Question for clients: using a second phone?

[Redbook]

I am wondering: when exchanging numbers with a provider, do you use your regular phone number? Or do you use a secondary or burner phone, or a Google Voice number or something? For a while I was using a secondary phone with an eSIM, but now the provider that I see regularly and I have exchanged our real numbers for ease of communication.  But for the occasional appointment with new or different providers, I’m wondering what to do. Has anyone had bad experiences or privacy problems by sharing their cell?

[acks0104]

I would never use my regular phone number because there's no need to when things like Google Voice and other free phone apps exist. Even getting a burner phone would only cost like $30

[hungry4darkmeat]

30 minutes ago, acks0104 said:

I would never use my regular phone number because there's no need to when things like Google Voice and other free phone apps exist. Even getting a burner phone would only cost like $30

Exactly. 

[whatsinaname]

I just use my regular phone i really dgaf

[MikeBiDude]

2 hours ago, Redbook said:

I am wondering: when exchanging numbers with a provider, do you use your regular phone number? Or do you use a secondary or burner phone, or a Google Voice number or something? For a while I was using a secondary phone with an eSIM, but now the provider that I see regularly and I have exchanged our real numbers for ease of communication.  But for the occasional appointment with new or different providers, I’m wondering what to do. Has anyone had bad experiences or privacy problems by sharing their cell?

I use the Burner App on my iPhone, it’s much discussed here and there on the forum. I’ve also moved a handful to my regular cell phone. Here’s a thread that you might find answers some of your questions:

 

[+ Pensant]

8 hours ago, MikeBiDude said:

I’ve also moved a handful to my regular cell phone

Sound choice, once a steady regular.

[BeHappy]

10 hours ago, whatsinaname said:

I just use my regular phone i really dgaf

Yep, same camp!

[+ JamesB]

I always use a burner number for the initial contact. If they become a regular, then I’ll share my real number. I don’t see a reason to give my personal number to every provider I try once or twice. For the same reason, I don’t host at my place the first time. It’s either an incall or a hotel.

[BuckCanucked]

My phone-phone is both business and personal. So I use a burner... and glad I did as one provider was into me (or my wallet) and aggressively pursued a follow up, texting regularly, even suggesting he'd travel to me. I don't need the hassle of that on a phone I use for business and a number I've had since before Cosby was a felon. I'd only share my number to one provider I trust but no need as my burner works fine for him as well. 

[Pd1_jap]

https://www.burnerapp.com

The app can be glitchy but it's the best for privacy. 

The 4.99 monthly subscription allows you to have one burner number that you can "burn" (cancel the number) and get another number easily for no extra charge. 

I've had a couple times where a provider/scammer tries to black mail me. When that happens I just burn the number and get a new one. 

[rickster]

16 minutes ago, Pd1_jap said:

I've had a couple times where a provider/scammer tries to black mail me. When that happens I just burn the number and get a new one. 

Well that's certainly a good reason not to use your real number.

[Wolfer]

I'm in europe where the vast majority of us use WhatsApp to text each other, including setting up providers' appointments. I have a WhatsApp account linked to my personal number and I took a "pay-your-usage" mobile plan for a second number that I've registered to a WhatsApp Business account (the simcard for that second number is installed in an old phone I never turn on, meaning my monthly cost to keep that number is 0 euro).

This allows me to have 2 WhatsApp apps (regular and business) installed at the same time and I do all of my provider and masseur meets through the WhatsApp Business app. It started out for privacy, but now it just keeps everything tidy and organized.

[Bokomaru]

Does Burner app let you get a number in another country? I’m going to Europe soon and don’t want to be sending messages on WhatsApp with a US number. 

[Nue2thegame]

18 minutes ago, Bokomaru said:

Does Burner app let you get a number in another country? I’m going to Europe soon and don’t want to be sending messages on WhatsApp with a US number. 

Usually not. It’s better to purchase a second SIM card abroad which can be done cheaply. 

[Bokomaru]

1 hour ago, Nue2thegame said:

Usually not. It’s better to purchase a second SIM card abroad which can be done cheaply. 

Thanks. 
I use esims abroad but typically they are data-only plans.
 

Airalo app does have the option for esims with phones numbers in some countries, but not all. 

[Wolfer]

2 hours ago, Bokomaru said:

Thanks. 
I use esims abroad but typically they are data-only plans.
 

Airalo app does have the option for esims with phones numbers in some countries, but not all. 

Any European sim will have free roaming in the entire European Union, regardless of which country you bought it from. So if you buy a Spanish sim and number, you can use that plan (for calls, texts and data) in every European Union country without additional costs. This was made law many years ago by Europe. I think the traveling politicians got tired of their skyhigh roaming bills. 

For WhatsApp you do need to have a number that can receive regular SMS texts as that's how WhatsApp verifies it's a "real" number. 

Is the reason you don't want to use WhatsApp from an American number because you've heard that European providers charge more when they see this? I asked some providers in Barcelona about this and none of them were aware of others doing that nor did it themselves. 

[savantsav]

A second phone always for initial contact. Remember that providers can rate you using Mr Number. 

[Bokomaru]

6 hours ago, Wolfer said:

 

Is the reason you don't want to use WhatsApp from an American number because you've heard that European providers charge more when they see this? I asked some providers in Barcelona about this and none of them were aware of others doing that nor did it themselves. 

Nah, it’s to do with how providers react. When they know you’re American the price is suddenly much higher. 

[Pd1_jap]

On 3/18/2026 at 8:01 AM, Bokomaru said:

Does Burner app let you get a number in another country? I’m going to Europe soon and don’t want to be sending messages on WhatsApp with a US number. 

https://saily.com

Saily is best for international travel. 

[rickster]

6 minutes ago, Pd1_jap said:

https://saily.com

Saily is best for international travel. 

Does the eSIM they provide get you a different number or just data in other countries?

[+ JamesB]

4 hours ago, Pd1_jap said:

https://saily.com

Saily is best for international travel. 

I prefer Airalo. I’ve run into issues with Saily piggybacking on low-coverage networks with limited speeds.

[+ JamesB]

4 hours ago, rickster said:

Does the eSIM they provide get you a different number or just data in other countries?

Saily is data only. Airalo, depending on the location, can offer phone, text and data.