I have an ambivalent relationship with my cell phone.
It seems I depend on it for everything these days: communication, entertainment, organization. At times I decide — in disgust, always — that I’m going to designate cell phone-free periods.
Obviously, that never happens.
For better or worse, we now live in a world in which we must keep our cell phones closer than even our darkest secrets, lest we cease to function. We dutifully do so, but if you’re like me, don’t feel fantastic about it. If we don’t, how will we get our messages? How will we get our news? How will we know what time that one meeting, also on a cell phone, is scheduled?
Your cell phone is you
Like everyone else, I have a smartphone. I even just upgraded! Unlike everyone else — at least when it comes to my paisanos — my cell phone and cell phone number are Mexican.
For quite a long time, this wasn’t a problem. Mexican cell phone plans tend to be pretty good and are fairly economical. Most phones for sale are “unlocked” and fit a physical SIM card inside, making it easy to change the hardware. Telcel is the most common provider, and Movistar and AT&T can also be found easily. Abandoning one for another is not hard.
For years, I’ve been perfectly happy with this system. My Mexican number is essential for certain app-based services, like my local bank. I send and receive messages through WhatsApp, as most people here do, and can share my number easily.
Did you know that people here give their phone numbers in pairs rather than a three-three-four pattern, by the way? So 219-345-1234 would be said like this: 21-93-45-12-34. It’s been over 20 years and I’m still not used to it. Anyway!
In many ways, my Mexican cell phone is my identifier here.
Unfortunately, my U.S. cell phone number is my identifier there. Oh no!
Revenge of the pick-a-side people
Increasingly, not having a U.S. cell phone as a U.S. citizen is making it impossible to do business in the U.S.
Why? Because one’s U.S. cell phone — and it has to be a U.S. cell phone — is now the preferred and only method of two-factor identification. “Okay, just to make sure it’s you, we’ll send you a code! What’s your cell phone number again? No room for ‘country code,’ by the way.”
Legally, as a U.S. citizen and tax-payer, I am entitled to U.S. services and products — I think. In my case, it’s quite a gray area: I can be out of the country, but I need to have certain markers of not being out of the country to access certain services. This includes a permanent address and a U.S. cell phone. You’re all here, or you’re all there. Pick a side.
The permanent address is easy enough. My sister is my U.S. home, and therefore lives at my U.S. address. Done.
The cell phone is trickier. As I said, I haven’t had a U.S. number because I haven’t been in the U.S. long enough to justify getting a plan there. Plus, they’re so much more expensive than down here. Why would I?
To get access to my bank and credit card accounts, that’s why.
Sorry, who are you?
My troubles have made me realize that my problem is unique. Few U.S. citizens who still want to use U.S. services have been here as long as I have. And spoiler alert: neither Skype nor Google Voice numbers work for getting codes. Providers know they’re not real, and will not send texts there. My sister’s number works for most other things, but it depends, of course, on her being available. Certain places, though, won’t even send them there; the phone number doesn’t have my exact name tied to it, and they know.
When my Capital One account stopped sending verification codes to my email instead of a phone, I lost online access. To pay my bill now, I have to call.
Unfortunately, that is no longer enough, either. When my card was blocked recently — it happens once in a while — I called to reassure them that yes, it was me, in Mexico.
This time, though, it happened: in order to confirm it was really me, I had to read back to them the code they sent… to my U.S. phone.
Uh-oh.
What did this mean? It means that my card is still blocked. I had to send them a copy of a state-issued ID that wasn’t a passport. It’s been in review for a week now, with no end in sight. They literally do not know what to do with me.
The lesson for you
So folks, whatever you do: don’t give up your home-country cell phone number. Switch to a cheaper plan, fine. Get a Mexican number, yes. Maybe get a phone with a dual-SIM card space. But don’t, I repeat, do not, be caught trying to use home-country services without a home-country phone.
As for me, I’ll likely be making a trip to the U.S. soon just to get a blasted phone and a number. Because nuance isn’t a thing when it comes to verification codes.
Sarah DeVries Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.
The cheapest and best US phone option I have found to solve this issue is with Cricket Wireless. I pay $300 up front for the year with unlimited in Mexico and US. They use AT&T lines.
We live in both beautiful worlds-Naples, Florida, USA and Estado de Mexico. Mexico & USA. And agree, each individual, needs cell phones in and for each country. Also we have found it is a must to have a US Amazon and Mexico Amazon separate accounts. We appreciate your publication. Saludos!
I pay $20 a month for T-Mobile unlimited talk and text only. I have an eSIM for T-Mobile. I have a hard SIM for Telmex and pay $10 a month for data. Works great!
Lucky you…..I was paying T-Mobile $50/month for US/Mexican service, for 2 years before realizing that they cut off my US service after 3 months. Thank God for Telcel…..Cheers from Acapulco!
I was planning on using my unlimited talk/text/data from T- Mobile which covers the US, Canada and Mexico. Is T-Mobile functional there?
Capitalone is the worst. I have written to them, talked to them explaining there are many thousands of us expats and they will be losing our business. Every financial,institution on both sides of the border is apprehensive of money laundering. I balked at paying $35/month just so I could get a code. Paying C1 over the phone isn’t too bad once you get used to it, jajaja.
Any ideas on how to change pesos to usd?
Use Wise. You can have an account paying 4.4% interest on the money you have with them (in US dollars). You can exchange to many different currencies at good exchange rates and then use as an ATM/debit card to withdraw in that currency. However, you’re only allowed 2 free withdrawals per month with a max $ withdrawal for free.
Just port your US cell phone number to Google Voice. It’s a one-time fee of $20 USD. It solves the 2-factor authentication issue and you can make phone calls from the Google voice app. I did this 5 years ago and have had zero issues.
I’d like to try this, but how does one “port” a US cell phone number to Google Voice? Thanks!
This has worked for me, but SSA doesn’t allow it as a 2FA method. Fortunately they allow other options. That’s the only issue I have had.
Great article.
Mint Mobile, now owned by T-mobile, can give you a US number for $15 a month.
I also use the cheapest Mint plan for 2FA codes, but when they sold to T-Mobile, the international roaming became extremely expensive and limited to a few days at a time before having to buy more time. All for a few 2FA codes a month. My workaround was to flip my Mint phone over to Wifi Calling, and all my Mint calls and data now come through fine and for free without impacting my plan in any way. Actually, it was Mint’s suggested workaround.
You can use VOIP to set up a US number. VOIP uses the internet for telephone call. You can set up a virtual telephone on your computer or phone. You need to be a bit computer savy to set it up. You can investigate at VOIP.COM.
I have a Mexico cell number and a US Skype number (app). Works just fine and is still inexpensive.
Interesting read, both the article and the comments. I must be lucky (knock on wood) I’ve never had a problem with my B of A account movements or using the SSA account with my Telcel number. Like Sarah I use a family members phone number when needed, which is a hassle but doable. It’s very true that US cell carriers suck if you are in Mexico for extended periods. Lots of options outlined in the comments!
I concur with Caguichie. I’ve nevrr had a problem with my US bank account, even with the Mexican international phone number, +52. I have several Chase bank accounts and an AT&T phone. Knock on wood.
Newer phones can use E sims, I have a Pixel with a T mobile E sim, and a Telcel sim card. Works fine.
For many years I have had an Arizona number from MagicJack (VOIP for approx $50 per year), installed the Magic App on my iphone, then reinstalled when I switched to Android, works 90% of the time receiving codes. Capital One has my Magicjack number on file, when they need to authenticate, they ask do I want a text or a phone call, text never works with them so I always use “call me” that always works.
The Google Voice option has mostly worked for me but I did have one issue where I was expected to have a USA mobile phone number (it knew GV was not a mobile number).
Forget about your US phone! Get a Telmex sim card and it will cost you about $10 monthly which should take care of all your in MX calling needs. For everything else sign up for a Line2 internet subscription for unlimited calling outside of MX…
Also the app TextNow is an option.
Update with Capital One: After having spent hours on the phone with them over the past several weeks, it is confirmed: I am permanently check-mated. They did not accept my Mexican DL as a valid form of ID, they don’t accept passports, and until they “confirm my identity” (which is impossible unless I go to the States just to get a DL there), I cannot give them a new phone number by which to contact me.
Oh — but I CAN make payments!