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Qaaolchoura · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:05 pm Post subject: Changing phone service

So Avea which has been ever more blatantly ripping me off, to the point that the last time I paid 20 lira for a GB of data, the entire thing vanished after I turned my phone on data mode for five minutes to check email and Google Maps. This goes takes it from "random charges for more data than I used" into the realm of paying them money for data that magically evaporates before I get the chance to use it.

Now Avea's been ripping me off for some time, though it used to be only charging me about five times what I was supposed to pay, and I sucked it up because it's remarkably hard, at least as a foreigner, to change phone companies in this country. I don't trust Turkcell for reasons I'll explain in a moment, and every Vodafone branch near me has for some reason has persistently refused to sell me a SIM card (except one which quoted me 58 lira for a new SIM, which being twice the standard price seems to be a blatant case of "try to rip off the yabanci," and calls that store's trustworthiness into question).

But since sucking it up's no longer an option, I went back and argued with one of the Vodafone stores, who finally texted something from my phone, wrote down a number, and then told me something in Turkish, which I had her write down. Near as I can make out, it's this:

sroetem · Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 33

That's terrible. I can't help, but I assumed you could just pop into a shop and get a SIM card with a # and start using a phone. Naive of me, yes.
But, I've done it in many other countries before without registering
a name, passport or address. I'm in for an awakening very soon, I suspect.

solidarnosc · Joined: 20 Apr 2012 Posts: 9

Hello Qaaolchoura,

I have been watching your troubles with the phone services over here. At first with humour, but now I feel so sad for you that I will offer you all the help I can. Please pm me and I promise to solve all your issues for you.

If you are in Istanbul, I'd even offer to take you there myself.

Ps.

I can assure you, you don't need a waiver or to leave the country.

La Reve · Joined: 30 Jun 2012 Posts: 75 Location: Ici

PMs are great for individuals, but I was wondering if you could be so kind as to provide your opinion about which phone company is the best?

I will be arriving in Turkey with a bit of an old smart phone and would like to immediately register it as well as get a Turkish sim card.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Qaaolchoura · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 10:45 am Post subject:

La Reve: I'm still waiting for soldiarnosc to PM me back.

That said, I can tell you that most Turks use Turkcell, but I think this is in part due to being Turks, and thus navigate Turkcell's plans. Turkcell are notorious for ripping off foreigners by not registering the SIM card, but if you go to a Turkcell store and demand they do it you might get around them.

Avea seem to have the friendliest representatives and are traditionally considered the cheapest if you get unlimited data, but I haven't been able to get them to give me unlimited data even with a residency permit and they've gone and doubled the book cost of pre-paid plans, in addition to being notorious for random additional charges and mismetering their data plans.

Vodafone is the only one I haven't used, and that's because I can't get them to sell me a new SIM card (see opening post). Still I've never heard any complaints, and I know a few Turks who've bought Vodafone cards when they've been abroad.

My advice: go with Vodafone if they'll sell you a card. OTOH, if you'll be in Istanbul, Turkcell does have some English-speaking employees at some of its larger branches. But I'd still say go with Vodafone, since even though they're the least foreigner-friendly company, one thing you'll discover about Turks is that those who are friendliest to you often want to rip you off.

Regards,
~Q