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I've been meaning to post this site. I used it to top up my phone in JA one morning I didn't feel like running out for a card:
http://www.ezetop.com/
You can top up any Claro and Digicel phones. It's more expensive than buying cards but very convenient. You can also use it to top up other people's phones. I'm wondering if I can use it to top up state side so minutes don't expire between reaches?
Just thought I'd share...any other sites that may be better...please share yours.....
Kevin,
yes you can top up your phone from any computer any where.
I use it to keep my Jamaican sim card active.
BTW. If you have a T Mobile phone with a sim card you can put the Digicel sim in it and it will work. Don't make a regular call with it as you you will roaming and the charges are pretty hefty. However, by dialing *120# it will check your credit for no charge and keep the phone active.
Ahhh. The online top-up. Careful folks, don't get drained. LOL. It happens to the best of us though...'nuff said.
http://www.digiceljamaica.com/
Lots of times, you get double credit at certain "cost levels"... :cool:
I top up my Jamaican phone from home with ezetop as well. I put $5.00 US (your credit card will be charged $5.65) every 90 days to keep my sim active. Sometimes I will have to add 100J when I get to Negril to make a call but if you top up every 90 days all your credit will still be there. The last 2 trips I topped up the day before we left home and my phone worked on arrival. Incidentally almost every time I top up my credit card company (Capital One) contacts me to see if I authorized the charge.
I just requested my sim subsidy unlock code for my t-mobile phone and intend to get a sim next reach.
Quote:
Originally Posted by captaind
I also just go directly to Digicel online to top up. No fees and like someone said earlier, they offer promos with double minutes sometimes. That doesn't help you if you are topping up at home just to keep it active but getting double the credit to use for a week when you are in JA is sweet!
we finally bought a phone this past reach, do all the top ups from state side remain in the account until you return assuming that you dont let the sim go dormant!
By the way how long in between top ups do you have to avoid the sim being deactivated; some folks have said monthly some every two months yet others say every three???
many thanks
I'm curious as well. And another question I have is will the Digicel let you top up a phone if the sim has been deactivated? I added credit last month and it took, but I'm not sure if my sim is still active. ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by Rastaron
If you have an unlocked Tmobil with the Digcel sim inserted you can send *124# and it will give the date your credit expires out as well as the "drop dead" date of your sim card. If you go past that you'll have to get a new sim and a new phone number.
For instance, my credit will expire in mid March but my sim will not expire 'tll July.
I have a few hundred Ja. left in credit because just before I left in December I sent most of my credit to my kids.
Next week I'll put a couple of thousand on the phone for use on our trip in March.
I travel home every three months.
Thanks Captain. Unfortunately I do not have an unlocked phone. There has to be another way? Anyone?
Did you buy a digicel phone?Quote:
Originally Posted by booger
I have had mine for about 10 years or so (I still get laughs from folks when they see me using the really old nokia, but hey it works). I have had the same sim for quite some time. I have the phone with me and I take it back each trip. While I am here in the states, I call the phone number once a month. If it goes to my voicemail I know I am good, if it doesn't then I top up online and then call again, it will usually go to my voicemail. When I land I just have to buy a $100J card and input the minutes and then my phone works again. I haven't bought minutes in Jamaica in forever it seems because my minutes remain from any that I have topped up while state side......hope this helps!
i topped up once a month - just easier to remember and to avoid the 1 month - 3 month dilemna
i know the ezetop site checks to see if the number is active (sim working) before the credit is sent.
i think digicel does the same
try testing it with a fake number like (876) 123-4567
also it appears that digicel makes you add $100J when you arrive to "unfreeze" your minutes
on ezetop i'm usually talking on the phone before i leave the plane
and i too top up from my computer - too old to read those tiny numbers on the back of those cards - plus i can add more credit amounts
Yes ma'am. I'll call it and see what happens. Thanks Marley.Quote:
Originally Posted by marley9808
No problem! Hope it works for you!
i have an 9 yr old sony that folks laughed at 2,,but hey it works!!!! i've been topping up on the digicel site..no fees. i forgot my sim card this trip but was able to get a replacement for 500j with my same number and credit. automatic top up takes the worry away.
This is so confusing! So if I top up using Digicell I will still have to wait to buy a card when I get there for it to work? But if I top up using the Eztop it will work right away? This is the first time I am trying to remember to top up because I always forget and end up having to get a new sim card when I get there....Quote:
Originally Posted by Seveen
"also it appears that digicel makes you add $100J when you arrive to "unfreeze" your minutes"
Digicel customers have access to their Airtime Loyalty Points which can be used to purchase $100j of credit (per month) or apply toward buying a new phone. You can use that $100j credit to 'unfreeze' and allow you to make calls.
does every digicel phone on the prepaid minutes require you to add 100j once you land to make the phone work? even if you are topping off via the internet just days before? if so where is closest place to get a 100-500j phone card adder? What if you were there just six week earlier?
many thanks
If you were there just six weeks earlier, you will be fine. Just charge it up and turn it on....as long as you had a balance of minutes left on the phone you will be fine!
thanks marley and i will have to ask digicel what the scoop on the 100j adder is to get the phone to work when one returns from long stint away even if they have minutes on the phone
While digicel does not charge fees, you might want to check your credit card. Since digicel is in Jamaica, you are charged a foreign transaction fee for the digicel top up charge unless you have a credit card with no foreign transaction fee. I'm not sure about eztop though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Babalew
Does anyone know if you are charged a foreign transaction fee for eztop?
Capital One World Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred both have no foreign transaction fees.
Can you buy a phone at the airport in MoBay or just the sim cards?
Good to know, thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by captaind
I think EZtop is in Ireland or some country, other than the US...
I use digicel to top up my friends phone in JA all the time,never had an issue