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Serious question, why does everyone pretend getting a SIM card is easy?

I just wasted a whole afternoon in Medellin trying to get a local number for my hotspot. The Claro store said 30 minutes, but their system was down and they needed a local address proof I didn't have. It took 4 hours across three different shops before I finally got a working SIM. What's the fastest way you've found to get a data plan in a new country?
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3 Comments
jordanblack
Ugh, that's the worst. My buddy had a total nightmare in Lisbon last year. He went to three different kiosks at the airport and they all needed some local tax number he couldn't get. He finally found a tiny phone repair shop in the city that just took cash and his passport, had him set up in ten minutes. Sometimes the official stores are way more hassle than the random little guys.
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robinf51
robinf518d ago
See, I've had the opposite happen. Those little shops can be a gamble. My cousin got a SIM in Bangkok from a stall that stopped working after two days with no way to get help. At least the airport kiosk, even with the extra step, gave her a real receipt and a number to call when there was a billing issue. The official store might take longer, but you usually get what you pay for.
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beth_reed
beth_reed7d ago
Lol my SIM card struggles are a whole comedy show. @robinf51 is right about airport kiosks being safer, but last time I tried one they needed my grandma's blood type. Honestly just get a local to go with you, cuts the time in half.
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