Leaving a mobile provider

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Gavin Scott
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So anyhoo, I bought a new flat, and its gorgeous, thanks for asking.

The only thing is, my Orange signal drops from 3G to GSM the second I walk across the threshold, and disappears completely once I'm two steps inside.

I've got about 6 months (maybe a little more) left to run on the contract, so I called them up and mentioned the trouble. I was transferred (via India, sigh) to Newcastle, and a helpful lad who said they could "talk me through making my reception better", provided I was at home to do this.

Well of course I wasn't, I was at work - where I CAN get a signal. He set up a consultation to my landline number for 8pm that night; so I didn't go out as planned, and waited in patiently.

And that was over a week ago and no call from Orange.

Not overly impressed with this, so in the meantime I have looked up t'interwebs and found out that there was something of a landmark case in this regard recently, where the subscriber was able to surrender his contract with no penalty, as the provider couldn't get a signal to his domicile. I believe that they could also provide a femtocell (which piggy backs on an existing broadband connection), but either of those options (releasing the contract or extra equipment) is a cost which the carrier should burden.

I have checked, and o2 and Vodafone get full 3G, even in the basement of the flat.

I'll now write to Orange and explain I would like one or the other of these options. I'm certainly not going to disable 3G as an option - not least because that doesn't work either.

Anyone got any experience of dealing with mobile carriers in this respect?
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Beep
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I had a similar issue with Orange, they told me all sorts of crap (including opening windows - yeah right, in December?). They couldn't offer a (practical) solution in the end and I mentioned femtocells and the man claimed to know nothing about them.

Have you tried one of those 'signal boost' stickers? They're cheap (not sure how effective they are). Really Orange should offer a free solution.

A threat to leave if it's not fixed might work as they want to keep customers.
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Sput
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Have you tried one of those 'signal boost' stickers? They're cheap (not sure how effective they are). Really Orange should offer a free solution.
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Gavin Scott
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The point of my query is whether I can be excused from my contract with no liability to pay the remaining term if they cannot provide a workable signal.

Were I not in a contract then I would of course leave without hesitation.

That said, Orange are a good provider, and my bills are very inexpensive - so I would prefer a hardware solution.

Open windows and/or stickers on my ground floor, newly washed windows is not acceptable.
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Beep
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Gavin Scott wrote:The point of my query is whether I can be excused from my contract with no liability to pay the remaining term if they cannot provide a workable signal.
Is there not a clause within the contract stating they have to provide a usable signal?

EDIT:http://www.3g.co.uk/3GForum/showthread.php?t=73016
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Gavin Scott
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NOT IMPRESSED WITH ORANGE.

Been on the phone for last half hour. They are offering me an upgrade to a UMA enabled handset - Blackberry or LG (no thanks). UMA I believe is something like a Wi-Fi signal going through my cable modem.

A bit like talking over VOIP - which I don't want.

No one I spoke to had heard of a femtocell, and one suggested that Orange don't deal with such devices. I corrected him by citing an article with Lauren Town - head of Orange marketing - who had done an interview about the usefulness of such devices.

They have offered me a get-out-of-contract which will cost me one month rental.

I'm not prepared to lose my loyalty discounts, free numbers and texts and have to pay for the privilege - so I will write to the chief executive and see what happens.
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Sput
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But surely you have to give those up if you're moving to another provider, which you have no choice but to do?
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Gavin Scott
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Sput wrote:But surely you have to give those up if you're moving to another provider, which you have no choice but to do?
They could offer me a femtocell - which they offer their enterprise customers.
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Sput
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Ah right, I'm with ya!
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Pete
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isn't UMA a sort of femtocell though? at least it goes over the wifi in the house.

what is your current phone out of interest though?
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Gavin Scott
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Hymagumba wrote:isn't UMA a sort of femtocell though? at least it goes over the wifi in the house.

what is your current phone out of interest though?
Its not really the same thing, as it routes the call through the broadband network differently.

However it may do at a push.

I need to find a good 3G phone (one that I actually want) which offers this function.

Anyone know if the new HTC does?
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