Where in the World - replace lost number - for SMS verifications only
 

So I need a robust solution for my online banking SMS verifications. Eg. I travel, lose my SIM card and it's impossible to replace when abroad, can't log in to online banking - a nightmare!

Compare European banks with US banks: most European banks harass their customers with all these verifications; they save you for yourself. US banks usally require only a user name/password combo. Bearable if you don't travel but you can't build on it if you travel a lot, live internationally. Your bank usually can't handle an SMS number change if you are abroad.

So is there such a SIM card issued in any country which - when I lose it - they can preferably send me my old number to an international address by mail? Best option. It is also helpful if it is cheap to maintain the number, preferably you don't have to top up regularly, just send an SMS to it from another number to keep it active.

Best option is if I build an online system just for myself, there are similar services where you can send an SMS number to a public service and they show the SMS on an online interface, most notably: http://receive-sms-online.com/

Or I leave the SIM card with a friend or relative and when I do online banking I ask the confirmation code from him. Still not ideal, let's say net is slow, I can barely do online banking, not to mention initiating a Skype conversation abroad, my friend or relative is not always online, time zone differences... it is like shooting to a pigeon with an RPG. Not good solution. Screw banks. :)

Oh, and using a token for online bank logins is not better than SMSes.

What is your recommended solution?

Google Voice

Fongo (Canadian), Line2(Us & Canadian), Fishtext (UK). Some Homg kong prepaids have SMS forwarding capability. Also, you can leave a prepaid SIM from your home country in a prepaid SIM back home in a cheap Android phone and use a million different Android apps to forward it

Good idea, but don't forget:

1. Make sure you leave it plugged in to the charger.
2 You will need to give someone access to it if the number changes while you are away.

Another solution is to call the bank and after they ask you some questions can give you access to your account and probably change the SMS number. I am sure this happens all the time.

Could you give me links to these? Could not find Fongo. Fishtext have a nice site but can't find what I am looking for: they give me a virtual number which can receive texts for example on a computer too? That would be the best solution.

I would prefer to skip this if possible. Way too complicated solution for stupid banks.

Imagine, there are banks that can't handle foreign SMS numbers.

http://www.fongo.com/ or http://www.fongo.ca/

Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ongo.dellvoice
IIRC (because it's been a couple of years since I did it):
1. This app can only be downloaded from a Canadian IP so either fake it or find someone to send you the APK.
2. You'll need a Canadian phone number in order to validate your account.

On iOS, you need a Canadian App Store account to get it as well which requires a Canadian iTunes recharge card in addition to the things outlined above.

Let's take all the options so far. What I need is preferably not (only) a smartphone app but to be able to receive an SMS on whatever (virtual number) on a secured web office. Heck, the web is just much more flexible than a proprietary smartphone app.

What we have so far:

Google Voice - I don't know much how it works since it is a service aimed to the US but will it be good for my purposes? To give me a number where I can receive SMS and that's it. Not any forwarding needed. Free, I assume.

Fongo - What I see on their web page is I can use a desktop app as well, not sure if I can manage SMS from the web. That would be more simple. I couldn't figure out their pricing for what I need.

Fishtext - GBP 15 a year. Hopefully I find a better deal. I assume this is not the best price/quality for this kind of service.

Line2 -iOS only app. Not for me.

Some Homg kong prepaids have SMS forwarding capability - That would be interesting to learn about. And how did you though I should use this. Forward what to where? Maybe I don't get it.

Thank for your insights.

Dear international,

Please allow me to present myself. I am Florence Omobo, a renowned expert in international finance.

From your initial post, I understand that you require assistance to perform security checks with your bank while you are travelling outside Northern Cyprus. Yes, this has become a very common problem recently, but it is a problem which I can easily help you to solve.

For a modest annual fee, which is much less than the 15 pound fishtext fee previously mentioned, I can assist you with your international banking transactions. If you are interested, send me a PM, so that I can give you my postal address to which you should forward your SIM card and bank details.

Best regards,

Florence Omobo