Same here. A cheap 1 GB subscription. Just need to be careful it’s on WiFi and roaming is off when activated.

A lot of 2FA are SMS. That will require active service since they are sent out on the cellular network. Having roaming off will not work. If the bank sends a push notification to your app it will deliver over wifi though.

 

[Banana72]

Side note/rant: Chase, while I understand trying to have a secure/'hack proof' system for their customer, has been ridiculously not helpful at all with my request...new phone is suddenly stuck in a 'scan id' mode after i tried to edit the phone number field with my niece's tello....ok I don't have my drivers license on me (it was sent to the US address after i left)..so I sent a secure message from my web access (which is also inconvenient as they always take 12-24 hrs per message). Asking them if i can use my passport instead. I responded with ok but the app scan doesn't accept passport. The rep responded 12 hrs later "Ah ok i will check into it" (light at the end of the tunnel i though). 12 hrs later, another rep responded "Sorry you need to call since we need special expertise to accept the passport scan" What in the h e double hockey sticks!?? Rant done.

So will look at hushed among other options....while $25 does not seem a lot monthly, I prefer to spend like i did with my Skype number (around $6.95 monthly) as I barely use it at all if any...more like a convenience having a ready US phone when i visit on top of getting 2 OTPs a month.

I am tempted to ask my friend to send my drivers license via mail (maybe i'll send it to a friend's address in singapore instead vs sending it to Indonesia (afraid it'll get lost)...

 

[snpark]

TBH it sounds like you are complaining about the very thing they are trying to stop

You need a trip to the US
Collect your things and reorganise physical sims, address, etc etc etc
You only need the phone on for the OTP etc when you are using your card right?

 

[Banana72]

TBH it sounds like you are complaining about the very thing they are trying to stop

You need a trip to the US
Collect your things and reorganise physical sims, address, etc etc etc
You only need the phone on for the OTP etc when you are using your card right?

Yeah, honestly I do understand what they're trying to do...after all it's for our safety, but just was hoping for more options to verify things (like instead of only state ID, they also allow same scan for passport...) and yes while a trip to the US would be nice, i don't travel as often as previous years (or like other members here). In any case...web access will have to do for now (after the 31st when the old apps goes silent).

 

[jstar]

Same here. A cheap 1 GB subscription. Just need to be careful it’s on WiFi and roaming is off when activated.

From my telecom provider:

In the United States, the standard rate applies instantly. A single megabyte costs several euros. Uploading one high-resolution photo to Instagram consumes 5MB. You pay up to €15 for one post.

In Asia, the billing zones become even more expensive. Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam fall into high-cost categories. Streaming a two-minute video on YouTube consumes 20MB. You face a €50 charge before the video ends.

In Africa and the Middle East, rates hit the absolute maximum. Your phone constantly checks for emails in the background. Your weather app updates your location. These invisible actions consume data. You lose €20 instantly without touching your screen.

 

[snpark]

Hope it works out

Btw kinda sucks with all these apps linking to your number or HP itself. When you change your phone but keep the number most of these bank apps don't work on the new HP even with the same number. It's a pain especially eg HSBC when you have to use the new updated software app and it says you have to unregistered your number and phone yo re register the new phone. But you can't log in to the old app. So you have to go to the branch. And HSBC sucks now pulling out the region so hardly any branches here and the app sucks and no more internet banking and can't access or pay CC online. Next year it transitions to OCBC so let's see what they offer me. It's useful having an international bank account here as it can be quicker if someone sends money from Europe or US especially if they also have HSBC.

Anyway good luck.

 

[WhyMe]

@Banana72 and to everyone else, on Hushed i am able to recieve bank codes from at least four US banks, Amazon, Google, and a lot of other services. The only code i have noticed does not work is WhatsApp because its not an actual number.

Anyways, enough is said already - i see that just like every other post we are going all over the place and in circles not new on this forum.

 

[jstar]

HSBC …..Next year it transitions to OCBC

Ya, more have thrown in the towel. ABN AMRO pulled out of retail and consumer operations quite some time ago, that also sucked. RBS and ANZ took over their retail, wealth and commercial portfolios but that was useless for me.

 

[Hawk256]

I am tempted to ask my friend to send my drivers license via mail (maybe i'll send it to a friend's address in singapore instead vs sending it to Indonesia (afraid it'll get lost)...

How about having someone send you good picture of your drivers license, resize to about the original DL size and then scan that with the phone? Nothing to lose at this point.

 

[Hawk256]

From my telecom provider:

In the United States, the standard rate applies instantly. A single megabyte costs several euros. Uploading one high-resolution photo to Instagram consumes 5MB. You pay up to €15 for one post.

In Asia, the billing zones become even more expensive. Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam fall into high-cost categories. Streaming a two-minute video on YouTube consumes 20MB. You face a €50 charge before the video ends.

In Africa and the Middle East, rates hit the absolute maximum. Your phone constantly checks for emails in the background. Your weather app updates your location. These invisible actions consume data. You lose €20 instantly without touching your screen.

I think that is very exaggerated or outdated TBH. I roam a lot and never have charges like that even with some light to moderate usage. Either that or your provider is ruthless. I used to help negotiate roaming agreements and I remember the days of $3 US per day and $1 US per minute to use your phone while roaming and all we had was voice. Data used to be rather expensive for roaming as well but those days seem to be behind us for everyone but jstar. Seriously I really question the information you were given.