Expats, what's your credit card experience

[mrpuffrabbit]

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@mortimerwereback wrote:

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@mrpuffrabbit wrote:

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2) Making Google Voice numbers work

There is a method that allows Google Voice numbers to work, even if VoIP numbers are usually not accepted. Most CC providers will only check the type of number when the number is added, not every time they send text messages. This means that you could sign up for a number using a low-cost pay-as-you-go plan, add it to your CC provider's account, and then port it to Google Voice.

Even after your Google Voice number is activated, it is flexible and you can port it back to a regular account, sign up for the CC provider in question, and then port it back to Google Voice. The simplest way to do this is to use Google Fi, but you will have to pay a $30 USD fee for porting the number and keeping Google Fi service for one month. This requires a compatible phone for the entire setup.

In conclusion, there are ways to make Google Voice numbers work, and it may be worth it to pay a one-time fee of $30 USD or so to get your favorite financial services working if no other solution is available. If you're really concerned, you could do this for all your banks/CC providers/brokerages/etc. you have: add the phone number you have from a low cost plan, then after all your CC applications and accounts are setup, port this number to Google voice to have a free number afterwards.

This works for me, but I cannot guarantee that it will in the future (things may change).

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Good information, thank you. I should've read your post before inquiring with the other member about Google Fi. I was thinking of porting my cellphone number to Google Fi as well. Are there any tanbile differences from using Google Fi vs. Google Voice? Sounds like a it might be a good solution if I were roaming for a year or two. I read up on some of Fi's features and I do like their plans etc. Thought it be more useful than simply downgrading my existing cellphone plan.

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Yes, but Google Fi and google voice are very convoluted in terms of overlapping features, so I'll try to juxtapose them:

• Google Fi is considered a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). Google Voice is regarded as a Voice over IP service (VOIP).
• Google Fi is a paid service. Google Voice is a "free" service.
• Google Fi runs on a blend of T-Mobile and US Cellular towers, so you need to check coverage. Google Voice is going to run via WiFi.
• Google Fi behaved identically to my previous Mint Mobile (also uses T mobile towers) subscription. Google Voice sometimes has problems with voice quality, or keypad entries independent of your WiFi signal quality, but the particular google server handles your call.
• Your Google Voice/Fi numbers can be interchanged on both services. You can have two different numbers on the same Google Account.

I'm quite frugal, I would only recommend keeping Google Fi (flexible plan) if you have a Google Pixel phone and/or use the Google ecosystem extensively.

For me, I only used Google Fi (mobile service) as a conduit to make my Google voice number (VOIP service) a "real" mobile number when banks check if the number is acceptable for SMS 2FA.

[hawkins]

I thought I might add to some of this as I have been abroad for years. It is a learning process one that you will constatntly be adapting as time goes on. Its one of the many prices we have to pay when living abroad. As too US cards I have many of them and with the exception of some small issues here and there I have never had any problems both paying and using those cards abroad. Some issuers such as Amex and Chase have even sent me replacement cards abroad. Even CitiBank has never given me any grief. I find that using my parents address works best for me at the moment. My banks have never questioned me about it. In this regard dont ask, dont tell plays well. I do use informed delivery for mail back in the states which I highly recommend. I can then see every piece of mail that goes to my parents and if there is something in there that I need I inform them and they send it out to me. Otherwise they have been instructed to shred everything if I dont say anything. It has worked great for years. I also try to time card renewals and new apps for when I am going to be in town so I can be there to recieve it and activate it. As for Google, I do have it but mostly dont use it. I use an app called TalkU for all my banks and have never had them ever say anything to me about it. I dont have to call them too often and I almost never get calls from them for anything. Works great for also for SMS. Basically so long as you have a US mailing address they dont seem to care that much at least the lenders I have. If you need to use a mail transfer address I say make sure you leave your "home address" as your parents/friends/family and you can then use the transfer service as a "mailing address". Most banks nowadays allow that. If you are a new client just take it easy at first so they dont get freaked out. After some months they will relax since they know you pay your bills. Best of luck.

[mortimerwereback]

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@mrpuffrabbit wrote:

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@mortimerwereback wrote:

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@mrpuffrabbit wrote:

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2) Making Google Voice numbers work

There is a method that allows Google Voice numbers to work, even if VoIP numbers are usually not accepted. Most CC providers will only check the type of number when the number is added, not every time they send text messages. This means that you could sign up for a number using a low-cost pay-as-you-go plan, add it to your CC provider's account, and then port it to Google Voice.

Even after your Google Voice number is activated, it is flexible and you can port it back to a regular account, sign up for the CC provider in question, and then port it back to Google Voice. The simplest way to do this is to use Google Fi, but you will have to pay a $30 USD fee for porting the number and keeping Google Fi service for one month. This requires a compatible phone for the entire setup.

In conclusion, there are ways to make Google Voice numbers work, and it may be worth it to pay a one-time fee of $30 USD or so to get your favorite financial services working if no other solution is available. If you're really concerned, you could do this for all your banks/CC providers/brokerages/etc. you have: add the phone number you have from a low cost plan, then after all your CC applications and accounts are setup, port this number to Google voice to have a free number afterwards.

This works for me, but I cannot guarantee that it will in the future (things may change).

---

Good information, thank you. I should've read your post before inquiring with the other member about Google Fi. I was thinking of porting my cellphone number to Google Fi as well. Are there any tanbile differences from using Google Fi vs. Google Voice? Sounds like a it might be a good solution if I were roaming for a year or two. I read up on some of Fi's features and I do like their plans etc. Thought it be more useful than simply downgrading my existing cellphone plan.

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Yes, but Google Fi and google voice are very convoluted in terms of overlapping features, so I'll try to juxtapose them:

• Google Fi is considered a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). Google Voice is regarded as a Voice over IP service (VOIP).
• Google Fi is a paid service. Google Voice is a "free" service.
• Google Fi runs on a blend of T-Mobile and US Cellular towers, so you need to check coverage. Google Voice is going to run via WiFi.
• Google Fi behaved identically to my previous Mint Mobile (also uses T mobile towers) subscription. Google Voice sometimes has problems with voice quality, or keypad entries independent of your WiFi signal quality, but the particular google server handles your call.
• Your Google Voice/Fi numbers can be interchanged on both services. You can have two different numbers on the same Google Account.

I'm quite frugal, I would only recommend keeping Google Fi (flexible plan) if you have a Google Pixel phone and/or use the Google ecosystem extensively.

For me, I only used Google Fi (mobile service) as a conduit to make my Google voice number (VOIP service) a "real" mobile number when banks check if the number is acceptable for SMS 2FA.

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Wow that's a lot of great information! Thank you for the detailed response. Least it gives me some ideas as to the differences between the two services. I think the whole interoperability thing makes it confusing for customers.

[MrT_521]

My family lived abroad for several years. I used my US credit cards a lot, and I even did some churning. We maintained a US address, and we ported our Verizon numbers to Google Voice. Our GV numbers worked fine for 2FA.

[mortimerwereback]

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@MrT_521 wrote:

My family lived abroad for several years. I used my US credit cards a lot, and I even did some churning. We maintained a US address, and we ported our Verizon numbers to Google Voice. Our GV numbers worked fine for 2FA.

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Thanks for the data point MrT_521. Good to know that the port to GV worked for 2FA. 

[Anonymous]

Guys I was so concerned about PAYING bills. But what if I set it on autopay for stmt balance as I've already done and don't charge very often or much?  Do I even need Google Voice and such. Why didn't I think of this earlier 😆

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Guys I was so concerned about PAYING bills. But what if I set it on autopay for stmt balance as I've already done and don't charge very often or much?  Do I even need Google Voice and such. Why didn't I think of this earlier 😆

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Yes, that is the default thing to do.   Google Voice etc comes in when transactions are questioned, which hopefully doesn't happen very much.   Plus (as always!) need to make sure that the US account has enough money when income is going into local accounts

[MrT_521]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Guys I was so concerned about PAYING bills. But what if I set it on autopay for stmt balance as I've already done and don't charge very often or much?  Do I even need Google Voice and such. Why didn't I think of this earlier 😆

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This is what I've done for the last 20 years. I didn't change anything while I was living abroad.

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[Cookiegrabber]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Guys I was so concerned about PAYING bills. But what if I set it on autopay for stmt balance as I've already done and don't charge very often or much?  Do I even need Google Voice and such. Why didn't I think of this earlier 😆

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That's always possible as a bare minimum, it's just when you're absent for a while that things can start not working out. That's when the phone and address thing starts becoming an issue. I've lost 3 Korean bank accounts (dormancy) and a credit card (unable to deliver) by not having communication lines open when I didn't go back for 5 years. Since then, I pay for all sorts of things to keep everything running smoothly.