2-step verification by phone

Many applications are implementing the 2-step verification with a phone.
But this kind of security has a downside for users who move to other countries and even for users who lost their phones.
I used a phone number (DTac) for all my 2-step verifications, but I travel frequently to other countries and thus lose this number.
For a few sites, I change the number and could keeping log-in.
But for other sites (Amazon) I forgot to change the phone number and log-in is impossible.
On top of that, their "Help" is next to none.
How to avoid this problem?
Is there a cheap SIM card that I could use world wide for the 2-step verification?
TIA

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Use a double sim phone., and keep the main sim, the one linked to the apps you mention, active when abroad.

I've kept a UK number active for years and have always used a double sim phone. I just change the primary sim card to Thai while in Thailand and UK when overseas.

I think the UK line costs around 17 quid a month to keep open and I very rarely use it to make calls, but the number roams and it's been so useful for double verification when banking (UK bank) and accessing UK and Norwegian tax websites, etc. It's also useful to have roaming UK number while I still spend so much time in Norway.

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I think the UK line costs around 17 quid a month to keep open

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you might get a better deal with Giff Gaff pay as you go. top up only when necessary, and very cheap monthly p.a.y.g. data plans too.

Nice solution, but a little expensive.
In Thailand, I used a DTAC pre-paid number to use for the 2-factor verification.
Top-up with 500 baht and it was active for 1 year.
But somehow, the SIM card got deactivated while I was abroad.

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Originally Posted by World traveller

I used a phone number (DTac) for all my 2-step verifications, but I travel frequently to other countries and thus lose this number.

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You can get a roaming deal on that number, at some cost.

Another option is to look into eSIMs. I was interested in Saily from Nord but it turned out they do not (yet) offer a phone number. I believe other companies do. I haven't pursued it because like Mendip I keep a live UK SIM as well as my Thai SIM and since I seldom travel now this works for me.

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Originally Posted by Mendip

I think the UK line costs around 17 quid a month to keep open and I very rarely use it to make calls,

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switch to lebara, they use vodafone network, you can get 5GB monthly, 1000 texts and 100 international minute inc Thailand, the package is pay monthly and you can get EU roaming. You can buy addons to extend stuff - this package is their cheapest and is £5 a month, cancel anytime. They do other pacages with higher data etc but i rarely use all mine as i piggypack the internet wifi and have a works phone. You can manage you account onlikne, its easy

Just a moment...

Thankfully Lloyds Bank (UK) are happy to use a Thai phone number.

If travelling with my Thai number, I asked for roaming and use dual SIM but just keep roaming off on the Thai SIM.

I would imagine the reverse would be true.

You don't say where you're from but a lot of US folk use Google Voice.

^

is that Lloyds International Isle of Man, or Lloyds UK "high street".

I had to get an Isle of Man a/c in order to do banking from Thailand.

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Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

You don't say where you're from but a lot of US folk use Google Voice.

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After living 25 years in Thailand, I moved back to Spain for several reasons (https://youtu.be/50l2IQE-5wc?si=drxBPT_4xm_0VEro).

That's how I losed my 2-factor authentification number from Thailand.
I intend to travel back to Thailand at the end of this year (VIP Visa) and stay there for 179 days.
To avoid losing accounts because of the 2-factor authentication, I look for a cheap phone number which I can keep using everywhere.
I have the "Google Authenticator" which don't require a phone number, but this method is not applied by all applications.
I like the idea of E-sims, but at the moment they are very expensive and need a special phone (also expensive).
I prefer waiting for the "Elon Musk" phone (if it ever will be available).

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Originally Posted by taxexile

^

is that Lloyds International Isle of Man, or Lloyds UK "high street".

I had to get an Isle of Man a/c in order to do banking from Thailand.

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Lloyds High Street. I've had the account since 1980 though.

When I went to change it from the sandpit when I moved here, the nice Geordie lady did say "Oh I don't think you have an overseas number"; I calmly explained to her that I'd had one since the late 80's when I set sail from Blighty for the last time, and she happily changed it over.

^ Ditto NatWest. They have let me continue with an overseas address and phone number, and I have used both Thai and German over the years.

The only problem is that I cannot alter the accounts or have a new account in the UK.

I do the same as Mendip, only German and Thai numbers on a dual sim phone. My problem is that my German and French accounts are tied to the phone via the apps whereas my UK account only requires the number. This has been a nuisance when my phone decides to die, usually at the most inconvenient time. It's why I don't trust aircraft checkin or paying using the phone. My preferred two step verification is to use the laptop and verify via phone number rather than app.

In Thailand, we use one2go and they keep my number alive as long as it is used at least once every 6 months. I have a monthly data plan that works okay. Don't know the cost details, leave that sort of thing to the wife. As long as it works and she can top it up whenever needed then I am happy.

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Originally Posted by World traveller

I intend to travel back to Thailand at the end of this year (VIP Visa) and stay there for 179 days.

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If you're intending to flip between the two, get a Thai (AIS) SIM and keep it up to date if you haven't got one already. IIRC you can add a month of validity for each Bt10 top up (as in individual top ups, i.e. Bt100 doesn't get you ten months. 10 x Bt10 does).

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To avoid losing accounts because of the 2-factor authentication, I look for a cheap phone number which I can keep using everywhere.

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Whether you can use a Spain account with a foreign number is down to the bank. If you can, no problem, if you can't, get a Spanish Pay-as-you-go SIM and keep it up to date.

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I have the "Google Authenticator" which don't require a phone number, but this method is not applied by all applications.

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I don't know any banks that use public authenticator apps. They usually they have their own app or use a device.

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I like the idea of E-sims, but at the moment they are very expensive and need a special phone (also expensive).

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Nah.

eSIM Compatible Phones and Supported Devices – Updated List 2025

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I prefer waiting for the "Elon Musk" phone (if it ever will be available).

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Now you're being retarded.

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Originally Posted by Troy

In Thailand, we use one2go

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I haven't heard that name in years :)

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Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

If you're intending to flip between the two, get a Thai (AIS) SIM and keep it up to date if you haven't got one already. IIRC you can add a month of validity for each Bt10 top up (as in individual top ups, i.e. Bt100 doesn't get you ten months. 10 x Bt10 does).

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I was looking at the DTac prepaid eSIM for 2.290 THB (about 65 EUR).
1 year validity.
Pay once and get peace of mind for 1 year.

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Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Whether you can use a Spain account with a foreign number is down to the bank. If you can, no problem, if you can't, get a Spanish Pay-as-you-go SIM and keep it up to date.

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Official entities can not be accessed from abroad.

My Pension (Belgium) and other state owned entities (Tax department, etc.) uses the "It's me" application which can not be accessed outside Europe.

In Spain, all the State owned entities uses the "CLave" application which can not be accessed outside of Spain.

My Bank has no problem to be accessed from abroad as it uses their own verification method and this method is accessible from anywhere.

I will need to keep my Spanish Sim "alive", but I will have no access to the state entities outside of Spain/Europe.

Even though my package with my mobile provider has roaming enabled, my phone isn't roaming.

I have a double sim so have been using my UK one when abroad, but even that was in and out in Spain the other week.

I'm having to go into settings and manually switch my mobile networks between sims to get any kind of service.

Most of the time it just says no service or emergency calls only. The mobile provider have given me a new sim but can offer nothing more.

However, it would seem an update has changed my roaming settings and others, which I've sorted, but no luck with roaming (it's actually got worse).

Any ideas?

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Originally Posted by hallelujah

Even though my package with my mobile provider has roaming enabled, my phone isn't roaming.

I have a double sim so have been using my UK one when abroad, but even that was in and out in Spain the other week.

I'm having to go into settings and manually switch my mobile networks between sims to get any kind of service.

Most of the time it just says no service or emergency calls only. The mobile provider have given me a new sim but can offer nothing more.

However, it would seem an update has changed my roaming settings and others, which I've sorted, but no luck with roaming (it's actually got worse).

Any ideas?

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Roaming isn't a magic bullet.

You need to be on a partner network.

The mobile provider usually lists these on their website.

So when you go to a foreign country, try manually connecting to one of the networks on their roaming partner list.

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Originally Posted by World traveller

Is there a cheap SIM card that I could use world wide for the 2-step verification?

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I heard great reviews about Airalo (eSim). You can use it in 137 countries for calls or data or both.

Not sure if it'll help but you can check it out.

Global eSIMs for Travelers | Data, Calls, Texts | Airalo

How to check to see if your phone or tablet is compatible with an eSIM. If it isn't, I'd suggest getting a better phone.. it is the 'in' thing these days for people who travel lots.

List of eSIM Compatible Phones and Tablets in 2025 - Klook Travel Blog

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I used a phone number (DTac) for all my 2-step verifications, but I travel frequently to other countries and thus lose this

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From 2005 to 2020 I lived in the middle east, and it cost me 3 baht per month to keep my dtac number active.

Oh and I 'travelled frequently to other countries', 'world traveller'.

*snigger*

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Originally Posted by cyrille

From 2005 to 2020 I lived in the middle east, and it cost me 3 baht per month to keep my dtac number active.

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I had the DTac number for over 20 years and used it for all my calls/SMS in SE-Asia and Europe.
When I came back to Spain, a few months ago, I needed a SIM-Card to use in Spain.
I went to a "Orange" counter at the airport in Madrid and asked the girl for a Spanish SIM-Card.
A few days later, when I wanted to check my Facebook account, I noticed that the DTac SIM-card was missing in my phone.
The girl at the counter simply took it out and replaced with an Orange SIM-Card.
That's why I consider now to use an E-Sim card.
HTH

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Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

it is the 'in' thing these days for people who travel lots.

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Only if you don't have a spare slot.

I had this problem with my Australian account. Last time I was in Oz the bank gave me a small digital key that generates a random number every 30 seconds or so. I just input that when prompted by the bank when outside of Australia. It works all over the world and the battery is supposed to last 10years.

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Originally Posted by Hugh Cow

I had this problem with my Australian account. Last time I was in Oz the bank gave me a small digital key that generates a random number every 30 seconds or so. I just input that when prompted by the bank when outside of Australia. It works all over the world and the battery is supposed to last 10years.

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On their website, Lloyds actually display a code and give me a voice call. I key in or speak the code and Hey! Presto!

Their app uses a jumbled keyword and fingerprint to authenticate which is fine, too.