paying phone in other province

[Da Dan]

I have found it nearly impossible to pay on my China Mobile account while in a different province than the number is from...
ie; pay my Hainan # IN Guangdong.

A couple times & places I have ran out of money & not been able to pay in other cities, even with help from locals doing my talking.

How does one pay their mobile phone while out of province?

[Raoul Duke]

In most cities, at least larger ones, China Mobile has a "main" office. In this office is a desk where you can buy phone time for other cities. It's kind of a hassle but it can be done. However, I have no idea how comprehensive this coverage really is. If you're from a smaller town you may be SOL, I just don't know...

[Missi]

If I go travelling, I put a couple hundred kuai on my phone before I go. If I run out I call up a friend to put some money on my phone.

I've done the main office of China Mobile in some larger cities but was just such a hassel.

[Lotus Eater]

Same deal here Missi - I add to it early or if desperate get a friend to add for me. But otherwise it is only the main China Telecom places taht can do it for you - very frustrating!! But apart from really really small places I think most towns will have a China Telecom main office. Jinghong did in Xishuangbanna - and it isn't all that big.

[nolefan]

get a couple of charge cards and carry them with you. You can also buy them at most China mobile offices and post offices around the country.

[Raoul Duke]

Noles, if you mean the pre-paid mobile phone cards you use to charge a phone, those are what I'm talking about. Maybe it's different in different places or something, but I've never been able to buy these outside the city where my phone number was issued. Sure, I could buy the cards almost anywhere, but they wouldn't work on my phone. The only places I've been able to buy ones that would work have been the main city China Telecom offices...and there only with some hassle.

I've seen many, many friends encounter this same phenomenon...

[nolefan]

yeah.. those are the ones i'm talking about.

I've never seen anyone have problems with them. I used them to recharge my Beijing number when i was in xinjiang, in yangzhou, shijiazhuang....... at least for china mobile. two years ago when i was on unicom, i had all kinds of problem recharging my phone.

I think it all depends on the type of plan you signed up for. M-Zone is flexible and has no name attached to the SIM cards so you we mainly recharge it using prepaid cars in Beijing.
GoTone (also china mobile) has a name attached to the SIM card and you can usually go to a chinamobile office and recharge there. but it will accept recharge cards as well.

[Raoul Duke]

Weird, man. It very much must be the plan you're on...

I for one am apparently on the stupidest phone plan in China. It costs a FORTUNE for me to talk on my mobile phone! I keep trying to tell people here that the mobile is for emergencies, customers, and girls; for God's sake please call my land line or send me an SMS!

Of course, it's like talking to the wall. Especially Con, who calls my mobile 4-5 times a week to waffle Canadianly at me.

And thank God for that. At least there are nice people who call me.

[con's fly is open]

It occurs to me, Raoul, that installing a land line in your downstairs bathroom would quickly pay for itself.

[Raoul Duke]

Don't want one in the bathroom. I just need a new one downstairs. Any time the phone rings, I'm always on the other floor!

[Raoul Duke]

And actually, I must admit that lately Con's been really good about calling the land line!