Mobile Phone Companies - Good / Bad ?

[Gavin Scott]

I'd ask for a better (Nokia) handset because of your troubles.

I'm almost at the end of a review process for business mobiles. Have managed to secure discounts of around 50% of our annual spend, and gain around £2,700 worth of new handsets.

Woo me, etc.

[rts]

Orange are fussy wankers about replacing a fault handset with a different model/make.

I wrote to Orange saying that although they've been good at promptly replacing handsets, the fact I've had seven replacements in the past twelve months is a little bad.

They said because they are "so good" and courier a new phone out the next day, there is nothing they can do in the form of a good will gesture.

I signed another 18 month contract with them in December, as to be honest the tarrif and service is pretty good, and (when they work) the phones are great.

But if this continues, is there a way for me to get out of the contract?

I'm seriously considering changing to O2 for an iPhone...

[Gavin Scott]

Orange are fussy wankers about replacing a fault handset with a different model/make.

I wrote to Orange saying that although they've been good at promptly replacing handsets, the fact I've had seven replacements in the past twelve months is a little bad.

They said because they are "so good" and courier a new phone out the next day, there is nothing they can do in the form of a good will gesture.

I signed another 18 month contract with them in December, as to be honest the tarrif and service is pretty good, and (when they work) the phones are great.

But if this continues, is there a way for me to get out of the contract?

I'm seriously considering changing to O2 for an iPhone...

Well I've had a foul experience with O2 and am 90% sure I'm moving the business away from them [note to self: call their retentions and see if they might give me an iPhone].

As for Orange; writing to them is a good move - but address it to their Chief Executive personally.

Explain that speedy replacements don't excuse one disappointment after another; and express your frustration as a customer being tied to a product that clearly isn't fit for purpose; and the essential mention of how this is creating a bad impression of his firm to you, and to those in your large circle who hear all about your continuing terrible experience.

Then ask for an N97or somesuch.

And when you get one, you owe me a pint.

[nwtv2003]

Well I've had a foul experience with O2 and am 90% sure I'm moving the business away from them [note to self: call their retentions and see if they might give me an iPhone].

Glad I'm not the only one who hasn't had a good time with O2. I'm sure I've mentioned this within this thread, but to summarise, I've got a Sony Erricsson K850i on 18 month contract that started in October 2007. Had no problems with it til October 2008, where basically I couldn't send, recieve or read any text messages. I phoned O2, and they stated that it was a common fault with the phone and that they would send out a replacement SE K850i or newish model as a temporary replacement (or on the lines of), within 7 days.

Waited 7 days and got naff all. Phoned exactly 1 week after I phoned them initially, explained the situation and was told that they don't do such a thing, and that if I have a problem with my phone I can take it into an O2 Shop and send it off for repair free of charge. I ended up having to do that, having no K850 for 2 weeks! They told me that it would take a 2 week maximum, it took 5 days but no-one at the O2 Shop bothered to call or leave a message telling me my phone was fixed. Adding insult to injury they didn't even offer me a replacement phone, they wanted £25 "deposit" for a basic Nokia. I ended up using an old Samsung to see me through.

I know of at least two other people I know who've had a similar problem with O2. Frankly come April when my contract is up, I'm telling them to fuck off (which I may do), as I've never known such poor customer service. You don't get poor service like that in a shop, so why should you with a mobile phone? Whilst you're still paying for it. We're with Virgin Media, my Pace 1000 STB broke, phoned them and within 48 hours they came out and replaced the box with a shiney new Samsung one, no ifs or buts.

I had no problem when I was on Orange, problem is where I live you can get a better signal with 2 tin cans and a piece of string than on Orange, sadly.

[rts]

Hmm this is what I'm worried about. If the iPhone was available on Orange I would be in Heaven.

Service from Orange has always been great, even if this includes replacing handsets that are shite.

If I could have an iPhone with Orange's service I would be very happy.

Does anyone know of any plans to liberalise the availability of the iPhone, or if O2s exclusive deal with Apple is due to come up for renewal anytime?

[Gluben]

I presume it's possible that there might be more carriers when the iPhone gets updated, which is highly likely to happen in June or July, as it is the usual point in the development cycle when Apple updates the iPhone. Even if it isn't available on more carriers, I'd be very inclined to switch to O2.

[lukey]

I presume it's possible that there might be more carriers when the iPhone gets updated, which is highly likely to happen in June or July, as it is the usual point in the development cycle when Apple updates the iPhone. Even if it isn't available on more carriers, I'd be very inclined to switch to O2.

By 'usual point in the development cycle', do you mean.....the one time they've updated the iPhone?

[Gluben]

I presume it's possible that there might be more carriers when the iPhone gets updated, which is highly likely to happen in June or July, as it is the usual point in the development cycle when Apple updates the iPhone. Even if it isn't available on more carriers, I'd be very inclined to switch to O2.

By 'usual point in the development cycle', do you mean.....the one time they've updated the iPhone?

For non-Apple fanatics, yes, that's what it means.