I'm a Ghost, Help! (OZ Number Lost and I'm Overseas)

MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 16:29
Last edited 23/07/2023 - 21:11

I’ve been in Australia a couple of years as a Working Holiday Maker then, during covid, I came back home (in Europe) with the idea of coming back in future, so I left a part of my life in Australia (bank account, super, etc.).

As soon as I stopped the payment to my mobile telco, Belong, I haven’t received any SMS anymore and there my problems began.

Initially I couldn’t log into my MyGov account for the tax return, then my QSuper super account has been killed and my super has been transferred to the government fund account but I can’t claim them as I need MyGov.
I tried to fight with MyGov but, apparently, as long I’m out of the country, they can’t help me and also the ombudsman refused my case.
(I know MyGov released an app to authenticate without SMS but it came out after I left and my document are expired and I can’t reach enough points to be authenticate.)

Recently my bank, UBank, made a rebrand with a new BSB and app where I can’t login without receiving an SMS so now I’m also kicked out of my bank account!

I've also tried to ask to myGov, uBank and also commercial services like Qantas (I have miles expiring) and Cashreward (I've cash back expiring) and NONE of them can set the user mobile number to a non-OZ international prefix …ridiculous…

I’d like to come there in person for a month and sort everything out by myself but I’m working and I can’t do it soon so I was thinking to try by creating a new mobile number and try to migrate everything on the new number.

I can’t get a physical simcard so I’d need an ESIM or (I don’t know if something similar exists) a service where I get my personal number and I can receive SMS online without having any kind of SIM, is it fantascience?

Unfortunately, other than European passport, I don’t have much Australian document still valid, probably just my WA ID photocard and the HRWL which are both supposed to be a valid IDs but, most of the time, they aren’t accepted.

Which telco would you recommend for my case?
Any kind of suggestion?

Cheers!

UPDATE:

I tried:
- Crazytel, an online service which provides but they "only accepts Australian Residents that have an active Australian mobile service. During this sign-up application our system will call you to verify your account for instant activation" PLUS they track the IP address and they lock people signing in from outside of Australia. NOPE
- Get my old number, currently owned by Optus, and this was the result. NOPE
- Contact uBank support but there's no way to bypass the SMS OTP. NOPE
- Apparently, I can't get any new mobile number remotely as, atm, I can't reach the 100 points verification. NOPE
- Qantas, to change the mobile number on my account, needs to send an SMS. NOPE

  • Every time I write an email to some support centre, the answer is "you can call us!" . What's wrong with emails???

Sounds like, since I'm out of OZ, I'm stuck, out of my bank account and everything just because I can't receive SMSs, ridiculous…
If someone has some time to waste helping me we might try to activate a Crazytel number by using his number for verification, I'll be very thankful!

(kind of) SOLVED (temporarily, by cheating):

Stated that:
- I couldn't login without receiving an SMS on an oz number.
- I couldn't get an oz number remotely as, atm, I can't reach the 100 points authentication.
- Everybody wants to speak with me at the phone, no way to solve by email. (Luckily my local fix telco, for completely random marketing reason, gives free call to fix Australian numbers.)

I gave to uBank support the mobile number of a friend of mine in Australia and I'm finally able to access to my online banking.

Qantas has been more flexible, I had just to call them to set my Italian number on my account to receives messages, I won't have to waste my miles!
I'm still out of myGov but at least I solved 2 of my 3 problems!

Mobile

Comments

  • Protractor on 06/07/2023 - 16:58
    -2

    Chapter 3 Little Black Book of Scams?

    • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 17:05
      +1

      My driver license (which lasts 3 years) expired last August but I can proof my identity by WA ID (which lasts 10 years) and and HRWL (5 years life) which ARE IDs (as they're issued by institutional authorities and have name, DOB and photo) but, for some reason, most of authorities don't recognise them as IDs! Otherwise I've my EU passport, plus all my original credentials and my history.

      If I'm a scammer, I'd be a genius!

      Anyway the biggest issue seems to be the fact that authorities never thought that someone could have issue while overseas…

      • Protractor on 06/07/2023 - 17:17
        -2

        Just contact your consulate or the Australian one or both. Sort it while sussing out a phone provider option

        • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 17:21

          Do you think? Sounds like a very silly thing to bother a consulate!
          They should worry about passports lost or citizens abused, not expired phone numbers…

          …plus there's only one OZ consulate in Europe and it's 1200km away, it's almost quicker to come in Australia!

          • Protractor on 06/07/2023 - 17:29
            -4

            @MatteCar: You are worried about tax,ID,NyGoc etc, and it's just silly to want it sorted properly? OK.

            No internet in Europe? Where in Europe exactly are you?

            • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 17:34
              +3

              @Protractor: I'm just saying that this kind is not what a consulate is made for, also considering how Australia DOESN'T care about non-OZ people…

              It's a long time I'm trying to solve this on internet from EU but, unfortunately, Australia doesn't like internet, that's why I'm asking how can I get an obsolete SMS!

              • Protractor on 06/07/2023 - 17:37
                -8

                @MatteCar: Geez. Anything good to say about the hand that fed you?

                • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 17:44
                  +1

                  @Protractor: Lot of good things about real people, mentality, landscapes, culture, ecc.
                  Nothing about bureaucracy, immigration management and people working for them… (As any other country in the world.)

                • cookie2 on 06/07/2023 - 22:24
                  +3

                  @Protractor: I feel like that's off topic and you're being a little sensitive.

                  Why would anyone be spreading the good word about Australia when they're in a forum thread about their difficulties in accessing their monies through australian organisations.

                  I don't think that's unreasonable of them.

              • pjetson on 06/07/2023 - 19:37
                +1

                @MatteCar:

                considering how Australia DOESN'T care about non-OZ people…

                I'm sorry that you're in the circumstance that you find yourself, but as far as I can tell from what you've posted, you're being treated exactly the same as "OZ people". These organisations are not asking for anything more than they ask of anyone else. The difference is simply that you are overseas and that's why you can't comply with the requirements. Aren't you really asking for different treatment because you're "non-OZ".

                • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 21:17

                  @pjetson: I don't agree.
                  I believe my case is not that "exotic" but I contacted any kind of support for myGov and other services and NO ONE has never been able to do something more than explaining me how to use the online automatic tools then, when realised that I've already tried all of them by myself and no one was useful for my case, they just closed the call with "sorry, I can't help while you're not here". (I stayed an hour at the phone with a uBank operatore to get this!)
                  No one has an override system for special cases, no one can do more than help people not able to use the online automatic services (= people not able to read!)
                  Qantas, when logging in, let you choose between SMS OTP or email then, when you want to redeem miles before expiring, you must receive an OTP via SMS. RUFKME?!?

                  Plus I lived for more than 2 years in Australia and I've never had a problem in login into my Italian services, after a month I left Australia I was already out of myGov!
                  There's something wrong I believe…

          • 2esc on 07/07/2023 - 09:26

            @MatteCar: Many Australian embassies also contain a consular section that may be able to help you.

            I believe there are approximately 20 in europe.

  • wryun on 06/07/2023 - 16:59
    +4

    That sounds awful - sorry you've been given the run around by everyone.

    You can buy a virtual mobile number from a VOIP provider like https://crazytel.com.au/crazyphone-softphone/ . They don't have the easiest to understand user interface, but I can at least confirm that they work for voice numbers, and I think if you purchase a mobile number you'll be able to use their app to make calls and SMSes from that number. You won't need a SIM or eSIM, which I suspect wouldn't work until you'd registered them on an Australian network.

    • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 17:17

      Thanks!

      That looks exactly like what I was looking for but, unfortunately, by jumping onto the services page and also by checking the reviews on the store, the SMS service, which is what I need, seems like disappearing; also on some reviews on the App Store people complain for that.
      I'm OK with phonecalls, for some reason my Italian telco gives me free calls to OZ numbers.

      Do you know any other service like this which I can check?

      Thanks!

      • wryun on 06/07/2023 - 19:11
        +1

        I'm not that familiar with the market. You could try posting here: https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/125?g=506
        Or just search for 'virtual mobile number site:.au' or similar.

        Re the reviews, I think those are just a couple of people who had bad experiences (and people who were frustrated MMS didn't work or were trying to send international SMSes). I don't think that means their SMS service is broken. Not sure what you meant by the 'services page'. At any rate, in my account I have SMS related options available to me, and I'd be surprised if they were advertising it so prominently on that page and it didn't work. They also have another page where they explain how their virtual mobile numbers work:

        https://crazytel.com.au/virtual-mobile-numbers/

        • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 21:05
          +1

          "Receive SMS to your email. (Free)" 🥹

          I'll have one try to recover my original number as it seems not impossible then I'll jump on this, thanks!

    • MatteCar on 14/07/2023 - 19:00

      SURPRISE!
      "Crazytel only accepts Australian Residents that have an active Australian mobile service. During this sign-up application our system will call you to verify your account for instant activation."

  • AustriaBargain on 06/07/2023 - 17:23

    You can't get your number back, how long ago did the Belong deal end?

    • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 17:28

      Too long! Almost 2 years.
      I'm used to Italian telcos where, even if I stop paying for my deal, my SIM stays active for at least an year after last recharge but, with Belong, they also stopped me from receiving SMS as soon as my deal expired, bastards!

      A month after (I believe), my number also disappeared from my Belong online account.
      After that, I've never worried to check it again so it has just died.

      • AustriaBargain on 06/07/2023 - 17:34
        +2

        You tried calling or messaging the number, if it's not active maybe you could reclaim it somehow.

          • AustriaBargain on 06/07/2023 - 17:48
            +2

            @MatteCar: I sent a text to it. It tried to send as an iMessage at first but I forced it to be a text.

            • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 17:50

              @AustriaBargain: Thank you very much, let me know what happen!
              I'll hide the other message with my number.

              If it's assigned, I might ask the guy to collaborates with me for 10 minutes by just telling me the OTP he receives… it would be great!

            • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 23:52

              @AustriaBargain: I've also sent an iMessage to him and results "delivered" [roll of drums!]

  • 87percent on 06/07/2023 - 17:57
    +2

    You can PM me the number and I can check if it’s been reclaimed

    • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 18:02

      Thank you very much! <3

      I can't PM you because (guess what!) "Unable to send message: Overseas user"! Also OZBagain discriminates!
      Anyway my number was 0.4.0. 3.9.7.2.4.3.2.

      • AustriaBargain on 06/07/2023 - 18:10
        +1

        This site says the number was originally provisioned to Optus in 2000 and is still held by Optus with last transfer date 2003, whatever that means.

        https://www.thenumberingsystem.com.au/#!/number-register/sea…

        So you should probably contact Optus about reclaiming the number if it's not being used by anyone right now.

        • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 18:52

          That’s weird. My history with that number began in 2018 with Amaysim and finished in August 2021 with Belong…which should be under Telstra (if I’m not wrong).

          I’ll try with Optus. Do you know if there’s any online automatic service or do I’ve to enquiry the support centre?

          Thank you!

          • AustriaBargain on 06/07/2023 - 19:01
            +1

            @MatteCar: The number may have been ported since it was first issued. From what I can see though the telco it was originally issued to is who you should contact about reclaiming it.

        • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 21:20

          Sorry, I'm trying to use that webpage but it's not working! I type number (also number I know existing), from and to dates and I always get "No records were found matching the filters". Where am I wrong? Do I need a VPN also there?!

          • AustriaBargain on 06/07/2023 - 21:41
            +1

            @MatteCar: Put your number in the "Number" field and then click Search. Just put the plain number, starting with 04, instead of +61.

      • 87percent on 07/07/2023 - 09:37

        yeah, the number has been returned to Optus in May 2021. I can't see if Optus has reallocated the number. Normally, when a number is disconnected, it goes into a quarantine status and SHOULDN'T be reassigned for 6 months. There are ways around it (eg; if there's a number shortage, or if a previous owner wanted the number back)

        • MatteCar on 07/07/2023 - 16:22

          It's a strange situation, I sent an iMessage to him and it results delivered, which means that somewhere a phone rang for my message but, in half day, it hasn't been read and also some guys from here wrote to him and no one get an answer but silence… elder person?
          Simcard used for technical reason (like CCTV)? (EDIT: impossible, the iMessage has been delivered which should means that the Simcard is in use inside an iPhone…)

  • Love a bargain on 06/07/2023 - 18:20
    +1

    Pretty sure you are allowed to activate an Australian mobile number with an overseas passport (think back to when you first arrived in Australia with no Australian IDs).

    • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 21:09

      In-store as they can verify the document immediately.
      Online there's an automatic tool to verify the IDs and, for what I remember, not all the companies has tools for world-wide passports…

  • trapper on 06/07/2023 - 21:51

    I just use username and password to log into MyGov.

    With banking login I had similar problem logging into Kiwibank without my old NZ number. I just phoned them up and they just cleared the phone number off my account and poof no more SMS confirmations asked for or required lol

    • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 23:06

      Also a friend of mine log just with the credential, maybe older accounts works, mine requires two factor authentication and I can use only the SMS unfortunately…
      Same for the bank: I tried to call them once and, after an our speaking with an operator, he solved nothing…

      • Yola on 07/07/2023 - 17:37

        Yes, every time I log into MyGov it sends a text.

        • MatteCar on 07/07/2023 - 17:42

          Recently they released an App which is an upgrade as you're independent from your number and is about the same system which is used from years in Europe.
          Unfortunately atm I can't reach the 100 points to activate it! (I'd need a valid Medicare card but mine is expired!)

          I've also enquired the ombudsman for this reason as I've more valid IDs but myGov don't accept them (WA photocard, HRWL and European passport) but they refused my case…

  • YTW on 06/07/2023 - 22:20

    Have you tried contacting Belong to see if you can reactivate your account? Got any friends or family (that you can trust) in Australia who can get a new number set up for you?

    You might find the best way forward with the tax and super is to use an Australian accountant to help you out. They should be able to access and arrange things for you.

    It's a bit of a trap you can get into with the SMS verifications. We realised it when my dad was going overseas and not taking his mobile with him. It's a shame the companies and government departments aren't being more helpful, but unfortunately scammers have made it hard to get anything done from a distance.

    • MatteCar on 06/07/2023 - 22:38

      Thank you!

      I haven't tried to contact Belong honestly, I could try to contact them and Optus (which appears to be the owner of the number…).
      EDIT: Unfortunately, Belong doesn't support ESIM yet so, even if they restore my number, I can't use it…

      I have contacts there but I like to get out of the mud by myself and I'd try to fix this situation by myself (even if it's getting stressful…).

      I've been helped by an accountant for the first year, when I had something to claim back, now I shouldn't have any credit/debit but, sometimes, I receive some emails from myGov to notify me that I have a new message, "login to see it" and every time I get mad!

      I wish all this trouble are to prevent scammers but, I'm afraid, it's just a badly conceived system…

  • buderim11 on 07/07/2023 - 07:38

    Good luck trying to reactivate your old number , I have tried several times to get my old Lycamobile number reactivated with no success.

    • Msfrugal on 07/07/2023 - 08:12

      Clarifying that Lycamobile couldn’t reactivate the number for you ?

      • buderim11 on 07/07/2023 - 08:17

        I sent a couple of emails and got no reply , so I called them I was just told they couldn't reactivate my old number. I have no idea if that is the case or if the agents cant be bothered.

        • Msfrugal on 07/07/2023 - 08:21

          Thanks.

  • Msfrugal on 07/07/2023 - 08:17
    +1

    I’ve just phoned the number and left a voicemail briefly explaining situation to them and asked them to call me… fingers crossed 🤞
    Edit!
    Oh - I just imsgd and sent them link to this page as proof 🤞

    • buderim11 on 07/07/2023 - 08:25

      Please let me know if you have any success with Lyca

  • Sinnerator on 07/07/2023 - 08:51
    +3

    I came here for a ghost story :-(

  • 2esc on 07/07/2023 - 09:28

    Go to an Australian embassy many also contain a consular section that may be able to help. Theres approximately 20 Australian embassies around Europe.

  • desibaba on 07/07/2023 - 09:39
    +2

    Next time while going back to home country, port the sim to something like this https://www.aldimobile.com.au/products/payg (any pay as you go sim should do ) and take the sim with you. May have to spend 5-10$ every year but you can receive sms without issues even if you are not in Australia.

    • MatteCar on 07/07/2023 - 16:18

      You're right, just I'm use to European (Italian?) regulation where a number must stay active and operative for at least an year after the last recharge, when I found that Belong didn't even let me receive an SMS without my offer active, I couldn't believe it!

      I didn't care too much because I was supposed to get back pretty soon and, even if I couldn't check my tax return, I was OK. Then time went on and I'm still away, plus my bank kicked me out from my account so I just realised that I should fix this thing ASAP…

  • werdnanostaw on 07/07/2023 - 10:39

    I wouldn't put too much faith in Consulates, especially Honorary Consulates. My sister was HC in an African country 10+ years ago; maybe things have changed but I doubt it.

    All she did was help people who had lost their passport and money either through:

    • carelesseness
    • theft
    • Internet romance scams

    She saw so many of the latter that she had lots of material for an, unpublished, novel that she wrote about one of the cases she was involved in.

    In her storyboard for the novel she used photos of Matthew McConaughey as the rugged ringer from an Oz Outback station who had had his passport, money and CCs stolen when he went to meet his dream woman.

    It turned out that his dream woman was the HC "played" by Penelope Cruz.

    The rugged ringer existed IRL but my sister didn't get into a relationship with him.

  • Gustavo Fring on 07/07/2023 - 20:56

    For now just get a mate to sign up for a sim plan for you

  • Webber000 on 09/07/2023 - 09:43
    +1

    Hi, Can you order a $10 Amaysim starter pack on their website and send it to a friend who will then post it to you? The one that is just pay as you go credit (don't choose a monthly plan one) lasts for a year and you can receive SMS for free overseas. Won't get your old number back but at least it means you can try to give those companies the new number then you can get the verification codes, and in a years time you just need to add $10 more credit to it so it lasts another year. Easy way to save your number for a year at a time.

    • Love a bargain on 09/07/2023 - 12:59
      +1

      Amaysim offers esims

      • MatteCar on 09/07/2023 - 19:44

        Cool, this might be the best option, 10$ for a year of SMS!

        Do you think I'll be alright activating and using the eSIM completely overseas? Does it need to be activated in Australia?

        • Love a bargain on 10/07/2023 - 13:33
          +1

          Activating overseas - should be fine as it can all be done online

          You need to check if you've the required/ sufficient proof of ID though. https://www.amaysim.com.au/help/mobile/getting-started/accep…

          • MatteCar on 10/07/2023 - 14:37

            @Love a bargain: I supposed that WA photocard is not considered a Driver license (I wonder why, they're the same!) so I don' meet the requirements 🤬

        • Webber000 on 10/07/2023 - 17:17

          Should be fine. And you can activate with an international passport (says it needs a valid visa but not sure if they check that or just verify the passport). Or get a friend to do it as its only pay as you go.

          • Love a bargain on 10/07/2023 - 17:22
            +1

            @Webber000: Guess they check the passport info gainst the Australian visa database rather than each foreign countries passport database.

            • MatteCar on 13/07/2023 - 01:37

              @Love a bargain: Yep, they accept foreign passport with valid visas, which means that foreign passports join australian database WHILE they're allowed to stay…

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