The Best New Cell Phone Plan in France: Free Mobile

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Free Mobile SIM card comes directly to you in the mail. Image via ihai.fr

As a foreigner in France for an undetermined amount of time, I opted upon my arrival in Paris back in July 2011 to purchase mobicarte from Orange, a pay as you go SIM card that seemed to be the cheapest option for my husband and I at the time (see previous post “How to get a cell phone in France”).  This option is still a good deal for people spending a limited time in France, from a few days up to several months. But for those staying a year or longer, it may not be the best choice.

The cost for mobicarte came out to 25 euros a month total for both phones if we purchased two month refills each time. The only problem with this was that we had very limited use of our phones. Texting was fine, but phone calls had to be kept to a couple minutes each. And forget calling the US. Frankly, I was getting tired of feeling like I couldn’t use my phone, but did not want to get stuck in a contract paying a lot more per month.

Luckily, the media company Free, of the famous 30 euro per month phone + internet + TV package Freebox, came out with a cell phone option called Free Mobile at the beginning of 2012. For people already subscribed to Freebox, Free Mobile offers this no-contract plan for only 16 euros per month*:

  1. Unlimited calling to cell phones in France, USA and Canada
  2. Unlimited calling to landlines in 40 countries
  3. Unlimited texts and MMS in France
  4. Unlimited Free wifi
  5. 3 gigs of 3G internet

*This plan costs 20 euros a month for non-Freebox subscribers.

The other option, only 2 euros, includes 60 minutes of calls and 60 texts within France. For Freebox customers, this option is offered at no charge.

Since this first plan would include unlimited calls and texts plus internet for only 10 euros total more per month than we were paying for our very limited mobicarte option, I decided to sign up. This can be done online and is a simple, easy process. You can even keep your current phone number, which Free ports from your old phone company for you at no charge. After your order has been confirmed, the Free Mobile SIM card will be sent directly to you at the address you specify online. No need to go to a store and wait in line.

Keep in mind however that Free Mobile has received so many requests that they are quite backed up. I ordered our SIM cards in late January and received them mid February, so count on waiting several weeks up to a month.

We received an email a couple of days before we received our SIM cards saying that our phone numbers would be ported over during a three hour period a few days later, so be aware that you will not be able to use your cell phone for a few hours on that day.

Once we received our SIM cards, we activated them online following the simple instructions. It only took a few minutes for our cell phones to start functioning with our new Free SIM cards.

Now we can call and text all we want, and it’s great to be able to call friends and family members in the States for free. For a price similar to the cheapest, most basic mobicarte option, Free Mobile is quickly becoming the leader in quality and price for French cell phone service.

For anyone living in France, I strongly recommend signing up with Free Mobile. Just visit their website:

http://mobile.free.fr/

© 2012 Pasa’s Paris

 

219 thoughts on “The Best New Cell Phone Plan in France: Free Mobile”

    • http://mobile.free.fr/docs/tarifs.pdf

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      Reply ↓

      • Hi Jessica,

        I am so bad with all things to do with technologie that I don’t even know how to post a new comment so hope it’s ok that I clicked reply to this one! I have just moved to Paris from England as part of my uni course to teach english to primary school kids. I got my Free.fr sim card and set it up. I followed the instructions on how to set up the APN for the internet.. but now what?! How do I actually get the internet to work??

        Thanks, Georgie x

        Reply ↓

  2. Hi Pasa. Thanks for the great info. My family will be in Paris next month for a few weeks. Is there a Free.fr mobile shop in Paris where I can purchase SIM cards? Or can I get them mailed to my rental apartment ahead of time?

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Mortimer, thanks for your comment. Actually, Free mobile is better suited for people living in France for around a year or more because you need to have a French bank account which is automatically debited each month. For shorter stays, from a couple days to a couple of months, I recommend mobicarte, which is a pay as you go SIM card available at nearly all phone boutiques. For more information, please see my previous blog post: How to get a Cell Phone in France

      Reply ↓

    • Hi Krystyna,
      Thanks for your comment. I tried Lebara mobile as well, but my calls to the US were more expensive, like 10 cents a minute. I like Free because there is unlimited calling (to many different countries) and texting (within France).
      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  4. Hi Jessica,
    I have the Free Mobile SIM card already, both the discounted 15.99 euro plan (because I have an abonnement with Freebox) for my Blackberry, and the 2 euro plan for an old basic Samsung.
    I LOVE FREE !
    Maybe Lebara has changed their rates, because they advertise the calls to USA as being 1 cent per minute.

    Reply ↓

  8. Free was awesome for the 6 months I studied abroad but now that I’m on my way back to the US I can’t figure out how to cancel my service. I’ve checked all over the website but my French could be better. Any ideas?

    Reply ↓

  9. help. I got Free mobile SIM card which works great except making local calls in Paris. I can connect the network, internet surfing, and receiving calls except making calls. could you guide how to setup with FREE SIM card?

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Mk,
      Thanks for your message. To set up the Free SIM card, go to: http://mobile.free.fr/moncompte and log in with your “identifiant” (ID number). I believe you should have received your password via email. Once logged in, enter in the SIM card number printed below the barcode on the card your SIM came on. Hope this helps!
      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

      • Hi, Can you explain to me which code it is that I need to enter first when my phone asks me to deblock my SIM. Is it the Code PIN Carte SIM “1234″ or the PUK number on the back of the card which the SIM came on? Also, how long should the PUK be?

        I have tried to unlock my SIM twice and failed I have only one more try left (thought it was supposed to give you 10 tries!) Please help!

        Could it be because my number hasn’t ported yet?

        Reply ↓

  11. BEWARE. If you are American,you may want to receive SMS messages from America. I moved three French lines to Free to save money, one from Orange and two from SFR. I also had the numbers transferred. Everything works fine – except – SMS messages from America DO NOT arrive – ever. Other SMS’s arrive. SMS from the US were working fine with the previous operators. I have called and faxed Free customer service. This has not been productive, to put it mildly. The problem is still there.
    There is a fair amount of internet chatter on this topic stretching back a few months.

    Reply ↓

  12. I’m facing some issues with free mobile, i’m unable to receive sms from friends outside France. So far, SMS from Netherlands, UK and Singapore couldn’t reach me… any idea? I’m using iPhone 4S, purchased from Singapore.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Robin,
      Thanks for your comment. I’m not sure, I never exchanged texts from outside France with Free. You may want to download an app called Viber, which allows you to exchange calls and text messages for free with people anywhere in the world. All that is required is an internet connection and that both of you have downloaded the Viber app. Hope this helps.
      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  13. Thanks for all the useful information!
    Is it possible to place your subscription on hibernation for one or two months (for holiday/business trips) to avoid having to cancel and then resubscribe?
    Also, is tethering supported by the 3gig internet service?

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Cameron,
      These are great questions. I don’t think you are able to suspend your account, but I am not sure, and I am also unsure about your tethering question. Maybe someone else reading this post knows?

      Reply ↓

  14. I got an a-la-carte subscription of unlimited text and data for 20 euros a month while I was working at la defense for a few months. WORST DECISION EVER. Let me explain
    1. They asked for my number from my old carrier (SFR) BEFORE sending me my carte sim in the mail, thus I had no working phone
    2. The carte sim never came in the mail, and since I had no working phone I could not call them. And they have NO email address so there was no way to contact them
    3. Eventually I just game up and am now trying to terminate my subscription (after spending 40 euros on absolutely nothing), and they are saying the only way to do this is to send them a letter in the mail saying I want to cancel. What century is this??? This company has some serious flaws, do not use them

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Julie,
      Thanks for your comment. It’s helpful to hear about your experience. I can understand why you would be frustrated about what happened, and I do agree that Free could do with a few updates. However, I think for most people the process of signing up with Free is relatively smooth: I know my experience was pretty painless.
      Thanks again for your input.
      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

    • The standard FREE SIM card can be altered to a mini for the new iPhone- just follow the instructions when you receive it in the mail, you will see perforation marks where it can be made smaller (see image for this article).

      Reply ↓

  17. Hi, I will be going to France for four months. I have a Blackberry.
    How much do Free Blackberry services plan cost?
    I am from India, so how good is “Free” service for calling India?
    If I want to cancel my connection after four months, is it hassle-free?

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Sumita,
      Thanks for your comment. According to their fee brochure (brochure tarifaire: http://mobile.free.fr/docs/tarifs.pdf), Free Blackberry service costs 1 euro per month. To call India, the cost is 8 centimes a minute to land lines and 27 centimes a minute to cell phones. All you need to do to cancel your service is send them a certified letter with your name, phone number and account number and tell them you want to cancel.

      I’m not familiar with Virgin Mobile’s services in France. Hope this information helps.

      Reply ↓

  19. Hi,
    I’m having the hardest time figuring out how to get an identification number for Free. It won’t let me place an order without going through the Espace Abonné, but I cannot create an identifying number or a new account on the Espace Abonné. Can you please help me figure this out?

    Reply ↓

  20. Dear Jessica, thanks so much. This has been so helpful! Do you happen to know if FREE works for the iPhone 4 ( not 4S) ?

    Thanks again!

    Reply ↓

  21. if i apply for free how long it will take to receive sim??
    i want to get free sim could you explain to me how long this contract for ???
    if i get free sim is it possible to cancel contract any time???
    please reply
    thanks
    IBRAHIM

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Ibrahim,
      The free sim card usually takes a couple weeks to arrive by mail. There is no contract: just send a letter when you want to cancel.
      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  22. This post is so helpful. I’m going to be living in France for the next year and I think Free will be the best plan for me. However, my family really wants me to get an iPhone so I can Skype and FaceTime them, but it seems the plans with the iPhone are for 36 months, which is way more than I’m looking for. Any ideas? Is that because it’s bundled? Is there a way to have an iPhone and the Free SIM card only for 10-12 months?

    Thanks!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Alex,
      There is no contract with Free mobile- you just send them a letter when you want to cancel the service. Free sim cards fit into most phones, so it doesn’t matter what type of phone you have. I would recommend Free mobile as it is only 20 euros per month alone, or 16 euros a month when you also sign up for freebox (internet, cable and phone service) and you can make unlimited calls to the U.S., Canada and within France. It is nice to have internet too so you can use Skype. Hope this helps.
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  23. Hi,
    Thanks for the great info. I tried to order a Sim Card online and got refused because I have an US Visa Card with US address. I have a local address in Lyon bot I don’t have a french Credit Card. Do you know any way around this problem??
    Thanks Again

    Reply ↓

  24. Hi
    I am with FreeMobile, 19.99 euros, and I am planning to cancel my contract as I am leaving France to start a new job abroad. I am struggling to write a letter to cancel my contract in French. Would it be possible to give me a sample letter please?
    Regards

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Parham,
      Thanks for your comment. Here is a sample letter for cancelling a mobile phone contract with Free (une lettre de résiliation):

      Last name, First name
      Mailing address

      Free Mobile
      Résiliation
      75371 Paris Cedex 08

      Paris, le jeudi 24 Mai 2012 (city and date)

      Madame, Monsieur,

      Abonné à vos services depuis février 2012 (date you began the service), je souhaiterais aujourd’hui résilier mon forfait de téléphone mobile Free, numéro 00.00.00.00.00 (your Free phone number) à partir du 20 juin 2012 (date you would like to cancel service).

      Vous remerciant par avance de prendre les dispositions nécessaires à cette résiliation, je vous prie de croire, Madame, Monsieur, en l’assurance de mes sentiments les meilleurs.

      Signature

      Reply ↓

    • Hi Dan,

      Sending an SMS to the US while in France with Free mobile costs 19 centimes per text.
      Sending an MMS (image) to the US while in France with Free mobile costs 1 euro each.
      These prices are the same for virtually every country outside France: http://mobile.free.fr/docs/tarifs.pdf

      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

    • Hi Greg,
      I don’t believe Free offers bulk SMS purchasing. If you are in France, you may want to stop by one of their new stores to ask:

      8, rue de la Ville-l’Evêque 75008 PARIS
      27 Rue du Marche Notre Dame – 86000 POITIERS
      10 Rue du 11 Novembre – 63000 CLERMONT FERRAND
      14 Rue Merciere – 68100 MULHOUSE
      5 Place Aristide Briand – 56100 LORIENT
      26 Rue Serviez – 64000 PAU
      16 Rue General Perrier – 30000 NIMES
      16 Rue du Quesnoy – 59300 VALENCIENNES

      Some of these store have not yet opened. Please check this website for updates (in French): http://www.universfreebox.com/article18017.html

      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  29. Hello,

    I am studying in France for 2 years. My uncle, who lives in Lyon, told me that if i have an IPHONE, Galaxy, or Blackberry phone I can call the US, Canada, and France for only 1 euro a month. No one in France has heard of this deal and I am unable to read the free website to purchase this deal.

    Have you heard of this?

    Thanks

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Gloria,

      Free mobile’s plan is about 20 euros per month and includes unlimited calls to France, Canada and the US. Free offers Blackberry services for 1 euro per month. Maybe this is what you are referring to?

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  31. I am not sure whether this is the correct forum, but I have a Free wifi login and password and for the past 6 or so weeks I have been using it on my iphone, but just a couple of days ago whenever I try and log onto the free wifi network it doesn’t connect. I can see that it is trying to connect but it isn’t… Has anyone else had this issue and if so what can be done to fix it?! I feel very lost without having the internet on my phone… Thanks in advance

    Reply ↓

  32. where would you be able to buy a ‘free’ phone when in France (Tours).
    The phone I have now does not have a SIM card and I would have to buy a new phone for the 9 or 10 months that I will be in France. Is there a cheap phone that I can buy to use with their plan? Is there a store to go to or does it have to be done online. It will take a week or so to establish a bank account and I would like to have a phone as soon as possible.
    Thanks

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Jan,
      If your current phone is GSM compatible, you can order a Free SIM card and it will function in France. If you need a phone, Free mobile does sell them online once you order the SIM card: http://mobile.free.fr/mobiles.html
      Or, if you go to Paris, visit the new brick and mortar “Free Center” at 8 rue de la Ville-l’Evêque, at Madeleine.
      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  33. Hi Jessica,

    I am in France for six months, studying. Your website has been extremely helpful all around, from signing up to ordering it online. I have already done that. I also was able to open a bank account no problem, because of your suggestion that as a student, the university is affiliated with a bank. It was as easy as pie.

    Thanks again,

    Nelson

    Question?

    If I am outside of France can I use the phone to call other destinations for free?

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Nelson,
      I’m so glad my website has been helpful for your study abroad experience. To answer your question, unfortunately it’s not free to use Free mobile to call anywhere when you are outside of France. Example: calling France from Germany using Free mobile is 42 centimes a minute. See page 22 for details : http://mobile.free.fr/docs/tarifs.pdf
      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  34. Hi

    Really interested in a FREE monthly plan , I would really like to know if you can tether to an ipad or laptop with the 3G data allowance .

    Can you please find out as I have been on the FREE website and tried to call them all to no avail .

    Many thanks ,

    Francis .

    Reply ↓

  35. Hello :)

    I’m a new student in Paris, and I’m still trying to figure out the intricacies of this mobile system. So far, Free seems the best bet (except for a plan that my friend seems to have on Bouygues where she pays 14 euro for 2 hours of calls and unlimited internet every month – but then I don’t know how reliable that is, since I can’t find it anywhere online :) )

    Have a few questions, since I can speak no french at all:

    1) Would you know how the network coverage is in places other than Paris? I’ll be travelling to Normandy for the first four months, and I’d really need it there.

    2) How long would it take for me to get a sim card? I’ll be leaving for Normandy in ten days and I really doubt I’ll get it by then. Could I go to the new flagship store and get it from there?

    3) I hear that you need a bank account for the mobiles here. Are there prepaid plans in Free that I can use? I can’t seem to understand this part, because it’ll take me a while to get my bank account and I don’t want to have to buy two sim cards in my stay here.

    Reply ↓

      • Dear Jessica,

        Thanks so much for your reply! The articles were quite helpful. Just a few more questions.

        1) Free has two plans, right? A 2 Euro one and a 20 Euro one. I’ve been looking around for any other plans they may have but can’t seem to find them. So I’m just confirming that these are the only two.

        2) Now, for the next four months I will be staying in Cherbourg in Normandy, which is a small-ish town. When I was reading the tarifs file, it says the plans “Offre valable exclusivement en France Métropolitaine”. What exactly does that mean? How can I find out if Cherbourg is part of France Métropolitaine?

        3) FreeWifi is offered by FreeMobile, right? Is that only in Paris, or would you happen to know if it’s also available in different areas?

        4) Also, if I choose the 2 Euro plan now, is it easy to shift to the 20 Euro one, or would that be complicated?

        I hope you can help me, it’s really hard to understand these things without knowing any French! :P Thanks so much, your site has been a great help.

        Reply ↓

        • Hi Philip,

          Yes, Free mobile has 2 plans, and the pricing you mentioned is correct for people who sign up for just Free mobile. The other pricing is for people who are subscribed to Freebox, a cable/internet/landline package.

          France métropolitaine just means everywhere in France that is not an overseas department (like Martinique). As long as you stay somewhere in the hexagon (including Normandy), you’re covered. Free mobile offers wifi all over France, not just Paris.

          If you’re sure you only need 60 minutes of talk and 60 texts per month inside of France, go with the 2 euro plan. If you think you might need more, sign up for the 20 euro plan. I don’t know if it’s easy to switch.

          Hope this helps,

          -Jessica

          Reply ↓

  36. I purchased 2 mobile.free sim cards for my wife and myself. Mine worked for a 36 second call and 1 SMS message, since then I have not had a signal. My wife has never had a signal. Both phones are dual SIM, the second being UK mobile numbers which are working fine. I do not intend getting into long telephone calls with Free and they do not seem to have an internet based help line. Do you have any thoughts or should I just send them a letter canceling the subscriptiion and revert to Orange.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Keith,

      Sorry to hear about your problem. I don’t have any experience with dual SIM card phones. You may want to stop into one of Free mobile’s brick and mortar stores to ask an employee in person:

      8, rue de la Ville-l’Evêque 75008 PARIS
      27 Rue du Marche Notre Dame – 86000 POITIERS
      10 Rue du 11 Novembre – 63000 CLERMONT FERRAND
      14 Rue Merciere – 68100 MULHOUSE
      5 Place Aristide Briand – 56100 LORIENT
      26 Rue Serviez – 64000 PAU
      16 Rue General Perrier – 30000 NIMES
      16 Rue du Quesnoy – 59300 VALENCIENNES

      Some of these store have not yet opened. Please check this website for updates (in French): http://www.universfreebox.com/article18017.html

      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

      • It would seem as though I have 2 problems
        1. I am not covered by any of the Free transmitters.
        2. I am not covered by any Orange transmitters.

        Yesterday while in Limoges both myself got full Orange signals and was able to make and receive calls and sms. While I was on Orange my phone was set to automaticaly find a carrier.

        Reply ↓

  37. how can i get a free sim carte?
    i live in lyon. and i want to buy an iPhone 5 with sim, i want want to know the payment plan please help
    is there a free mobile office in lyon?

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Emmanuella,

      Please visit the Free mobile site (click on the 19.99 offer unless you have Freebox, in which case click on the 15.99 offer with Freebox) fill out your contact information and a Free SIM card will be sent to you. Once you have created an account you can log in and buy a phone through Free mobile as well.

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  39. Hi Jessica – thank you for such an insightful blog. You’ve answered a lot of my queries in your responses to previous comments. I still have a few things unanswered:

    We have 3-in-1 package with orange.fr – TV, landline and internet. I have just bought an iphone 3GS so need a SIM-only deal, with either pay-as-you-go or contract. The first option is very expensive with orange.fr (9€ for SIM then 50 centimes/min for calls in France). My questions:

    1. does Free mobile have SIM only with pay-as-you-go.

    2. For the second option with contract, we’d be quite happy to switch completely from orange.fr to Free although it’s difficult to know the extent of channels one gets with Freebox as compared to orange.fr’s Livebox. There seems to be no information on this on the Free website.

    3.Would we be able to retain fixed number that we’ve had with orange.fr or do we have to cancel that.

    4. Finally I didn’t really understand what the 2€/mois deal was, I quote – “Forfait 2 €/mois (ou 0 €/mois pour les abonnés Freebox)
    0 € en cas de souscription par Internet ET de portabilité du numéro ET activation de la SIM dans les 15 jours suivant sa date d’envoi ; 10 € dans les autres cas.” Could you elaborate on this please.

    Sincerely look forward to your responses.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Caroline,
      There is no contract for Free mobile- it’s month to month until you decide to stop by simply sending them a letter. Free mobile sends you a SIM card when you sign up, so no need to purchase another phone if you don’t need one.

      If you decide to sign up with Freebox (landline, tv, internet package), which is around 30 euros per month, these are the basic channels you would have, but you can click on the other links to see other options: http://www.free.fr/adsl/television.html

      Signing up with Freebox would also reduce your free mobile bill from 19,99 to 15,99. With Freebox, you can keep your old landline number as well: http://www.free.fr/adsl/pages/telephone/ligne-telephonique-incluse/portabilite-du-numero-geographique.html

      I highly recommend signing up for Freebox and Free mobile. This way, your bill is around 46 euros per month for TV, internet, landline and a cell phone- pas mal!

      All the best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

      • Hi Jessica

        Thanks for your response – very useful, we hadn’t fully appreciated that there were two packages incliding freebox and internet: one for mobile phones only (19.99€/mois which can be reduced to 15€/mois) and another for landlines only (30€/mois).

        So if we wanted a package that allowed us to have landline , internet, freebox and mobile (but for 2 mobiles, well, 2 simcards for mobile) do you know if Free mobile can do that. My husband works in Suisse and he is the person I ring the most. Also will Free mobile charge me if I ring him in Suisse if he was also with Free mobile.

        Would appreciate your responses.

        thank you

        Caroline

        Reply ↓

        • Hi Caroline,

          Sorry for the late response. My husband and I had Freebox and we both had Free mobile SIM cards. Since the Freebox account is usually under one person’s name, that person can benefit from the 15,99 free mobile price. The other person must pay the 20 euros per month for their cell phone as it is not linked to the freebox account. So, total monthly cost for everything is about 66 euros.

          If you check free mobile’s website, you can call landlines in 40 different countries for free, including Switzerland or “Suisse”, however, calling a cell phone in Switzerland from France using Free mobile or making a call from Switzerland to France using Free mobile costs 50 centimes per minute, so not ideal.

          Best,

          Jessica

          Reply ↓

  40. I may be moving to Paris in January, and I’m researching possible carriers. The FREE plan seems like a great deal. Will it work with an iPhone 4S? What about an iPhone 5? From what I understand on the Apple website, an unlocked iPhone will only work with a GSM compatible carrier.

    “The unlocked iPhone includes all the features of iPhone but without a contract commitment. You can activate and use it on the supported GSM wireless network of your choice, such as AT&T in the United States. The unlocked iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S will not work with CDMA-based carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint.
    If you don’t want a multiyear service contract or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad, the unlocked iPhone is the best choice. It arrives without a micro-SIM card, so you’ll need an active micro-SIM card from any supported GSM carrier worldwide. To start using it, simply insert the micro-SIM card into the slot on your iPhone and turn it on by pressing and holding the On/Off button for a few seconds. Then follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone.”

    Will I be able to use my iPhone here first with a GSM carrier then in France? (If I get hired in the next couple of weeks, I want to start using an iPhone so I can get acquainted with everything, so I don’t fumble around as a new user in a foreign country!)

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Christine,
      According to this article, the iphone 5 is not yet compatible with ANY French phone operator: http://www.universfreebox.com/article18216.html

      All previous iphones should work with French mobile carriers as long as they are unlocked. However, I believe you will have to wait to activate a Free mobile plan until you are in France.

      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  41. Good morning,

    I ordered the Free SIM card ten days ago, and asked to have my Mobicarte number ported over as well. Free asked Orange for my number within a few days, so my cell phone stopped working one week ago. However, I have not received a SIM card yet. Like others, I cannot contact Free for help unless I have a Free phone! And, honestly, should I really expect customer service by sending them a letter (the only other viable option)? I did phone their Paris number, and was told that the number does not receive calls.

    So, should I expect to receive a SIM card ever? From your initial post, I understood that Free would only request my number a few days before my receipt of the SIM card. Unfortunately, that seems not to be the case.

    Looking forward to your response,

    Dave

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Dave,
      I apologize for the late response. Have you received your SIM card yet? If not, I recommend going in person to one of the Free stores:

      8, rue de la Ville-l’Evêque 75008 PARIS
      27 Rue du Marche Notre Dame – 86000 POITIERS
      10 Rue du 11 Novembre – 63000 CLERMONT FERRAND
      14 Rue Merciere – 68100 MULHOUSE
      5 Place Aristide Briand – 56100 LORIENT
      26 Rue Serviez – 64000 PAU
      16 Rue General Perrier – 30000 NIMES
      16 Rue du Quesnoy – 59300 VALENCIENNES

      Some of these store may not be open yet. Please check this website for updates (in French): http://www.universfreebox.com/article18017.html

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  42. hi!

    I just got my Free SIM card in the mail, but I’m having trouble configuring it with my iPhone 4. I signed in on the website and everything, and then I unlocked the sim code. but it says “no service”, and I don’t think on my american phone there is a place to input all the information about the APN and all that. HELP ME- does it just take a few hours to register the new SIM card?

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Jamie,

      I apologize for the late response. Is your iphone unlocked? You may need to take it to a phone kiosque (any cell phone boutique advertising several different carriers) and ask if they can unlock your phone: (“Serait-il possible de débloquer ce portable? “)

      If not, try visiting a Free mobile store:
      8, rue de la Ville-l’Evêque 75008 PARIS
      27 Rue du Marche Notre Dame – 86000 POITIERS
      10 Rue du 11 Novembre – 63000 CLERMONT FERRAND
      14 Rue Merciere – 68100 MULHOUSE
      5 Place Aristide Briand – 56100 LORIENT
      26 Rue Serviez – 64000 PAU
      16 Rue General Perrier – 30000 NIMES
      16 Rue du Quesnoy – 59300 VALENCIENNES

      Some of these store have not yet opened. Please check this website for updates (in French): http://www.universfreebox.com/article18017.html

      Reply ↓

  43. Hi Jessica,

    I have the Free Unlimited plan now. I just realized I don’t need as much minutes as I though. I’d like to switch to the €2 plan. However, as far as I found out with my limited french, Free does offer a switch from €2 to unlimited but not the other way around! (I wonder why this is; probably they don’t want people to switch to the cheaper plan). Anyway, do you know if there is a way of changing my plan without ordering a new sim card (e.g. calling them)? Obviously that would be just a waste of resources (and probably it’s just a source of trouble if I intend to keep my current number). If ordering a new sim card is the only option, do you know if my current contract is automatically cancelled in case I choose to transfer my current phone number?

    Thanks in advance!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Max,

      I think you need to cancel with a letter and then open a new account. You may want to go into one of the free stores to ask :

      8, rue de la Ville-l’Evêque 75008 PARIS
      27 Rue du Marche Notre Dame – 86000 POITIERS
      10 Rue du 11 Novembre – 63000 CLERMONT FERRAND
      14 Rue Merciere – 68100 MULHOUSE
      5 Place Aristide Briand – 56100 LORIENT
      26 Rue Serviez – 64000 PAU
      16 Rue General Perrier – 30000 NIMES
      16 Rue du Quesnoy – 59300 VALENCIENNES

      Some of these store have not yet opened. Please check this website for updates (in French): http://www.universfreebox.com/article18017.html

      Reply ↓

  44. Hi, I’m considering getting Free Mobile and your site has been very helpful so far, but I had a questions. I have a iPhone 3Gs with AT&T from the US and was wondering if it is possible to just get the sim card from Free and use it in my phone. I don’t think my phone has been unlocked, so I’m not sure if it is possible. If it is not, since you said it take a while to get the sim card in the mail, can I buy a cheap phone in France (like the rechargable ones) to have for now, and then put the new Free sim card in it when it arrives. So for a month or so I would just use a rechargable phone, like through Orange, and then put the Free SIM card in it when it arrives. Is that possible? Thanks!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Mary,

      If you have a 3Gs from the US, you probably need to go to a phone boutique and get it unlocked (déblocage). Ask if they can unlock your phone: (“Serait-il possible de débloquer ce portable?”) Once your phone is unlocked, you can put any SIM card in- pay as you go (une carte SIM prépayée) from any cell phone carrier (orange, bouygues, SFR) or Free. The choice is yours.

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  45. Dear Jessica
    This is a really helpful post, thank you. My family will be in Paris from Jan through July. We are debating options for mobile phones and are going to try to get a bank account…here’s hoping. We will need mobiles for myself, my husband and my daughter. Do you think it still makes the most sense to go through the Free plan with 3 phones? The apartment already has an internet and TV. Thanks, Claire

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Claire,

      Since you will only be in Paris for 6 months, I recommend pay as you go phones, which are more convenient and around the same price for stays of 6 months or less and the quickest way to a working cell phone in France. With Free mobile you would need to wait for a while to receive the SIM cards by mail and you would need a bank account.
      Please see my article, “How to Get a Cell Phone in France”

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  46. Hiya. Great site, thank you. I have signed up for FREE and tried to access Free wifi with the user name and password they emailed to me but it didn’t work. I haven’t got the sim yet, is this the problem and also should I be able to access the wifi from my computer as well please? Thank you. Jamieson

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Jamieson,
      If your SIM card is not yet activated it may prevent you from using Free wifi. I would wait until you receive your SIM and activate it to try the wifi. I am not sure if it is supposed to work on your computer as well.
      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

      • Thanks Jessica.
        sim now here, just need to try it. I text the UK quite a lot but can’t find out the cost of doing this, do you know where I should look please? Thank you again! Jamieson

        Reply ↓

          • Hi Jessica, you are such a star, thank you. I am now almost up and running, I have an iphone with IOS 6 and the sim card blocks access to the APN setting menu in cellular data. Do you know anyone else who has had this issue please as I can’t get onto the data network. Thank you again Jamieson

          • Hi Again Jessica.

            I found the answer to my question below and thought I would pass it along. There is a very helpful application which sorts this out and the phone doesnt need to be jailbroken. It is http://www.unlockit.co.nz This will allow you to get the APN set up and is really easy to use. I had to delete the profile I had set up for ONAVO, that was the only wrinkle as unlockit makes a new one. Hope this makes sense. All the best Jamieson

          • Thanks Jamieson! This is very helpful information and I am sure other will appreciate it.

  47. I ordered and received my SIM cards(one for my wife and one for myself) from FREE but never received the emails with the passwords. The SIM cards arrived the 20th of September. As they are impossible to contact by either email or phone, I am stuck without mobile service and am at a loss for what to do. Any thoughts?

    Reply ↓

    • Hi William,
      Did you check your spam folder? If you still have no message from them, try visiting one of their stores:
      8, rue de la Ville-l’Evêque 75008 PARIS
      27 Rue du Marche Notre Dame – 86000 POITIERS
      10 Rue du 11 Novembre – 63000 CLERMONT FERRAND
      14 Rue Merciere – 68100 MULHOUSE
      5 Place Aristide Briand – 56100 LORIENT
      26 Rue Serviez – 64000 PAU
      16 Rue General Perrier – 30000 NIMES
      16 Rue du Quesnoy – 59300 VALENCIENNES

      Some of these store have not yet opened. Please check this website for updates (in French): http://www.universfreebox.com/article18017.html

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  48. i am trying to activate my simcard.i have entered the 19 digit number on the reverse of the simcard i have received but is states invalid when i click on the link to activate.

    Reply ↓

  49. Hi Jessica

    I have made the switch from SFR to FREE , it was easy and went really smoothly , I kept my old mobile number .

    I have been using the service for about 2 weeks , all good , made lots of calls home to The UK and to mobiles / landlines in France .

    Set up my iphone 4GS as a hotspot so I can use my ipad to access the web , all good too , only draw back is that were I am working I get an intermittant 3G / Edge siganal , so sometimes the web browsing works and some times not .

    That is a location problem really .

    However I have noticed that a neighbour must now have a FREE box as I pick his signal up on my airport on my MAC laptop .

    Can I access FREE WIFI through his box ?

    I have tried to connect using the identifying details issued to me from FREE ,but this has not worked .

    It asks for a username and password , not sure what else I can enter .

    Any info / ideas to help me access FREE WIFI ?

    Thanks ,

    Francis .

    Reply ↓

  50. Hi Jessica

    Thanks , had a look .

    May be getting my wires crossed here as I was thinking along the line of logging in to wifi from a neighbours box directly from my Mac book but of course I probably have to go via my iphone as a hotspot ?

    The web page you gave me I think shows your wifi options if you already have a box from Free , my French is basic so I might be wrong there .

    All the same , thanks for all your help as you swayed me here to change over to Free .

    Everything I had with SFR and more for less money per month .

    Cheers ,

    Francis .

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Francis,

      I believe the only way for you to access someone else’s Free wifi connection is to go and ask them for their information. I’m not sure if it would work, but you could offer to pay for a percentage of the subscription.

      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  51. Hi Jessica,

    Thanks for all your answers, I read but I didn’t fine query related to my problem with free mobile SIM.

    Before 1 and 1/2 month (on 06/09/2012) I ordered SIM card of 2 euro/month contract for new number, filling all information on webpage. I also got the confirmation mail with my ID and password. Now, yet I didn’t receive SIM by mail from free mobile. I went one customer care office in Paris for 3 times and they saying they already posted my SIM 3-4 times, but yet I didn’t receive it. Can you advise what step now I should take ? I applied for new number, by paid 10 Euro for SIM.

    Thank you,

    Kind Regards,
    Manish

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Manish,
      I’m sorry you have not yet received your SIM card. You may want to try giving them a different address to send the SIM card too since it seems there is a problem with the address you provided originally.
      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  52. how if im going to France for only two weeks. how much it cost if i buy this simcard? how much i need to topup before i use to call?

    Reply ↓

  53. I`m finding it impossible to send texts and photos to a Free mobile phone in France while I am staying in the U.S.A. for 3 months. Please can you help?

    Reply ↓

  54. Hi Pasa,

    Thank you for devoting so much time to this subject it is very informative.

    I have an Orange 3g clė which works for data on my pc and when i put the card into my phone it also works for data. Do you know a way to get the clė to work in the phone for call and sms services as well?
    best wishes
    Jono

    Reply ↓

  55. Hi Jessica,

    I have a Free contract SIM (the €15.99 a month option as I have a Freebox) that I use in a UK handset. I live in Paris and have no trouble with calls or texts but have internet/data issues. I very rarely (i.e. only once!) get a 3G connection, usually getting an EDGE network connection instead. The internet is always very slow, often completely unusable. I have checked the network coverage using this website:
    http://www.sensorly.com/fr/map/2G-3G/FR/France/Free_sans_itinerance/gsm_20815
    which shows that Free has comprehensive coverage across Paris but that the coverage of ‘Free (sans itinerance)’ is patchy.

    So my question is, does anyone know what could be causing my terrible internet connection?
    Could it be:
    a) that I am connecting to this ‘sans itinerance’ network, in which case how do I connect to the normal Free network which has better coverage (I had to manually enter the APN details in my phone to get any connection at all, have I entered the wrong ones?)
    b) that it is just relatively poor network coverage, in which case I can’t do a lot about it, or:
    c) that my French SIM card is disagreeing with my UK phone and getting a French phone might remedy the problem?

    Apologies if I’m repeating something already asked (I tried to check), and thanks for the website too, it’s very useful.

    Any help would be much appreciated.
    Thanks!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Michael,
      I’m sorry, I don’t know the answer. The service in your area may just be low quality. Can you manually connect to an Orange network? I believe Free has an agreement in which subscribers have access to the Orange network as well which often comes in better than the Free network.
      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  56. I hear you about Free, they are offering an amazingly rare plan, and I got this amazing plan a week ago, and I’m enjoying the service more than ever. However, I’m looking for a home internet, and most of the four companies (Free, Orange, SFR, and Bouygues) have offers with a telephone service included. Honestly, I don’t need a land-line, what I’m looking for is an internet service ONLY since I’m going to stay here in France for 9 months to do my master’s degree in business. Your assistance is highly appreciated. Thank you.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Dakhil,
      I would just get the Freebox deal- for 30 euros a month, who cares if you don’t need the landline? It may come in handy if you loose your cell phone or don’t have good cell service in your apartment. We had Freebox and never used the landline, but for the cost I don’t think it matters.
      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  57. Hi Pasa,
    I will be studying abroad in France, Paris for 7 months although it is not a year I think this is the best plan I have found because pay as you go is extremely expensive! (ive done it before) I was wondering if you knew if we had to order it once we were in France and only have it delivered there or could we have it delivered to the states? Thank you great post!

    Reply ↓

  58. Hello Pasa,
    Thanks for your useful information.
    I would like to ask you how I can change to contract of Free Mobile from forfait to 2E package, I tried on their website, but cannot find any thing like that. First I can change from 2E to forfait, but I cannot change back to 2E. Could you please instruct me.
    Thanks
    Pham

    Reply ↓

  59. Hi Pasa,

    Thank you for all the posts…i have been searching for the informations about the many things that have to be dealt with in France on google and you don’t know how glad i am to find at something meaningful and clear on net (until now my only meaningful information came from google translate (!!!) and couple of my french colleagues).
    I ordered the FREE sim card, and it arrived around 2 days after the mail saying that my number will be ported from ORANGE (orange was my first try and cost me a lot of nerves and money…). So that went fine. I have activated my line yesterday when my sim has been desactivated from orange (it was desactivated around 11:00 am, and i activated the line with FREE around 22:00 pm). I am not sure how long i have to wait until i can use my FREE sim. I noticed that they say something about 4 days delay. If it is four days delay, it would be great! But, in this 1 month i have been in France, my experience showed i often misinterpret the information when in french language (obviously two years of latin in high school do not help…) . In 1 month here, I have undertaken a lot of seriously stupid actions due to my misinformation (a LOT more serious than this issue with sim :) ). Therefore, i would like to be assured if it is really cca 4 days or i did something completely wrong and it will never be activated. Thank You for any informations! And one more question, do they speak english in FREE shops? I will start my french lessons this wendesday but i don’t believe i will be able to speak and understand people so soon…i am expected to stay in France for 3 years…

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Maja,
      I’m glad to hear that you are giving Free a try. I know it can be frustrating to live in a country where you don’t understand the language, but hang in there- vous apprendrez (you’ll learn)! If your phone number has been ported over to your Free SIM and you have activated the SIM card, you should be ready to make and receive calls. If not, try going into a Free store. I’m sure someone there will be able to assist you in English.
      Best of luck,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  60. Hi, This is very very useful and I really need to order such sim to use from Jan to May, 2013. The thing is that I don’t know French & I wonder whether there’s any way for me to contact the company in English :(

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Anh,
      When you are in France, try going to one of the brick and mortar Free boutiques. Chances are someone there can help you in English.
      Best,
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  61. Just chiming in to say that I’m having issues with receiving SMS’ from abroad as well. Unlimited calls and texts, no fixed plan, lots of data. It all sounds good until you can’t do something as basic as receiving a SMS.

    Reply ↓

  62. Hi Jessica,

    I just moved to Antibes, France from the US and I just unlocked my T-mobile Mytouch 4G cell phone. After I put in the FREE Sim card (has been activated online from my account), an error shows up on my home screen “PIN1 code lock” with a picture of a locked SIM card. It has never asked me for the Sim card code. I have spent many hours trying to figure out this and it is driving me nuts. I still cannot use my phone with the FREE sim card. Please tell me how to make it work and get rid of this “PIN1 code lock” error? If you cannot, is there an online chat where I can chat with a FREE technician? My subscription only provides me with a phone number to call from my FREE Sim card. I cannot call if my Sim card is not working. I rather not have to spend hundreds of $$ to sit on the phone (using my US Sim card) on hold trying to get a FREE customer service on the phone. Please Help…

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Lisa,

      You should have received an email with instructions on how to log in to your account online. Once you have logged in to your online account, there are instructions on how to set up your new SIM card in your phone. It sounds like you need to enter the “code PUK” located on the bottom of the plastic card your SIM came on. Here is a link with a visual to show you where to find the “code PUK”: http://mobile.free.fr/assistance/21.html
      Once you have entered this, you’ll need to set up your own PIN.
      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  63. I have a Free 2 € subscription. I have not used my Free phone for several weeks and find my sim locked (not the phone). I have 1 attempt left and cannot find any information that came with my card.
    Visiting a shop is not an option so how do I contact someone to get help with an unlock code.
    All my research leads me to think that I may have to cancel the contract and re-join?

    Many thanks

    Reply ↓

  64. Very interesting post!
    I’ll visit Paris at the end of this month will spend only 5 days there. any idea how to get a prepaid card with internet 3G connection? I only need to use the internet on my iPhone on the go while I am there and thus no need for phone calls or sms. I heard that it take days to activate the service! meaning i won’t be able to use the prepaid card during my visit! Your reply is highly appreciated.

    Thanks
    Meem

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Meem,

      This is a good question. For such a short period of time I don’t know of such an option. If you have data enabled on your phone you can go to a public park or cafe with a wifi sticker in the window and use the internet that way. For only 5 days, I think this is the best way.

      Good luck!
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  65. It seems like Free is the only service that has unlimited SMSes which is what I’m hoping to get as I’m wanting to use a GPS tracker on a tour bus during the Tour De France so I can program it to send out position updates so that I can head straight for it at the end of the stages and get a lift back to the hotel. Last year we got lost in Gap and ended up nearly suffering hypothermia and having to take shelter in a McDonalds drinking hot chocolates while someone tried calling people to figure out where we needed to go. We were using Mobicarte last year and it turned out quite expensive despite using it mostly for SMS only. A GPS tracker would be sending position updates every 5-10min and that could get very expensive on a Mobicarte SIM. We’re based in Australia – so just wondering if they’ve geared up for the tourist trade yet…or do we need to enlist the help of some Paris-based friends to order the cards for us and then cancel the subscription once we’ve left the country?

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Rog,
      Thanks for your comment. There are Mobicarte options out there with unlimited SMS offered, but not internationally. If you want to go for FREE, you’ll need to be in France or have someone in France do it for you that knows all your info and has a reliable address that you can use. Good luck!
      -Jessica

      Reply ↓

  69. Hi jessica,

    I ordered iphone 5 with micro sim from free mobile. I am already using the sim service from free mobile so I like the service. But now my concern is wetter the iphone 5 will be locked or unlocked. I want an unlocked phone. Please can you help on this.

    regards
    Khan

    Reply ↓

  70. Hiya,

    MY friend in France is using Free.fr network. He can call UK landlines for free, however, I can never receive his sms. He can’t receive mine either. Any one having the same issues?

    Reply ↓

  71. Hi

    I am rajendra, I am here in Paris for 6 month and want to have local sim card of free.

    But before going to free I have few query that can I make call to India if Yes then How much that can cost me ?

    Reply ↓

  72. Thanks so much for all the info!!
    I’m still in the US and am moving to france in a week…I was able to order a free SIM card from the US online and set up my recurring payment with my american debit card. My boyfriend is already living in France and he received my SIM card 2 days after I ordered it! So far so good!

    Reply ↓

    • Brooke, my friend is going to be in Paris for several months and wanted to order a free nanoSIM for his unlocked iPhone 5 when he gets there in early Feb. Did you just provide a Paris address on the mobile.free.fr site and your US debit card? Will a US credit work (did you try)?

      Reply ↓

      • Hi VH,
        I lived in Paris so I provided my Paris address. You can try a U.S. address and credit card- see Colette’s comment below.
        Best,
        Jessica

        Reply ↓

        • Thanks, I noticed the credit card/debit card option on the sign-up page, that Colette refers to. However, it looks like it will not accept a non-French address. Even the address that I used to live at many years ago in France, could not be “validated”, but the hotel address from my most recent stay in Paris was “validated” and allowed me to continue with the sign-up process.

          Reply ↓

  73. My daughter is traveling to Paris and will stay for 5 months. She has an iphone 3G. I would upgrade her phone, but if we unlock it, it will void her warranty. The question is, can she get a Free Mobile Plan with an iphone 3G? The website only mentions the iphones 4, 4S and 5. I tried calling, but it is impossible. Please advise. She wants the plan so that she can call friends within France.

    Thank you

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Kate,
      I had a 3G as well and unfortunately you have to unlock it. I wish there was another way but for this specific model it’s necessary.
      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply ↓

      • We don’t mind unlocking it. We just weren’t sure Free Mobil let you use this model. We should have it unlocked before she leaves for France, right?

        Reply ↓

        • Hi Kate,
          You can unlock it in the US or France. Free Mobile works with all iPhones to my knowledge, and worked for my 3Gs while I was there. If you choose to unlock in the US, contact Apple.
          Best,
          -Jessica

          Reply ↓

  74. hi.. i am vicky ray;; i am using the free mobile sim card.with the cell phone samsung galaxy s2….. evrythings allright but I am suffering a big problem with this conection.. why it does not run to make a coneference call… ??? how to make conference call with free mobile sim card.. please give me reply any one if you KNOW…..

    Reply ↓

  76. Thanks for the great info! Good news – you don’t need a French bank account. You can click on the very faint option to use a bank card, under where you fill in your account info. I just did this twice, using a visa debit and credit card :)

    Reply ↓

  77. Hi,
    I’m in france right now and I have a free mobile but if I go outside france, can I use free mobile’s cell service and internet connection?

    Reply ↓

  78. Jessica,

    If anyone is looking for mobile service only (and not cable and fixed line), Bouygues Telecom is matching Free. See b-and-you.fr/forfaits.html, 24/24 & INTERNET 3Go

    VH

    Reply ↓

  79. One other question on the mobile plan from Free — can one use Skype and Viber on the data plan? Many carriers block VOIP apps, that is why I am asking.

    Reply ↓

  80. Hi Jessica,

    Thank you for your info!
    I want to subscribe to the new 2Euros/Month from FreeMobile. I have been told than I can only subscribe to Free if I have a French bank account (and my French doesnt help me figure it out from the website).
    Do I necessarily need a French bank account, or can I simply subscribe paying by Visa debit?
    Thank You

    Gian Marco

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Gian,

      Check out Colette’s comment from below:

      Thanks for the great info! Good news – you don’t need a French bank account. You can click on the very faint option to use a bank card, under where you fill in your account info. I just did this twice, using a visa debit and credit card

      However, I believe you do need a French address.

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  81. Hi, I have the sim card and its been great…I know that we can cal the US for free..but can they receive the call for free?
    Thanks!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Larissa,

      The person you call shouldn’t be charged. Just make sure their service accepts international calls.
      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  82. Looks like a great offer but….same problem as others, can send SMS abroad but can’t receive. Pretty basic stuff, so I can’t believe free have not resolved the issue.

    so all I can say is that anyone wanting to communicate with others abroad AVOID FREE.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Mobile Monkey,

      You can download an app called Viber which allows you to call anywhere via the internet for freee as long as the other person has also downloaded viber.

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  83. Hi Jessica,

    I signed up for Free mobile online. When I submitted my information and hit “Valider”, the web page refreshed to fill out a new form. I have not received any confirmation either. I am thus unsure if my order went through. Did you receive an email confirmation right away?

    Thanks!

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Ridhima,

      If you haven’t received a confirmation e-mail within the day that you submitted the form, either you entered the e-mail address incorrectly or the information did not go through. Hope this gets sorted out for you.

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  84. Hello,

    I followed your instructions to cancel a Free connection that I am currently using. I also used the same letter template you have provided in one of the post above. I had mentioned the cancellation date as 28th Feb 13 in the letter. And after posting it, i received the acknowledgement (AR Card) as well. Now is there a way to check somewhere that my letter is read and the service would be terminated at end of Feb and they wont charge me for March.

    thanks for your help!

    Thanks,
    Harsha.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Harsha,

      As long as they received the letter before the date of cancellation they should honor your request. There is no way to check that I know of, but once your service has been cancelled you will no longer be able to sign in online.

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  85. Hi,

    Just wanted to say this blog is very very helpful. I am in the process of following your instructions to terminate my Free Mobile account. I just had a few questions of clarification:

    1)Resiliation 75371 Paris Cedex 08 is the address?
    2) In your template there was a space to put our name and phone number, was there anyway else that we should verify our identity in the letter? If all we had to do was send a letter with a name and phone number, wouldn’t it be possible for anyone with our phone number to terminate our account?
    3)I hope to make it to post office tomorrow, but I was curious in what form do we receive an acknowledgement that they have received our letter?

    Best,
    Natan

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Natan,

      Sounds correct- but make sure to put “Free mobile” as the addressee. You can include your account number if you wish. You should send the letter “recommandee avec accuse de reception” which means it’s a registered letter with proof of delivery- you will receive this by mail.

      Best,

      Jessica

      Reply ↓

    • Hi Thor,
      Sorry for the late response. Check other comments to see the details on the cancellation method- you send them a letter. Unfortunately you can only move from a 2 euro to a 19 euro plan, not the other way.

      Best,
      Jessica

      Reply ↓

  88. hi, i have an iphone 3gs, the sim is active but i cant make the mobile internet work, am having trouble how to input the apn settings, do you know the way to do this manually – thanks

    Reply ↓

  89. Hi, thank you so much for these posts! I got my Free sim card today and successfully activated it (according to the website). However, my phone still doesn’t have service…. It’s been hours and I’ve been to different parts of Paris as well so I don’t think it’s the problem of my area. Do you know what might be wrong??

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  90. Does Free has stores as well or is the only way to sign up is through the website? (I am arriving to France this week and will stay at a temporary place).

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  91. Hello,
    I’m taking my free sim carded phone to the UK. What service provider do i choose there on my free sim?

    Many thanks for your help

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  92. Hello,

    I am leaving france in the beginning of May, and I would like to cancel my Free 19.99 eur month service that i have had since October. Do you know exactly what i need to send them, at which address and how early in order to cancel my service and avoid overpaying once i leave?

    Thanks

    Reply ↓

    • Hi Nice,
      Here is a link about “resiliation” (cancelling):

      http://mobile.free.fr/assistance/282.html

      The first option is if you want to keep your phone number (in which case you need to obtain the RIO code by dialing 3179 (no charge) and giving the code to your future carrier, in which case your Free mobile service will be cancelled automatically.

      The second option is to send a certified letter (lettre recommandee) to this address:
      Free
      Service Mobile (résiliation abonnement)
      75371 PARIS Cedex 08

      Make sure to specify the date you wish to cancel service, otherwise it will be cancelled on the anniversary of the date when you began the service. There is no period of advance time indicated on the site, but I think if you send it a week or two in advance you should be fine.

      Best,

      Jessica

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  93. Hi Jessica,
    Thank you for your very helpful post! I went through this process last week in France, and thought I’d relay my husband’s and my experiences for folks who want to try this.
    I signed up for two free.fr plans (one at the 2 euro/month rate and a second at the 19.99 euro/month rate). I did this online from the US with a US Mastercard and had the SIM chips sent to a friend’s home in Paris.
    We both own iPhone 4S’s in the US, purchased through Verizon. Before leaving the US, we phoned Verizon and had our iPhones unlocked (a free service, although our contract remained in effect).
    Upon arrival in France, we swapped out our Verizon SIM chips for the Free.fr SIM chips and followed the easy set-up instructions (written clearly in basic French). Both phones worked immediately.
    As for tethering, it is possible to tether any wifi-capable device (we tried it using the second iPhone and a laptop) to the iPhone with the 19.99 euro/month, using it’s data plan to access the internet.
    As for wifi, if there is a Free.fr signal in the area, choose the *secure* Free.fr wifi signal. Both of our iPhones connected flawlessly to this free, unlimited wifi.
    Sending SMS to the US worked just fine (free with the 19.99 euro/month, about .20 per text along with a required a 5 euro deposit with the 2/euro plan). However, it is not possible to receive international texts with either plan. This is clearly a huge flaw, and customers have flooded the Free.fr message boards with complaints, but at this time it simply doesn’t work.
    Finally, if you do purchase a Free.fr plan, you can set up your ‘messagerie’ to forward any voice mails to your email. You cannot forward SMS messages.
    So far, I highly recommend this service. To keep a single, working number in France for 2 euros/month including 2 hours of calls (including to many international destinations) is a great bargain. All I need to do now is to swap out my SIM chip on the flight to Paris.
    Thanks again!
    Heather

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  94. I used this service for 4 months. Since December 2012 I’m trying to cancel without success. I mailed 3 letters. Talked on the phone 5 times. These guys are crooks.
    Do you have any fax number where I can fax from USA.

    Thanks

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  95. Hello Jessica
    For termination of the free subscription can i directly go to their brick and mortar store? or sending a registered post is important?…Thanks alot

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  96. HI,

    I would be travelling to Paris during August. I would like to purchase a cell phone and use it back in India as well. So kindly suggest me places where I could buy a cell phone. I will not be using it during my stay in France.

    Thanks.

    Reply ↓

  97. Hi, Thanks for all the info available here regarding Free Mobile Fr. It was thanks to your info that we were able to locate the Free Center in Limoges. However, I” am trying to locate a phone number to that same store and have searched everywhere and don’t seem to be able to find one.

    Do you have any idea how I can access the phone number to various specific stores?

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  98. Hi,
    I am having a problem with my LCL bank account and. I need to pay my bill for the month of April 2013.

    My number is 0698990164 wherein my bill is automatically debited in my bank which apparently have some not understandable allocation of my sabings.

    In short my concern here is where Free office can I go to pay my bill?

    Please do send me a SMS or an email message in reply toy querty.

    Thanks,
    Randy

    Reply ↓

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