Adventures with T-Mobile and PrePaid Data

I recently attended Nokia World 2007 in Amsterdam, and decided I’d pick up a prepaid SIM card while I was over there to use in my Nokia N82, to take advantage of the HSDPA that I don’t currently have here in the States. When I was in London, I used a T-Mobile SIM, and it was really easy. For 1 pound/day, I could have unlimited HSDPA access, and that’s all I really need for the few days I’m gone.

I tried doing some research before I landed in Amsterdam, but the T-Mobile.nl website is only in Dutch, and I didn’t see an option to translate. I tried using Google’s website translator, but it was no more help, either.

Once I landed, I dropped my stuff off at the hotel and set about the town looking for mobile shops. I was really pleased to find that they were easily located, and had a vast selection of handsets – much more than the US Carrier shops I’m used to. The first shop that I stopped in flat-out stated that they did not offer data-only prepaid SIM cards on any carrier. Next up was a Phone House, similar to the UK’s Carphone Warehouse. I asked the first person I could, “I need a prepaid SIM card, and I need to have unlimited data on it.” He said, no problem, T-Mobile had the best prepaid deal. Easy enough, and I’d heard from a friend that they had unlimited data for 2.5 EUR/day. Sounds good.

First problem, the sales rep wouldn’t take my Visa card. I don’t even carry cash in my own country, much less when I’m travelling, so I bummed the 10 EURO off one of the guys with me (Note to self, paypal Rafe 10 EURO). The next question was if I had a SIM-Free phone. Yes, I replied, and triumphantly displayed my N82 on the counter. Unfortunately, the sales rep robbed me of my joy and didn’t even raise an eyebrow, but at least he knew to ask that.

I was able to activate the card easily by putting it in my phone and entering the PIN number printed on the card. I asked the sales rep what I needed to do to activate the unlimited data (in London I had to call and change to a different plan) and he said nothing. Great. It worked perfectly, high-speed HSDPA while roaming the streets of Amsterdam. Rock on.

Fast forward to the next day, and where the real dissatisfaction comes. Data’s not working. Nothing. Everytime I attempt a connection, I get the following text message:

Uw Beltegoed is minder dan EUR 0.50. Bel 1244 om op te waarderen via Mobiel Opwaarderen of via een T-mobile beltegoedbon.

From that I gather that my balance is less than half a Euro, and that if I call 1244, I can top-up. Easy enough, though I would have appreciated an English translation as well. After finding a quiet place, I call 1244 from the phone, and am greeted in Dutch, with no English option.

Now, I know that English is not the universal global language, but T-mobile lost out on potential revenue from me simply because they did not offer any easy to understand translations or rate structures. Even with full web access, I was unable to determine what I needed to do to get exactly the service I want (or if it was even available) and I was obviously unable to do so directly from my mobile.

What experiences have you had using prepaid SIM cards in other countries?