Posted by Phrixus on Mon 9 Feb 09, 6:39 PM to Phrixus's blog.
Well after thinking about a new phone as my 18 month T-Mobile contract is nearly up, I dug my old one out! A very well looked after Motorola V3i. Fashion phone I know.
All of a sudden I'm reminded it's still locked with my previous mobile phone provider, Orange. I remember Orange, I remember them very well, they charged me about £70 for disconnection, cheeky bastards. I should have chased it up at the time but I was busy fighting other fires and money wasn't too much of a problem back then. The phone is locked, and I'd like to make use of it so an unlock code is required.
Going onto their website and attempting to talk to someone today was a fun experience, even the automated phone system is annoying, curt and rude. It disconnected me abruptly and without any alternative course of action when I put my old orange number in and then when not pushing any buttons it disconnected me again! (Most companies will put you through to a real person if you don't press a touch tone)
So I called the pay as you number instead (I was on a monthly contract) and managed to get through to a real person. She was in fact genuinely nice and helpful but I was told after she conferred with another department that with me not being a current Orange customer that despite having paid for my phone in full they weren't prepared to give me an unlock code.
Now call me stupid or something, but if I lost a customer to another company, I would be charming them and being nice (within reason) to get them back. I certainly wouldn't handle a customer break up like a stereotypical love affair turned sour. One thing is for sure, today has reaffirmed my feelings of not wanting to consider going with them again. The only thing that initially made me unwilling to go back with them is the disconnection fee they charged me that I mentioned above.
How does a multi million pound phone company act so short sighted and childishly? I am not blowing smoke, if they'd treated me well and the parting had been amicable they'd be in my list to consider again.
I'm waiting for the time that the automated system starts swearing at you.
I'm currently thinking of staying with T-Mobile or moving to O2. I'm eyeing up the cheap contracts on O2 and thinking of trying to wangle a Sony Ericson W980.
Feel free to share your experiences, good or bad!
| 9 Feb 09, 6:51 PM skyfox UK(EH), 5 yrs   |
I'm on virgin pay as you go -- no problems whatsoever! I even topped up from overseas! I recommend it if you're not a heavy user. He's on 3. We managed to convince them to reduce his package (that sounds dirty!) from a lot he doesn't use to what we know he will use for cheaper, but it seems they haven't changed it on the bill yet. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. | |
| 9 Feb 09, 6:53 PM Catleggs 5 yrs |
Can't realy comment on T mobile, never used it. I use to use Orange and thought (shrugs) connectivity always seemed alright and just kind of over looked the customer treatment. All in all they weren't too bad, if I have to be fair. What they DID do was come up with mysterious charges on my bill frequently that I would always have to follow up. As you know that can be a pain to do, so if it was a few pence I was inclined to forgo the agro. Over a year ago I went with O2. A world of difference in the way they handle everything. Very professional, connectivity is excellent also. Most importantly when they quoted my bill being 35 per month, that is exactly what it is, not one p. more. ... and THAT I like. In fact, a month or so ago, they had charged me a few pence for some response to one of their texts. (or something like that) I never really noticed. What O2 did was not only catch that, amend it, but sent me an apologetic text explaining what had happened. All un prompted by me. I was impressed That's been my experience | |
| 9 Feb 09, 6:56 PM cheshire_girl1983 UK(SK), 5 yrs  |
They're both awful. I have been an orange victim for years, but have always gone for the "better the devil you know" approach. At christmas my aged great-aunt bought herself a little phone from t-mobile and asked me to put some credit on it. But she had not brought her bank card with her. I dutifully pressed the right buttons and got through to some idiot woman from customer services, who informed me that I could not use my card to buy credit, and my aunt had to make the call when she got back home. I spent a significant amount of time calmly trying to explain to this cretin that my aunt wouldn't be able to operate the "push button automated system" nonsense and asked if there was a number that would go straight through to a human. Cretin woman gave me a number. I asked if this would work and she said "erm....yeah". I tried the number....."please listen to the options and press the number you want" (or something along those lines). In the end I gave up, went on the t-mobile website, bought her some credit with my card, and my aunt went home happy. | |
| 9 Feb 09, 7:08 PM boy050505 UK, 7 yrs |
Just get it unlocked at a decent mobile phone shop. Under a tenner and permanently network free. If they are any good they could probably blow the ROM with an unbranded one so you do not get all the orange customisation while they are at it. Life is not a munch. | |
| 9 Feb 09, 7:25 PM MissKimberley NL, 8 yrs    |
Used to work for Vodafone and provided many a Nokia unlock code. I do believe under EU rules for telecoms companies,when your phone/contract is over one year old they HAVE to supply an unlock code. If they don't, file a complaint and the code will follow swiftly!
"You say that my way of thinking cannot be tolerated? What of it? The man who alters his way of thinking to suit others is a fool. My way of thinking is the result of my reflections. It is part of my inner being, the way I am made." Marquis de Sade | |
| 9 Feb 09, 7:25 PM Diablos_patience UK, 6 yrs |
Not that im calling you stupid ... but....the trick with this one is to tell them you're thinking of leaving while you are still a customer, which is exactly what i did and i got: Samsung Pixon phone, which i had to pay £120 for initially but they credidted me £150 back.
Unlimited texts, 700 free voice mins., and unlimited internet access..... all for..... £15 a month.... its fair to say i was a little more than happy with the deal sometimes it pays to be cheeky ~* Raku wa ku no tané; ku wa raku no tané. *~ | |
| 9 Feb 09, 7:44 PM MissKimberley NL, 8 yrs |
I fancy a Pixon, is the camera decent? Currently have an N73 and E90 and the cam is pretty good... "You say that my way of thinking cannot be tolerated? What of it? The man who alters his way of thinking to suit others is a fool. My way of thinking is the result of my reflections. It is part of my inner being, the way I am made." Marquis de Sade | |
| 9 Feb 09, 8:02 PM Diablos_patience UK, 6 yrs |
I had the nokia N65 before which also has an excellent camera, but the Pixon is so far proving amazing even though i havent used it as much as i should, or could be. The camera has: * 8 Megapixel * Face Detection pinpoints the faces in your picture for optimal portraits * Smile Shot automatically detects when someone is smiling * ASR (Advanced Shake Reduction) eliminates shaky hand syndrome * WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) adjusts the brightness automatically ~* Raku wa ku no tané; ku wa raku no tané. *~ | |
| 10 Feb 09, 12:59 AM Phrixus UK(ST), 5 yrs |
I can't believe how they could fail to realise how important leaving customers on good terms is, but it seems they do fail to realise this. I'm glad to hear about such positive stories for O2, there my lead choice at the moment.
Thanks about the complaint suggestion, interesting to know about the EU law angle of it, I will have to enquire further! I would love an iPhone but I think lowering my contract is more important to me and I'd be very happy with a simple phone that calls and texts with HSDPA so I can get net access via my laptop. Temperance, I appreciate what you're saying! Orange offered me some cracking deals when I asked for my Porting Authorisation Code, unfortunately I'd already decided to switch to someone else. At this point I didn't think of getting the unlock code to my old V3i, but I should of done! Oh and Wide Dynamic Range hasn't got anything to do with adjusting brightness automatically, it means you get less light blow out in areas of greater intensity (like it completely whiting out around a bright lamp) and more detail in shadows. I don't mean to be a smart ass about it :P I am just a very keen semi-pro photographer (meaning I sometimes do it for money).
I've already flexed the V3i to a regular Motorola software install, but I don't fancy downloading shady software in an attempt to unlock it at the moment. Thank you everyone for your replies. This signature has been left blank intentionally. |
