How can I top up my Spanish mobile phone

[Sue James]

My Spanish Vodafone mobile tells me my credit is about to run out. I'd like
to top it up via the Vodafone website but in order to do that I have to have
my debit/credit card validated by using it in an ATM. Today I've tried
putting both types of card - registered in England rather than in Spain -
into several ATMs and either get a service not available message or an error
code that basically tells me my card is of the wrong type. Reading the
Vodafone site seems to suggest that a 4B machine should work - is that a
specific type of ATM and where would I find one?

Thanks
Sue

[Roger Warwick]

4B is an ATM network, which many banks use (Santander, Popular, Pastor, etc.)

You can usually spot these ATM's easily from the 4B logo (see their
site for an example - http://www.4b.es/)

Is it absolutely necessary to do this via the web? Because you can top
up pre-paid phones almost anywhere these days - small shops, garages,
supermarkets, ATMs, etc. etc

Roger.

[mike james (OAK)]

Hi Roger - I suggested to sue that you might be the one who knew the answer.

> 4B is an ATM network, which many banks use (Santander, Popular, Pastor,
> etc.)
>
> You can usually spot these ATM's easily from the 4B logo (see their
> site for an example - http://www.4b.es/)
>
> Is it absolutely necessary to do this via the web? Because you can top
> up pre-paid phones almost anywhere these days - small shops, garages,
> supermarkets, ATMs, etc. etc
>
> Roger.

Due to reasons beyond our control we can't be sure when we can be next in
Spain and
last time our vodafone credit timed out. If I can update it online then I
can top it up from the UK
with a minimum amount to keep the balance active. I've got the Vodafone
website to work and
I can go through the top up procedure but it says that I can only do it
after validating the card in a 4B
machine. What it doesn't say is what type of card is Ok to use.
Thanks mikej

[John Salter]

Sue, I know that 4B machines are used by the Bank Popular in Spain. If you
are in the UK , is it not possible to buy a top up card in a Vodafone shop
there. regards John

[sue james]

Hi Roger

Thanks for that - I'll carry on looking for the right bank - or even visit
our which is now a Santander.

We have two reasons for wanting to top up via Internet. Parking a car
anywhere near a small shop around here is a nightmare but more importantly
it will let us top it up while in the UK. As credit on a vodafone expires
after 5 months we arrived here after a 5mth and 4 day absence with phones
that were only fit for making emergency calls.

I could have topped up at the Supermarket but there was a long queue behind
me. On last June's trip I topped up at the Correos - there was a promotion
on and I collected several beach mats.

Sue

----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Warwick" <ro...@gomadrid.com>
To: <trave...@googlegroups.com>