O2 going the way as Orange did once it got sold to FT?

iceburn

Just been reading this forum these last few days and see some major changes. (and some other changes as well for example

*) From 1st June no more treats
*)No more bolt ons (well I know can still include some / some come with tariff etc but it is still changing.
*) O2 going to stop discount traffic from 1st June
*) maybe ppl with PUFL contract might be terminated

some others I am sure others can add that have been remove / change in the last 6 - 12 months or so. and in particular in the last couple of months / next couple of months.

Now this thead is not about "are they breaking contracts so can we cancel, please leave that to other theads." I am just wondering if some other ppl starting to feel O2 might be heading the same way as Orange became when FT took over, all the good features remove that made it stand out from other networks, prices go up etc. ie become Spanish telecom milk cow..

moneymogul

I know where you are coming from but perhaps they are just simplifying the tariffs/products they offer? It sounds like a nightmare-ish maze at the moment!

iceburn

I was wondering if I explain myself clearly enough, anyway yes I hope they simplifying their tariffs but their is simplifying and removing what is your unique selling point and just milking loyal customer base for as much money as possible.

diamonds

YIP, but hopefully 3 and the great product offer in line with other telco's plans will get a new owner or management & dump India

It's the only network I can say my problems stem with India not having a proper complaints procedure - service must be that great they dont need it LOL, the rest just fail miserably.

If Voda extend "summer roaming" trial I bet they will take the market like sweets from a child And hopefully market share & revenue = REAL Vodafone call centre's not "headset" holders


o2 is well o2, high level complaints did not even entertain my complaint on a D/D error THEY caused & cut my mobile off whilst roaming but I still had a signal & assumed EMERGENCY calls would come through.......


T-Mobile extended my contract 24 months & declined to show my signature with no handset ( their records ! ) UPGRADE from T-Mobile "instore"??


Orange is well Orange, the Exec Office are great but must I have to wait two months for basic stuff and as last resort end up there ? 18 months it took to get my Orangeworld to transfer from payg to contract - 18 months !!!

Virgin no complaints - SOLID, shame plans as a MVNO are not competitive enough !

redux

O2 has grown more than any other network in the last year or two. I didn't realise they were doing so badly.

Of the 4 asterisked points, perhaps only the end of Treats is accurately described, and the other assertions don't yet have a lot of basis at the moment

The range of optional chargeable bolt-ons has been simplified or reduced, whether because of lack of interest or abuse or somewhere in between we don't know, but current or future contracts including a free bolt-on are not affected.

So far, one person on this forum has posted a thread saying she has not yet negotiated a retentions discount on a contract coming up in 2 weeks. It's hardly the end of discounts yet. Wait and see next month's offers

PUFFL seems to be still working.

iceburn

Redux yes it is still working (PUFFL) but going by a topic in mobiles newsgroup they are getting notices or something. How true it is i dont know cause I dont that that tariff. And it is growing faster than any other network in the last year or two is what Orange had before all the changes. The discount is again from other topic someone posted, I myself given up with those discounts and just get agood tariff now. Bolt on is correct as you know since you are on that actual topic.

But anyway this is how Orange started and I am just hoping they dont follow Orange cause ask alot of ppl who remember Orange back in the good old days now, there is no comparison. And alot of the stuff did not even cost Orange much and brought alot of loyality to ppl who had a lot of influence. Cause in this current climate you as a business need something unique to sell to standout. Like Three it seem is now reventing itself as a Data carrier.

virgo17

iceburn wrote: »

But anyway this is how Orange started and I am just hoping they dont follow Orange cause ask alot of ppl who remember Orange back in the good old days now, there is no comparison. And alot of the stuff did not even cost Orange much and brought alot of loyality to ppl who had a lot of influence.

Absolutely spot on!

M-J_4

I have been phoning O2 to renew my contract the last few days and can confirm straight from the horse's mouth that from June 1st they have stopped discounting customers wanting to upgrade. Their retentions department has next to no purpose at present, the deal I was offered yesterday is available on the net to new customers for the same price. I have had a contract with O2 for 4 years paying £30/month.

I did phone up a fortnight ago and was offered a £10/month discount on their £35/month tariff, I wanted to wait a couple of weeks before ordering a phone as I wasn't at home to recieve it in the post. This deal is no longer available and no amount of haggling is going to change this. I could go onto orange's website as a new customer and save £50 on the phone I was after (Tocco Ultra) and get the same minutes.texts for £5 less per month over the 18 month contract. I told O2 this but they couldn't budge. I requested a PAC code and am hoping to recieve it.

I got a call from somone at O2 today asking why I put in a request for the PAC code. I told them they simply aren't competitive, there are better deals to be had elsewhere. They were still not in a position to match, never even better Orange's deal. As it happens I'm out of the country for a couple of months so will be staying with O2 for now on a cheap sim-only deal. I told them if their deals haven't improved when I'm back then I'm off.

So 2 things to get out of this. 1) O2 don't have any decent deals at present, a decision that could really shoot them in the foot. and 2) if you're offered what sounds like a good deal, take it. You never know what your network might do later.

iceburn

M-J have you tried other way to get a discount? "iwantyoutosave" (I think that is the personn name) who posted about the change on chargeable bolt on said it does not effect rententions is they can offer you two free bolt on for free. So they could offer you say unlimited SMS and unlimited landline / weekend with your package. That will result in you not needing so many minutes so can choose a lower tariff which would be cheaper than £35 a month tariff. ie can sign up to the £25 a month tariff therefore getting your £10 discount and getting maybe a better deal as well.

MRC_2

iceburn wrote: »

M-J have you tried other way to get a discount? "iwantyoutosave" (I think that is the personn name) who posted about the change on chargeable bolt on said it does not effect rententions is they can offer you two free bolt on for free. So they could offer you say unlimited SMS and unlimited landline / weekend with your package. That will result in you not needing so many minutes so can choose a lower tariff which would be cheaper than £35 a month tariff. ie can sign up to the £25 a month tariff therefore getting your £10 discount and getting maybe a better deal as well.

Customers are not allowed two free of charge bolt ons on one account.