Orange Phone Fund

456789

Just got a text about this:

http://orange.co.uk/fund/

From 11 Feb pay as you go customers can get money off a brand new phone just by topping up

How does Phone Fund work?
With Phone Fund you can start saving towards a new pay as you go phone whether you're a new or existing customer. There's no need to sign up or register , just top-up your phone with any amount and we'll automatically put 10% of that amount in your Phone Fund. So if you top-up £10, you get £1 - it's as easy as that

How can I find out how much is in my Phone Fund?
Each month we'll text you to let you know how much is in your Phone Fund - or you can simply text PHONE to 450

When can I spend my Phone Fund?
Any time you like. Your Phone Fund always reflects your last 12 months' worth of top-ups and has a maximum limit of £200. Just call 450 or visit an Orange shop to spend your Phone Fund whenever you like

The text says that this replaces the VAT adjustment - Though it is no good to someone who doesn't want to change phone or wants to get it from somewhere else than an orange shop

Edit: also now I will be getting even more annoying texts from them....

Froglette

I have just emailed Orange to complain about the fact that the VAT adjustment is being swallowed into a fund that you may never benefit from. I have received and automated response but will post again when I receive a reply to my email.

Please can I encourage others to send similar messages to Orange, so that they understand the level of concern regarding this. Here is a link to their web form:

http://www1.orange.co.uk/mobilecontactus/form.php?subj=webpaygother

456789

Have you had a response from Orange before?

I emailed them once and never got a reply....

Froglette

I have just received the following response. Pretty impressive as its a Sunday. Less impressive is the fact the ball is back in my court, clearly they are hoping for customers to be lazy and not call requesting the credit. I will be calling though.

Thank you for your mail regarding 'Phone Fund'.

I am sorry to learn you are unhappy with this offer.

To provide a better service for our customers and to give you better value for your money Orange Phone Fund will award you 10% back for every top-up made. So if you top your phone up by £10 we will give you £1 towards your phone Fund, this gives you four times the benefit of the extra VAT credit.

Your Phone Fund builds over a maximum of 12 months with each top-up, until you decide to buy a new phone. You can get a new phone by calling 450 or going to an Orange shop to cash in the fund towards the cost of the new phone. The maximum value of the new phone is £200.

However, if you feel that you would rather have the money as airtime on this occasion we can arrange for the credit to be applied back to your account. Please note that this would be at the rate of 25 pence (equivalent to the 2.5% VAT back) for every £10 topped up from 11 February 2009 and you would have to call 450 from your Orange handset or 07973100450 from a landline where one of our representatives will be pleased to help you.

For further information on terms and conditions please visit the link below:

[URL="wlmailhtml:!!723377B2-D1A9-4F0E-AAFC-A908D23B757C}mid://00000006/!x-usc:http://www1.orange.co.uk/phonefund/"]http://www1.orange.co.uk/phonefund/[/URL]

I trust the above is of assistance.

Froglette

I am sorry to report that after having tried to call Orange on 450, I have just had to send the following email to them:

Thank you for your email. I have just followed your advice and called 450 to
arrange the 25p per £10 credit. Unfortunately, nobody seemed able to help me and I was passed from person to person, having to explain myself 3 times and being kept on hold for the majority of the call. The last lady I spoke to told me that her supervisor would call me straight back to help me. I have not received this call. I would be very grateful if you could either arrange the credit in response to this email or arrange for the appropriate person to call me to make the necessary arrangements.

brownb2

I've had success with this and it's not cost me a penny to speak to the Orange rep - they were actually quite helpful - I've blogged it all at http://silentdevelopment.blogspot.com/2009/02/orange-phone-fund-rip-off.html

Froglette

Thanks for your post brownb2, I have heard back from Orange asking for a number that they can contact me on (!) and so I am now waiting for their call. I hope that the next step for me is as productive as your call from them was.

Jon_01

Sunday is a REALLY bad time to try to get anything out of them. There'll be about 1 super/team leader in and they'll be swamped !!
That's no excuses I grant you, but it's the way management have it. It's always better to call week days between 9 and 5, that's when the max number of people are in and you'll get much better response . . .

brownb2

Froglette: Well I just topped up (by £10 to test) and they HAVE put me on the "orange phone fund" and sent me a text saying so. :mad::mad::mad:

Basically I was lied to by Orange.

I've sent a very nasty rant to Orange to complain about their swindle but to be honest I no longer care about their response (and have asked them not to bother calling me). They had their chance - I'm just choosing my new network now - it's a great time to move :rotfl: