Strategy to obtain US Amex

[PointsLife1]

I also use GV and can receive SMS fine. I think Google got more strict now and you need a number with their big 4 or big 5 carriers.

Thanks for the heads up and feel I am close but always a little road block with this US credit card game.

Will have to try other methods but looking online lots of expats are frustrated with Capital One and the verification sms process. Difficult as lots of different services online but some you need to pay first and then see if it works for Cap1.

Short code sms messages seem to be the issue with lots of carriers.

 

[steveyyf]

I also use GV and can receive SMS fine. I think Google got more strict now and you need a number with their big 4 or big 5 carriers.

trying to find carrier/sim card that can receive verification sms from Chase but i am still heading nowhere. cost is also a issue as we will need keep it running overseas so it doesn't work economically if the plan is too expensive.

 

[PointsLife1]

trying to find carrier/sim card that can receive verification sms from Chase but i am still heading nowhere. cost is also a issue as we will need keep it running overseas so it doesn't work economically if the plan is too expensive.

Frustrating and I read on a forum someone signed up for an iPlum account and could receive SMS from Capital One. I just tried it and paid $4.99 USD for a monthly number and no SMS received.

This is going to be costly just trial and error until something works.

 

[Finale]

trying to find carrier/sim card that can receive verification sms from Chase but i am still heading nowhere. cost is also a issue as we will need keep it running overseas so it doesn't work economically if the plan is too expensive.

I have no issue with Chase so far except for when I called them which they could verify me by asking questions instead. Also when trying to set up online account too but it was sorted by a phone call. A bit of a hassle but I tried to save some $$ as well. All other alerts have been going to my GV just fine.

There is this OLD T-mobile $3/month plan (not a new one by ultramobile). It's quite difficult to find but I found one ebay seller selling it. It's going to cost $50-$60 USD just to get a sim card here (with $10 credit if higher price). I used to have this plan but was stupid and forgot to add money and lost the number (it was linked to my GV as well).

T-Mobile Prepaid Pay As You Go $3/Month Plan and Sim Card $0.1/text/min $1Credit | eBay

(You can turn on airplane mode but keep wifi active, it will still work. S imply dial the short code to get the information you need. only SMS/Talk will work outside USA). #MIN# (#646#) Check minute usage.

www.ebay.com.au

T-Mobile Prepaid Pay As You Go $3/Month Plan and Sim Card $0.1 per Text/Min | eBay

(You can turn on airplane mode but keep wifi active, it will still work. S imply dial the short code to get the information you need. only SMS/Talk will work outside USA). #MIN# (#646#) Check minute usage.

www.ebay.com.au

I also found a seller on Amazon US around $USD45 shipped with $10 credit but out of stock now. He said he just sent the package to Amazon and inventory should be updated in a few days.

Another option is that new tmobile $3/m by Ultramobile but it's even more difficult to find as it was originally sold in store only and issue toppig up online etc. I don't have much information about it but heard things have changed.

 

[steveyyf]

I have no issue with Chase so far except for when I called them which they could verify me by asking questions instead. Also when trying to set up online account too but it was sorted by a phone call. A bit of a hassle but I tried to save some $$ as well. All other alerts have been going to my GV just fine.

There is this OLD T-mobile $3/month plan (not a new one by ultramobile). It's quite difficult to find but I found one ebay seller selling it. It's going to cost $50-$60 USD just to get a sim card here (with $10 credit if higher price). I used to have this plan but was stupid and forgot to add money and lost the number (it was linked to my GV as well).

T-Mobile Prepaid Pay As You Go $3/Month Plan and Sim Card $0.1/text/min $1Credit | eBay

(You can turn on airplane mode but keep wifi active, it will still work. S imply dial the short code to get the information you need. only SMS/Talk will work outside USA). #MIN# (#646#) Check minute usage.

www.ebay.com.au

T-Mobile Prepaid Pay As You Go $3/Month Plan and Sim Card $0.1 per Text/Min | eBay

(You can turn on airplane mode but keep wifi active, it will still work. S imply dial the short code to get the information you need. only SMS/Talk will work outside USA). #MIN# (#646#) Check minute usage.

www.ebay.com.au

I also found a seller on Amazon US around $USD45 shipped with $10 credit but out of stock now. He said he just sent the package to Amazon and inventory should be updated in a few days.

Another option is that new tmobile $3/m by Ultramobile but it's even more difficult to find as it was originally sold in store only and issue toppig up online etc. I don't have much information about it but heard things have changed.

I noticed this t mobile card on ebay and placed the order await to delivery. The approx delivery date is around Christmas time.

 

[albyd]

Do these cards work in Australia? What are the roaming charges from T-Mobile if any? Sounds like a good deal. I'm using TextNow (I've subscribed to keep the same number for $US7.99pa which I think is good value) to have a US mobile number. I but rare for verification texts to come through. It works a charm for receiving calls though. I'd be prepared to pay something like the numbers being talked about on this thread if if it's possible to have it work properly as a viable US Mobile number which can also receive texts and calls.

 

[albyd]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Just a heads up to members who are considering the HSBC route to opening a US Bank account remotely, it appears HSBC is considering leaving the US so this might be more urgent now.

HSBC considers exit from US retail banking: Report - Times of India (indiatimes.com)

This has been rumored for a while.

 

[Finale]

Do these cards work in Australia? What are the roaming charges from T-Mobile if any? Sounds like a good deal. I'm using TextNow (I've subscribed to keep the same number for $US7.99pa which I think is good value) to have a US mobile number. I but rare for verification texts to come through. It works a charm for receiving calls though. I'd be prepared to pay something like the numbers being talked about on this thread if if it's possible to have it work properly as a viable US Mobile number which can also receive texts and calls.

Roaming worked fine in Australia. I lost mine less than a year ago so it shouldn't change much.

You get like 30 texts and 30 mins per month (use in the US). You can use "wifi calling" feature which is treated like using the phone in the US so incoming texts, incoming & outgoing calls will count against your plan then $0.1 per text/min overage. If not on wifi calling, I believe incoming texts still count against the plan but calls are expensive like $2/m. Probably better to use this sim in another phone with wifi calling feature + turn on airplane mode + connect to wifi to make sure everything go thru wifi calling.

There is no roaming data but you can buy data for use in the US.

GV is much more convenient. Shame about beieng voip. Amex, Citi, cap1 have no issue so far.

PS the info was from my past experience. I have no idea if there was any change recently.

 

[PointsLife1]

Roaming worked fine in Australia. I lost mine less than a year ago so it shouldn't change much.

You get like 30 texts and 30 mins per month (use in the US). You can use "wifi calling" feature which is treated like using the phone in the US so incoming texts, incoming & outgoing calls will count against your plan then $0.1 per text/min overage. If not on wifi calling, I believe incoming texts still count against the plan but calls are expensive like $2/m. Probably better to use this sim in another phone with wifi calling feature + turn on airplane mode + connect to wifi to make sure everything go thru wifi calling.

There is no roaming data but you can buy data for use in the US.

GV is much more convenient. Shame about beieng voip. Amex, Citi, cap1 have no issue so far.

PS the info was from my past experience. I have no idea if there was any change recently.

If you turn on VPN you can almost set up GV but seem to get stuck when trying to add the US number from the list available. Is the issue you need a physical landline or physical mobile to verify? Same as shipping the SIM card really. Also emailed iPlum customer support and they advised they do accept short codes so more frustration that it doesn’t work.
Some good news I hope is the funds arrived from both TransferWise and Citi Global today and it appears you can pay a bill. Added checking details to Amex US and accepted.

 

[Finale]

If you turn on VPN you can almost set up GV but seem to get stuck when trying to add the US number from the list available. Is the issue you need a physical landline or physical mobile to verify? Same as shipping the SIM card really. Also emailed iPlum customer support and they advised they do accept short codes so more frustration that it doesn’t work.
Some good news I hope is the funds arrived from both TransferWise and Citi Global today and it appears you can pay a bill. Added checking details to Amex US and accepted.

I heard it has to be the number from major carriers like t-mobile, at&t, verizon, sprint or one of their resellers.

 

[PointsLife1]

I heard it has to be the number from major carriers like t-mobile, at&t, verizon, sprint or one of their resellers.

I might order the t-mobile $3 month deal you mentioned and that @ steveyyf has purchased. Hopefully I can then set up GV just for text messaging through t-mobile and other Voip for calling.

 

[glasszon]

The new HSBC premier rule is in effect; I have just signed up for a HSBC account and the live chat said the upgrade process is very easy once the $9k deposit appears in my account, fingers crossed.

 

[Igreen]

I got upgraded yesterday. I went into the George Street, Sydney Branch. Got a confirmation email today. I just had to provide my payslip / how I will deposit the $9k every month. I had done a quick deposit and withdraw of the amount mid nov.

 

[yohy?!]

Can report that transferwise can now be used to pay Amex US cards - just successfully completed a payment by naming the payee as "Further Credit 3792XXXX" using the provided ABA routing and account details from Amex. The payment posted immediately after transfer completed.

 

[PointsLife1]

I got upgraded yesterday. I went into the George Street, Sydney Branch. Got a confirmation email today. I just had to provide my payslip / how I will deposit the $9k every month. I had done a quick deposit and withdraw of the amount mid nov.

Depending how I go with Capital One checking account and if it viable or not but if I went the HSBC route the plan would be to deposit and withdraw 9K per month and then after opening US Premier account would you then also have to deposit and withdraw USD2K per month for US Premier? I think that was their requirement.

 

[pyusha]

Can report that transferwise can now be used to pay Amex US cards - just successfully completed a payment by naming the payee as "Further Credit 3792XXXX" using the provided ABA routing and account details from Amex. The payment posted immediately after transfer completed.

What were the charges like?

 

[Igreen]

Can report that transferwise can now be used to pay Amex US cards - just successfully completed a payment by naming the payee as "Further Credit 3792XXXX" using the provided ABA routing and account details from Amex. The payment posted immediately after transfer completed.

Are you able to pull the money from transferwise using the Amex Website/App. The benefit is Amex will show as the bill paid till it pull/withdraws the money from transferwise which could be 1 to 3 days.

 

[glasszon]

I got upgraded yesterday. I went into the George Street, Sydney Branch. Got a confirmation email today. I just had to provide my payslip / how I will deposit the $9k every month. I had done a quick deposit and withdraw of the amount mid nov.

How do you see that you have been upgraded? I have lodged the request this morning over the phone, but haven't seen anything on my account yet.

 

[albyd]

Depending how I go with Capital One checking account and if it viable or not but if I went the HSBC route the plan would be to deposit and withdraw 9K per month and then after opening US Premier account would you then also have to deposit and withdraw USD2K per month for US Premier? I think that was their requirement.

Once you’re Premier in Australia, you’re Premier for other countries too as long as you keep meeting the requirements for Premier in Australia so don’t need to qualify in the US.

 

[Igreen]

How do you see that you have been upgraded? I have lodged the request this morning over the phone, but haven't seen anything on my account yet.

I could not see it either on my online access. I got upgraded yesterday and today morning I got an email saying I have been upgraded to premier and need to meet the criteria to be a premier