PSA: Optus Does Not Allow Receiving Texts While Travelling Overseas without Roaming Add on Plans

lawyerz on 02/01/2025 - 00:08
Last edited 02/01/2025 - 00:46 by 1 other user

Just a PSA, currently travelling and Optus 12mth prepaid will not connect to local network despite having the setting to enable international roaming turned on in account settings. Contacted support and was informed Optus no longer allows receiving of texts without a roaming plan addon ($5/day min)

Optus is the only one I'm currently aware that does this. Every other mobile provided will connect to roaming network and allow you to receive texts, and only charge when making calls or using data, and has been this way since… forever

This was extremely annoying as I can't get all the OTP or verification codes etc, or any emergency text messages while overseas.

PSA to all. For me personally this rules out Optus for my primary Sim permanently. I assume all other MVNO that uses Optus is the same, which are Amaysim, Aussie Broadband, Australia Post, Catch Connect, Circles.Life, Coles Mobile, Dodo, iPrimus, Moose Mobile, Southern Phone, Spintel, Vaya, Yomojo

Mobile

Related Stores

Optus
Optus

Comments

  • simplystu on 02/01/2025 - 00:32
    -1

    Dear OP …

    This is nothing new - a quick google - highlights ppl talking about this back in July 2022 … 2.5 years ago !!!

    perhaps next time - do some research before going travelling (or blasting your service provider - blaming them).

    • lawyerz on 02/01/2025 - 00:44
      -6

      That's… what PSAs are for. Not everyone will look this up for something that is industry standard everywhere else.

      • simplystu on 02/01/2025 - 00:46
        +3

        Thanks for the NEG.

        As to my Q … What research did you do before travelling???

        In my other post - as hinted - NOT just Optus network.

    • rumblytangara on 02/01/2025 - 09:19
      +1

      perhaps next time - do some research before going travelling (or blasting your service provider - blaming them).

      This is BS. "Does it roam well" is far down the list of questions that most people make when choosing a mobile plan, which is a decision that typically lasts a year or more.

  • simplystu on 02/01/2025 - 00:41
    +1

    Vodafone is also abit iffy.

    While they won't charge for REC SMS when overseas … But it does appear that you DO need to add an INT roaming pack.

    I'm not with Vodafone, nor overseas - so can't test what I read in other forums.

    So … Not just Optus.

    • lawyerz on 02/01/2025 - 00:45
      -7

      This isn't true. I also have Lycamobile which is an MVNO with Vodafone and it can receive texts and will connect to local network without int roaming pack.

      Optus and Amaysim MVNO with Optus does not work so not the same.

      • simplystu on 02/01/2025 - 00:48

        Guess you should contact Vodafone to tell them … As I sourced that directly from Vodafone's FAQ page.

        • SimpleLeverage on 02/01/2025 - 10:41

          From what I can see on Vodafone's FAQs receiving SMS will not result in the roaming pack being added/charged.

          We’ll only charge you the $5 fee on days that you make or receive a call, send an SMS or MMS or use data in an included country. Receiving messages is free and won’t trigger the $5 fee. Once you’ve paid the $5 fee, you’ll be able to use your plan for the day."

          That said, as far as I know daily roaming packs generally only apply to specific plans, usually postpaid plans. Prepaid plans should be PAYG, with free receiving of SMS. This has been my personal experience with Optus and Boost SIMs overseas, and with overseas SIMs in Australia.

    • 6079 Smith on 02/01/2025 - 04:06
      +1

      I did 50 odd countries last year and Vodafone received texts in most of them, bar a couple in central Africa, can confirm there’s no need for a roaming pack

  • MrHyde on 02/01/2025 - 02:32
    +4

    I am currently overseas and on a Woolies Mobile plan (Telstra network). Receiving SMS over roaming has worked fine.

    With OTP; having roaming access to receive text is a necessity - the number of times I've made a credit card purchase and required a text code to confirm - without ability to receive text; I would be pretty much stuck with the CC being as good as useless. Cash is not an option either as many tourist places now only accept online bookings.

    • aussieplip on 02/01/2025 - 06:16

      Yeah same with Boost

    • Horacio on 02/01/2025 - 16:39

      Yes, thanks to OP for drawing my attention to this, just wish I'd known before buying two yearlong prepaids last month. Damn, and damn Optus for being so stingy, I have not had this problem with Boost.

  • apsilon on 02/01/2025 - 05:55
    +3

    This is what finally puts you off optus? Not, you know, everything else?

  • djkelly69 on 02/01/2025 - 08:39
    +1

    Have you enabled roaming on the phone as well as in account settings? It seems unusual that it is not even connecting to a network.

  • parisian on 02/01/2025 - 08:51
    +2

    Are your settings correct with automatic network search?
    It could be that you've manually selected Optus and turned off the automatic network research?
    It works well with my Amaysim service and Lebara service PAYG with nil roaming packs or credits.

  • ozimarco on 02/01/2025 - 11:43

    Did this inability to receive SMS while overseas kick in on Jan 1, 2025?

  • Bayleaf on 02/01/2025 - 12:03
    +3

    I have been with Amaysim for years and I can still receive SMS overseas without subscribing to a roaming add-on plan. Just make sure to switch on international roaming in the app/website.

    • ozimarco on 02/01/2025 - 17:21
      +2

      I tested this morning and can also confirm that receiving SMS overseas without a roaming add-on still works with Amaysim. All good!

  • ericc on 02/01/2025 - 14:04

    this will affect Wi-Fi Calling?
    I'm not sure if it's the same for Android, but iPhones have a feature called Wi-Fi Calling. This allows you to make calls and receive SMS when you're overseas as long as you're connected to Wi-Fi.

    I've personally used this feature on two of my recent trips without needing to purchase any roaming add-ons from Boost.

    • djkelly69 on 03/01/2025 - 00:42
      +1

      I believe Telstra is the only Aus network which allows VoWifi while out of Australia.

  • jace88 on 02/01/2025 - 16:26

    Thanks for the heads up. I was looking at migrating from Telstra to Optus but this is a deal breaker for me. When travelling abroad I usually keep my main Aussie sim but set it to calls/sms only, and then buy a local data/roaming sim to use.

  • shkippy on 03/01/2025 - 01:54

    According to this, it does not apply to catch connect (which uses Optus).

    • lgacb08 on 04/01/2025 - 07:27

      And not to amaysim either

  • Love a bargain on 04/01/2025 - 10:26

    Don't think that's true.

    If you are on prepaid and don't choose a roaming add-on (https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/plans/international-roaming/…), the general prepaid international roaming rates would apply which states that receiving SMS is free.

    Make sure you have enabled roaming at both the telco and phone levels.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join