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Question

CAN YOU HELP ME - RECIEVE U.S. TEXT MSG WHILE I'M IN THE UK

Feb 24, 2018 4:50AM PST

I have encountered a problem with my U.S. Wells Fargo Bank that has prevented me from carrying out international funds transfers. My bank uses a security procedure that involves sending a text message to my phone with a code that needs to be entered with their online international funds transfer system.

I have a UK phone and have entered my UK number +44-7580-330168 into my Wells Fargo profile. Regrettably Wells Fargo’s system does not dial and send text messages to phone numbers outside the U.S.

Understanding this, I would like to buy an inexpensive U.S. phone and a Pay As You Go SIM Card that would provide me with a U.S. phone number and the ability to receive a text message in the UK.. The phone and SIM card would need to have Roaming Capability (allows the phone to connect to a UK service provider when used in the UK at a cost). I would also need to be able to buy Top Ups (buy more phone time) for the SIM Card Online given I could not be in the U.S. to pay for Top Ups when needed.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how I could accomplish my objective with a low cost solution? I sincerely appreciate your assistance.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Have to go with nope.
Feb 24, 2018 7:44AM PST

While there may be a text forwarding hack, the problem remains a Wells Fargo issue. My bet is they won't to stop possible fraudulent transfers.

In your case, old school call them up to wire the money is usually done.

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Answer
Re: US text message
Feb 24, 2018 8:18AM PST

Any phone with a US number should be able to receive a text message to that number all over the world (that's the G in GSM standing for Global). But it won't be free if the phone is not in the USA, so indeed you need a pay-as-you-go (called "prepaid" here) SIM-card, that - another requirement you state - could be loaded online. That depends on the provider, but here all providers offer such an option (it's cheaper for them than paying a retail shop for selling a code).

It's up to you to find a cheap phone and a cheap pay as you go sim card. Even a UK phone with a US SIM card should work (that's another case of the G standing for Global).
Nothing special about what you want.

The alternative to pay-as-you-go, of course, is a contract that suits your needs (like 100 minutes for 5 USD + extra for international calls). That doesn't make receiving SMS cheaper, however, so if you only use it for that, it's not cost-effective. But it might be cheaper to call from the UK to the USA with a USA SIM-card than with a UK SIM-card. That depends on the carriers.