Mobile Phone Companies - Good / Bad ?

[Nick Harvey]

Well, I'm still extremely happy with Vodafone.

The contacts for the pull-down microphone are starting to get a bit dodgy on my Nokia 7110 from August 2000, so I've just got them to send me a nice, new Nokia 6300 for free, on my £15 a month (currently £14.68) to 'do just about anything you please' legacy contract.

Some might see it as slightly excessive that this will be my fifth different mobile phone since May 1985.

I think the nice lady on the other end of the phone was slightly perplexed when she asked how long I'd had my contract and I said "twenty-three-and-a-half years". She thinks I might be entitled to a free telephone exchange, rather than just a handset.

[rts]

I would like to adjust my previously positive opinion of Orange.

I recently changed bank accounts, and forgot to move across my Orange direct debit.

On the day payment bounced, my phone was promptly cut off.

I immediately rang to correct my error, made full payment, but 24 hours later the bar has still not been lifted.

Fucking quick to slap the bar on, but not so speedy when it comes to lifting it, even after receiving full payment!

I can't complain too much as it is my cock up, but nonetheless it's bloody irritating.

Update:

Well it just goes to show who you speak to. I rang up a few times in my usual polite, charming tone, and got lucky as the chap lifted the bar immediately.

[Stuart*]

I would like to adjust my previously positive opinion of Orange..

That sounds like quite unusual and unfortunate sequence of events, Rod.

Orange normally call you if there is a problem with a bill being paid, or at least send you a text message asking you to call them before barring out-going calls.

Furthermore, when a SIM update is sent to allow calls again it normally takes between a couple of minutes and 2 hours. The staff are told to say "up to 24 hours" just to cover the network being very busy. I believe the SIM update is actually sent more than once, so you were unlucky to miss them all - unless they actually forgot to do that, which is more likely!

[rts]

After getting lucky, they promptly returned their usual prompt, helpful selves. But I am irritated at the inconsistency, and the wide berth of which action is taken depending who you speak to.

[cdd]

Are SIM updates those texts that say "Pers - Network message please delete"?

[Stuart*]

Are SIM updates those texts that say "Pers - Network message please delete"?

Not sure about the other networks, but the ones on Orange say:

"Orange Update: Your services have been modified. Please turn the handset off, then back on again, for any changes to take effect."

[Gavin Scott]

After getting lucky, they promptly returned their usual prompt, helpful selves. But I am irritated at the inconsistency, and the wide berth of which action is taken depending who you speak to.

Yes - exactly my experience of last month.

Call centre staff are the ambassadors of their brands - and it only takes one to sour your view on the company.

[rts]

Just got my bill through from Orange. The swines had over charged me £20. Basically when I upgraded last month, they took off my £7.50 for 30MB data a month bundle, although curiously leaving my unlimited SMS bundle active.

I rang them up and described the above lunacy. They gave me a full refund for the data charges I incurred, and are now giving me 500MB a month for £5.

A bundle 50% cheaper than the previous for nearly 20 x more data.

Not bad for a six minute phone conversation.

Although I didn't question how long the new bundle had been available and them not informing me

[Gavin Scott]

Ooh, thanks Row.

I recalled that they were giving me a £24.00 credit last month - so why then did I get a demand for £30+ quid this month?

I couldn't pay it, and so my phone was cut off ON MY BIRTHDAY! I was greatly displeased. Couldn't reply back to friends and family's birthday messages.

Just spoke to Orange, who acknowledge this outrage, and have applied the £24 + £10 compo as a credit to my account.

Not that I can check it, as their online bill system is offline every time I try it.

[rts]

And an extra £10? Very nice. I got cut off when I changed banks and the banks hadn't moved my DD, which they said they would. It was like I'd left stranded on an island!

Although I've been relatively lucky when speaking to Orange, their online service is dismal. The majority of the time when I'm trying to view my bill, the sites undergoing "essential maintenance".

[rts]

Well yesterday, my phone blew up again. Today I received my third Sony Ericsson C905. And low and behold this one has a fault too.

The MAC Address is showing up as just 00 00 00 00 00 - rather than a unique number.

Software reset didn't help.

So Orange are couriering out a fourth new handset tomorrow.

They've been very good, but it's bloody irritating, reconfiguring email settings, tones, themes etc.

Agh!