Orange Madness!! or Loyalty Sucks!!

BaritoneUK

Loyalty sucks- but I suppose as MSE devotees we already know that!

I've been with Orange for 6+ years- basically because they have always offered me a good deal each time through retentions. I don't particularly want to leave them, but I am thinking about it this time.

They are offering the following to new customers:
1 HTC Touch HD (for free)
600mins
unlimited texts
for £29.36 per month
+£5 for 500mb data
= £34.36 per month

Good deal, although a little more than I wanted per month but at least you get the phone for free.

When I phone upgrades they were going to charge me £290 for the phone. Erm, no....

Phone retentions and the best they can do is £50 for the phone and-
750mins
unlimited texts
for £35 per month
+£5 for 500mb data
= £40 per month

I just can't afford £40 per month as £35 is already more than I want to spend and 750mins is more than I need.

Why are they offering new customers better deals than existing ones? The lady I spoke to said that was the best deal they could offer me and they can't match their own deal? It's just madness. Unfortunately Orange are the only network doing the HTC Touch HD so maybe I am stuffed.

Any ideas?

alexm08

That does sound like madness!

Can't you just threaten to leave and then just sign up to the deal as a new customer?

reehsetin

is that 18m or 24 month? what plan are you already on?

BaritoneUK

Well I did threaten to leave. But if I did leave no other network does the HTC Touch HD I don't think.

I could cancel with Orange and the start as a new customer-that's something I considered but I'd have to get a new number. This unfortunately is not an option as I am self employed and use the mobile as my main number. That would be a nightmare.

My current deal is (complete with my 3+ year rubbish phone)
£30 per month
400 mins
500 texts
250Mb data

I got this through retentions last time

BaritoneUK

reehsetin wrote: »

is that 18m or 24 month? what plan are you already on?

Forgot to answer the contract length. The deal on the web site is 24 months. I'm pretty sure the option the gave me through retentions was 24months too.

reehsetin

basically the 24month one on the website is a special deal they have at the moment for the touch HD, (£5 for 500mb are you sure this is anytime data the only £5 data plan is either one only for blackberry or £5 for evening and weekend data)
it is hard to say until i know your upgrade banding but i think for upgrade customers (in retail at least) if you go for that plan you get a £50 discount for the handset so the handset would only work out free if you were on the top banding, it sounds like your on one of the lower bands which is resulting in the fee for the handset,
if you are self employed have you thought about looking into a business plan, the orange solo plan is for sole traders and the plans can offer more minutes and inclusive insurance etc, i can't remember off the top of my head whether the touch hd deal is compatible with business but maybe ringing the business team and asking them if i switch my account to business what can you do for me? the worst they can say is no
the small business team is 345 from your handset

its working out over £100 cheaper to go for the more expensive talk plan and getting the minutes included in the plan.

Beancounter

BaritoneUK wrote: »

Well I did threaten to leave. But if I did leave no other network does the HTC Touch HD I don't think.

I could cancel with Orange and the start as a new customer-that's something I considered but I'd have to get a new number. This unfortunately is not an option as I am self employed and use the mobile as my main number. That would be a nightmare.

My current deal is (complete with my 3+ year rubbish phone)
£30 per month
400 mins
500 texts
250Mb data

I got this through retentions last time

Why not port out to Virgin on the £10 sim only deal for a month then port back to Orange after the 30 days to the new Orange deal?

TightStudent

I've only been with Orange for 12 months but they offered me:
HTC touch HD 197.50 (150 credited to account)
400 minutes, unlimited texts
£25 p/m
18 months

I'm considering it at the moment.

Reason they dropped the price was that I mentioned that if I went with phones4u I could get it free with 400 minutes and unlimited texts for £30 p/m. You don't need to tell them that you need to keep your number and I think I'm right in saying you could port your number to an Orange PAYG then to your new contract, but you should check that with someone else.

Hope that helps

BaritoneUK

reehsetin wrote: »

basically the 24month one on the website is a special deal they have at the moment for the touch HD, (£5 for 500mb are you sure this is anytime data the only £5 data plan is either one only for blackberry or £5 for evening and weekend data)

Well I am just getting this off the web site- it doesn't say it is only evenings and weekends. It is a new deal they are offering.

I just don't see why I should be getting a worse deal being an existing customer. Quite frankly I don't see why my usage should matter when Orange are offering new customer a better deal. New customers haven't had any usage so why should I with a medium usage be penalised?!

I'll have a look at business deals, but last time I checked they weren't that good for me. I'm not VAT registered- I am a private music teacher so I don't earn enough!

Looks like I should just learn to know my place as the bottom of the heap as Orange only want new custom!

BaritoneUK

Beancounter wrote: »

Why not port out to Virgin on the £10 sim only deal for a month then port back to Orange after the 30 days to the new Orange deal?

Good idea! Are you sure I can do this? The only problem is I am gambling on deals being open in a months time. The deal on the Orange web site says January only and as a new customer I wouldn't have any leverage. Not that I have any at the moment!

BaritoneUK

TightStudent wrote: »

I've only been with Orange for 12 months but they offered me:
HTC touch HD 197.50 (150 credited to account)
400 minutes, unlimited texts
£25 p/m
18 months

I'm considering it at the moment.

Reason they dropped the price was that I mentioned that if I went with phones4u I could get it free with 400 minutes and unlimited texts for £30 p/m. You don't need to tell them that you need to keep your number and I think I'm right in saying you could port your number to an Orange PAYG then to your new contract, but you should check that with someone else.

Hope that helps

Thanks for this. That's helpful. What do you mean £150 credited to account? Does that mean you get the phone for £47.50 or £197.50. Sounds like a good deal.

Not sure about the Orange PAYG thing as how long would I have to wait. I want to upgrade very soon as my current phone is pants!