[SarahBell]

DTMark, on 03 December 2011 - 11:05 AM, said:

I'd hazard a guess that's because to get the latest thing (iPhone, Galaxy S2 or whatever) going the contract route you end up having to take a higher package than you need, so you end up with more minutes than you can, or do, use.

So shiny shiny hynotises people again...

[The Ayatollah Buggeri]

DTMark, on 03 December 2011 - 11:05 AM, said:

I'd hazard a guess that's because to get the latest thing (iPhone, Galaxy S2 or whatever) going the contract route you end up having to take a higher package than you need, so you end up with more minutes than you can, or do, use.

The pricing structure is designed to encourage that, isn't it? As in, you can buy the phone standalone and outright for £500, or on a one-year contract at £30 a month (total cost £360).

Update: The T-Mobile Blackberry PAYG looks like it'll work for me for everything except international roaming, and for a tenner a month. I've ordered the SIM and am now in the process of trying to phone Orange to give my 30 days' notice. This is easier said than done - I've now been on hold listening to crappy 1980s easy listening on speakerphone for half an hour and counting...

[DTMark]

The Ayatollah Buggeri, on 03 December 2011 - 12:14 PM, said:

The pricing structure is designed to encourage that, isn't it? As in, you can buy the phone standalone and outright for £500, or on a one-year contract at £30 a month (total cost £360).

Update: The T-Mobile Blackberry PAYG looks like it'll work for me for everything except international roaming, and for a tenner a month. I've ordered the SIM and am now in the process of trying to phone Orange to give my 30 days' notice. This is easier said than done - I've now been on hold listening to crappy 1980s easy listening on speakerphone for half an hour and counting...

Guessing a few others are doing the same as you

Three also had quite a good free SIM offer with inclusive data, calls and messages on PAYG - I ordered one and have it here, was going to swap it in today (from O2 PAYG) - as long as you don't go over the inclusive bundle allowances (whereupon it becomes something silly like 20ppm) it looks quite cheap.

[Secure Tenant]

Dorkins, on 02 December 2011 - 11:00 PM, said:

I had an Orange contract for 3 or 4 years and decided to switch to O2 PAYG as I wasn't using the included minutes and texts. Have been on PAYG for 7 years now and it's great. It's simple, it works, and it's hassle free. I'm surprised more people don't switch to PAYG given the number of horror stories I hear.

Just moved from Orange to GiffGaff PAYG on one phone, which is 02 for tramps.

This post has been edited by John Steed: 03 December 2011 - 12:33 PM

[The Ayatollah Buggeri]

Update: got through after 46 minutes on hold, at which point the process was relatively painless. Of course I got the usual sales pitch about how the increase is only £2.13, etc. etc., and after a series of polite 'Sorry - not interested'-eds, he processed the notice and gave me my phone number migration code without a fight, stating that my contract would end at the close of the billing period in which I activated it. As the 30 days' notice is theoretically up on 2 Jan and the billing period ends on the 15th of each month, I'm going to do this just before I head off to the US for the new year. I also bought an unlock code from Ebay just now, and installed that on my BB successfully.

[erranta]

Milton, on 02 December 2011 - 07:13 PM, said:

Informed and Comprehensive. [Thanks Mark.] Like you, Ive had an account with for many years, an this is just tip of the iceberg stuff with them. Its a constant battle of swallowing shit.

I hope it is challenged. It wont be though.

Orange is not in the right. The CONSUMER is being screwed at every opportunity. There shoud be stricter fines and guidelines, and far far superior regulatory bodies, with more powers, on the SIDE of the consumer.

Including the Office Fair Trading, Trading Standards, Finaincial Ombundsman, ETC ETC The More complex our society becomes the more Corporatist, undemocratic, and one sided it becomes. Its just become overwhelming. The opposite of Liberty is Slavery.

My general feeling is that I have to spend ten times as much time dealing with various issues,with all sorts of utility, isp, telecomm, etc etc companies as i did ten years ago. And I am so sick of it.

I was on contract with Orange for years since they first started around 1993-4 in Cambridge area (cos their MD lived there)
As soon as you hand over account details they just take the pee. I also got ripped off by cable company overcharging and they carried on charging to my account 4 months after I quit with them and they had cut off the cable line.

Just to mention, the supermarket online/delivery scam!

They entice you to buy things on special offer - so I do. Then they say that they won't honour the offer if it is no longer in local store.

This is open season for multi-million £££ scamming by their managers cos all they have to do is look how much cash and orders are coming in on the offers then cancel the offers to take the full price (normally double)
The customer is then put under pressure on delivery day to pay the extra charges or do without the items!

There needs to be a law which forces them to honour their price offers or at least force them to print the time and day the offer expires (so you don't get caught out)

I argue with them every time they try this on - get my cash back and make them give me a free delivery (£5-6.00) voucher for the hassle they caused.

[Skirmish]

I do agree that Orange have been pretty grubby with changing there pricing mid contract.
Having said that I'm a pretty happy customer with them.

My current contract got me a HTC Mozart phone (very nice) and plenty of free minutes, texts and broadband data. The clincher for me every year though is that I also get free home broadband included. All for £15/month. Sorry, £15 + 4.4%

[oligotroph]

If this rate hike is a "materially adverse" change then you may have the legal right to terminate your contract with no exit fee - you need to read the Terms and Conditions.

Consumerist has a bunch of threads about this.

FWIW I've found Orange PAYG to be pretty good, the minutes dont expire at the end of the month (which does happen with some providers).

[Mr. Miyagi]

I've been with three for the last 3 years (just upgraded to the new nokia lumia) even though the customer service is based in India they have always been excellent. My service went down in my house a couple of months ago so they gave me 2 months free and even called back 4 weeks after the problem was fixed to check every thing was fine.

This post has been edited by Mr. Miyagi: 03 December 2011 - 01:39 PM

[The Ayatollah Buggeri]

oligotroph, on 03 December 2011 - 01:39 PM, said:

If this rate hike is a "materially adverse" change then you may have the legal right to terminate your contract with no exit fee - you need to read the Terms and Conditions.

I'm guessing that Orange's argument will be that a line rental hike in line with the RPI is not materially adverse, i.e. that the price has not increased in real terms.

[OnlyMe]

The Ayatollah Buggeri, on 03 December 2011 - 12:14 PM, said:

The pricing structure is designed to encourage that, isn't it? As in, you can buy the phone standalone and outright for £500, or on a one-year contract at £30 a month (total cost £360).

Update: The T-Mobile Blackberry PAYG looks like it'll work for me for everything except international roaming, and for a tenner a month. I've ordered the SIM and am now in the process of trying to phone Orange to give my 30 days' notice. This is easier said than done - I've now been on hold listening to crappy 1980s easy listening on speakerphone for half an hour and counting...

Works great for me, low call/text user like you. The international roaming - depending on length of stay, probably much better to cut a deal then wth local phone co., with inclusive minutes / international calls to call back here etc.

[erranta]

Mr. Miyagi, on 03 December 2011 - 01:39 PM, said:

I've been with three for the last 3 years (just upgraded to the new nokia lumia) even though the customer service is based in India they have always been excellent. My service went down in my house a couple of months ago so they gave me 2 months free and even called back 4 weeks after the problem was fixed to check every thing was fine.

http://www.sevenforu...cellphones.html

[Mikhail Liebenstein]

I have an orange as my business phone - so little choice.

Frankly the coverage from Orange (even after the T-Mobile sharing) is appalling and not a patch on Three who I have for my personal phone. I do know from past business phones that O2 and Vodafone are probably the best options for corporates.

[Mikhail Liebenstein]

Mr. Miyagi, on 03 December 2011 - 01:39 PM, said:

I've been with three for the last 3 years (just upgraded to the new nokia lumia) even though the customer service is based in India they have always been excellent. My service went down in my house a couple of months ago so they gave me 2 months free and even called back 4 weeks after the problem was fixed to check every thing was fine.

I've seem some Nokia Lumia demonstrations, and I think it is very cool phone.

I have Windows Phone 7 on my Samsung Omnia with Three and I am very pleased. Having tried the Lumia, I will say he audio quality is better than my current phone (this is an area where Nokia was always strong) and the boot time is also good, as is the wider angle of the lens on the Camera. But the Samsumg Omnia is a pretty good phone as well. My corporate one is an HTC Mozart, not quite as good, but then is is a cheaper phone.

When I next upgrade, I'll probably take the Lumia on my personal account, and swap the HTC work phone for the my Omnia which I'll get to keep.

This post has been edited by Mikhail Liebenstein: 03 December 2011 - 02:55 PM

[winkie]

I used to have freeserve until orange bought them and the service went rapidly down hill after that....in fact I had terrible problems trying to cancel, you couldn't do it online only by a premium rate call that left you holding on for ages...I would NEVER deal with orange again...the future is not looking bright for orange in my book.....crap greedy companies are good at losing good customers....