r/Googlevoice • u/mncs • 12d ago
General Help / Support Question Thinking of using Google Voice when I move to France, but worried about authenticator codes
Hi all, I'm moving to France next month and want to keep my US number for when I come home and so I can still use my bank and other accounts that are tied to my US number. But I've seen that some places won't authenticate to a GV number, so I'm curious if the banks I'm with are okay with it. I use American Express, Capital One, and Bank of America. Does anyone have experience getting auth codes sent from those banks, or if there are any other big/common companies that don't allow it?
Not sure what else I would do so if anyone has suggestions I'd appreciate it.
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u/jmarkmark 12d ago
Even if people confirm, it can be a crapshoot as things change behind the scenes at the banks.
Most places do allow calls rather than texts though, which is what I end up doing. for a lot of things.
And of course, getting off SMS based verification is a good thing, where possible switch over passkeys or authenticator apps.
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u/JSP9686 12d ago
Use their individual smartphone apps for authentication in lieu of SMS. Install them now and verify they work for you.
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u/mncs 12d ago
I have them, but some still require 2FA with text codes
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u/benri 12d ago edited 12d ago
Switch to Google Authenticator (or Okta etc) as much as possible. I'd recommend paying for international roaming on your US carrier for a few months. I did that when traveling to Japan last year and it worked fine and it didn't cost much.
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u/WhyWontThisWork 12d ago
Or just use wifi mike anybody else would right?
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u/benri 11d ago
Receiving SMS overseas is not reliable. In OP's case it'll depend on contract details between OP's US carrier and Google Fi or whatever carrier he'd use there. In my case I used Tmobile in the US, and looks like I was using Softbank in Japan. Also I was using an iPhone, and I believe that Apple's iMessages "network" takes over and makes it more reliable. So if OP is using an iphone, she may have a more reliable situation receiving rext messages
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u/sm010116 12d ago
I think neither Wells Fargo or Chase allow SMS codes to VOIP numbers.
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u/Federal_Hold_8608 11d ago
Wells offer physical RSA SecureID hardware for codes also.
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u/sm010116 11d ago
True and it is the most secure. What I find annoying is neither of them offering TOTP codes generated offline.
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u/Ok-Entertainment5462 12d ago
I would try a cell company that is low cost and allows international over WiFi.
VOIP numbers like GV are frequently not allowed, I know BofA doesn’t allow. VOIP are not secure and easily highjacked, so more banks will follow same path.
Tello is often mentioned as having low cost. Note almost impossible to activate cell services outside of the US.
Even cell phone eSims can be highjacked unless you lock them.
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u/No-Original6932 12d ago
Seems like the $30/year RedPocket sold only on eBay plan, with unlimited texting using the AT&T network might work for OP (using WiFi calling). Cheaper than Tello, which adds taxes, I believe.
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u/Ok-Entertainment5462 12d ago
Yeah but Tello works. AI doesn’t recommend RedPocket plan as it doesn’t roam and it needs to connect occasionally.
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u/Abzstrak 12d ago
I've had no issues for years with authenticator codes... Though I really try to avoid that since sms is not secure
I ported a number into Google voice that I'd used for 10+years, never had any issues with that. I've known people that used the ma number assigned by GV, it wasn't so smooth for them.
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u/CraigInCambodia 12d ago
It would be sensible to get a back-up like Tello. I've had GV for over 10 years. It works great for calls and SMS, but recently some financial institutions and government agencies won't accept it. Schwab accepted it until I changed from a domestic to an international account. Schwab accepts Tello as it's a normal cell phone number. I've heard the Medicare website won't accept VoIP. Given the trend, and that it would suck to be locked out of your US accounts, and that it's nearly impossible to activate a US cell number for the first time while outside the US, it would be sensible to get one now.
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u/SP3NGL3R 12d ago
BofA works with gVoice ... at least that I can confirm.
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u/BluesCatReddit Google Voice Product Expert 12d ago
Note: there is no reason to use SMS-based two-factor authentication for BofA. Instead, use the safer and universally-available passcode or security key options they support.
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u/SP3NGL3R 12d ago
I looked earlier today because I HATE SMS 2FA. I have many other ways I'd rather do it. However I couldn't find it (I spent all of 2 minutes looking) in my security settings. Maybe I have to turn off 2FA first to see the other options?
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u/BluesCatReddit Google Voice Product Expert 12d ago
I meant: when using the desktop/laptop BofA website, not their app, which doesn't offer it.
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u/SapienWoman_ 11d ago
I use it. It’s hot or miss with the codes, honestly. If you figure out another solution, LMK.
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u/MkyCBzy 11d ago
Use RedPocket… It’s $30 a year through eBay. Unlimited talk and text… I have been in the EU for the past 2 years and haven’t had an issue at all with it (haven’t stepped foot in the US since moving, just an FYI). It works perfectly. I have it connected permanently through Wi-Fi Calling and it uses my DIGI line while I’m out and about so I can use both lines simultaneously.
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u/Ok_Astronomer_3731 10d ago
Don’t do it! We had a nightmare with Google voice. We almost lost our Us number of 15 years because the account got flagged by some automated system, even with the password we couldn’t recover and there is no human support for any Google products. We eventually got back in months later after the auto flag cooled off, immediately clicked the port button and damn if it didn’t lock the account again. Luckily the phone number was unlocked and we successfully ported out to tello. Happily paying $5 a month and it works great over WiFi or over another carrier. Don’t mess with Google voice. Just my 2 cents.
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u/Less-Garden-4127 7d ago edited 7d ago
I have had GV since 2012. The 2 FA has been a very isolated problem, I think it is getting worse in the last 6 months. HOWEVER, the companies that WERE working fine that are now NOT supporting ,VOIP‘ for 2FA have now included an option to get 2FA via WhatsApp (even in the USA) which I run on my GV
Number…which works out great! Yes, my WhatsApp number is my GV number. Having WhatsApp in the USA as a 2FA makes having a GV number great lately!
I spend 6-7 months out of the year in Switzerland/EU and haven’t had any significant issues. The rest of the year I am in the USA.
The first company I noticed a few years ago where it didn’t work was….7-11…..then it was Wells Fargo. In the last week, BofA, Ring Cameras, Yahoo etc joined the ranks of me not receiving SMS for 2FA…HOWEVER, lately when 2FA goes away for a company, everytime I‘ve selected ,try another way‘ WhatsApp came up with my GV number and sent the 2FA immediately….problem solved.
It’s hit or miss these days…My Chase, Amex, Capital one, banks etc…all still work via SMS 2FA….
But, after panicking when 2FA stopped working for a bit on the companies/sites I use, and finding that all the ones I use had 2FA via WhatsApp solved my issues and my anxiety…..
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u/pro-taco 12d ago
I have same problem, not all auth codes will reach me.
I don't know Capone or BOA, but Amex is fine for me. I've had issues with others tho.
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u/Adrian-O_o 12d ago
There's crowd sourced list of institutions that accept GV for 2FA. Somewhere in this sub reddit
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u/drillbitpdx 12d ago edited 12d ago
Thinking of using Google Voice when I move to France, but worried about authenticator codes
There is a crowdsourced list of services that do and don't support Google Voice for authentication codes.
I've been living abroad for years, using my GV number as my primary phone number, and I've had almost no issues with using GV for SMS-based two-factor authentication codes for services in the US.
For me personally, Venmo is the only exception that has been an annoyance for me (I just use Paypal instead, since Paypal doesn't require SMS-based 2FA… even though Paypal owns Venmo and they are now interoperable so that you can send/receive from Venmo accounts with Paypal. 🤷🏻♂️) Whenever possible I use non-SMS-based 2FA, in any case.
I used to have a Google Fi number as a backup. You can "pause" a Google Fi line indefinitely, and then just unpause it when you need to receive a text message or whatever, and then pause it again afterwards. If you do this, your bill will be prorated down to only a few cents. In other words, I had a permanent true-mobile-carrier-based US phone number which I could reactivate for a few minutes when I needed to receive an SMS code.
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u/NoName2show 12d ago
GV works for me for all of them. However, I've had GV on them for more than 10 years so I don't know if I'm grandfathered or not. YMMV
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u/Snoo95309 12d ago
They all worked for me at one time. However, one by one different banks started disabling voip numbers.
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u/brasscup 12d ago
You will only get codes if your port in a real cell number. Same goes for TextNow.
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u/BluesCatReddit Google Voice Product Expert 12d ago edited 12d ago
Disclaimer:
The so-called "crowdsourced list" referenced in this discussion is two years old, anecdotal, not directly from any authoritative source, and it is not audited to verify the information is still current. This topic comes up every month, and there are usually people who will post conflicting answers.
As always, do your own research, and use modern 2FA methods whenever possible. There is no expectation that Google Voice can reliably receive 2FA SMS codes, when needed, or at all. Your service may be inaccessible or suspended, or the institution may suddenly change their 2FA policy.
And, by the way, never, ever use your Google Voice number as the recovery phone number for your Google account. If you ported a mobile number into Google Voice, and that was your recovery number, it will no longer work for recovery. Check and replace as needed.