MSE News: Orange and T-Mobile to merge

daveboy

stclair wrote: »

Ive been an orange customer for years and have been very happy with there service.

My concern is when its goes all goes through they be like every other company and get to big for there boots and the customer service will go down hill.

Im not a fan of t mobile in the slighest when it comes to customer service.

The only thing I like about t mobile is there advert at liverpool street station

;-)

Orange customer service has already gone down hill.......just find the recent long thread on price changes that was eventually abandoned and you will see what I mean.

The T-Mobile adverts are annoying....the only reason I am with them is because I live out in the 'sticks' so to speak and they are the only one with a reliable signal when I'm at home. It's not because I want to be with them. I have no choice. O2 are the next choice but from what I have seen the signal isn't as reliable in my area.

Orange hasn't got a clue when it comes to customer service and what customers want which is why it's had to resort to this proposed merger.

Old_Gold

greyster wrote: »

I think its a good idea... more competition for the larger market share holders o2 and vodafone.

Orange and T-Mobile were only 3 and 4 in the market and weren't gaining any momentum.

Three will be the ones who really suffer.

I would agree with you if it was a free market. The trouble is that anyone wanting to expand is restricted by the limitations of the number of masts. This is the unfairness of the merger that no one can compete with unless a new system of transmitting signals is discovered.

Jo_F

I have been with Orange for a few years now, after moving over from O2, I have neve rhad a problem with them, and the recent aborted price rise didn't affect me anyway as I don't go over my minutes.

I have to say that I am not happy about joining with T-Mobile as they are crap

cw18

The only thing I've ever used Orange for is B/band - and didn't have any major problems (until going through the process to leave them). However DD doesn't seem to be having any problems with them on her mobile contract.

I was with T-mobile for a short while back in 2001, after they took over 1-2-1 (my first mobile contract). When the contract reached the end of it's term I left T-mobile as the price they quoted me was astronomical compared to my previous 3 years.

But in Feb of last year they were comparable to other networks for what I wanted, so I moved back to them. I have to say that the few calls I've made to them have been very well handled, and I've always felt the customer services team member I've spoken to has understood what I wanted to get out of the call and done their best to assist

I'm also an 'approved contact' for my elder son's mobile Internet - he set the account up that way as I have use of it when he's out of the country (so it means I can deal with any issues I have in real-time, rather than it waiting until he's home). Setting this up was really easy, whereas other companies seem totally unable to cope with such a request - and I know it works as I've called them once (the SIM in it went faulty, and they sent out a free replacement at my request).

stclair

daveboy wrote: »

Orange customer service has already gone down hill.......just find the recent long thread on price changes that was eventually abandoned and you will see what I mean.

The T-Mobile adverts are annoying....the only reason I am with them is because I live out in the 'sticks' so to speak and they are the only one with a reliable signal when I'm at home. It's not because I want to be with them. I have no choice. O2 are the next choice but from what I have seen the signal isn't as reliable in my area.

Orange hasn't got a clue when it comes to customer service and what customers want which is why it's had to resort to this proposed merger.

Personally ive never had any problems with orange theyve always been really good to me as a customer.

Serenity_Now

Is there any reason why this would make it a bad idea to go for an 18 month contract with T-mobile?

stclair

Serenity_Now wrote: »

Is there any reason why this would make it a bad idea to go for an 18 month contract with T-mobile?

Well with previous dealings with T mobile they used to wind me up.

Always trying to pass the book or blaming someone else.

*I used to have a t mobile dongle with them after a letter to otelo they let me out my contract and got a full refund of monies paid*

jamo76

I don't believe this will really hurt the consumer at all but I think the only people who will benefit from this are customers of the two networks. If they do consolidate coverage then that is an upside.

In terms of competition I don't really think much will be affected. Three big operators and one small one instead of 2 big, 2 medium and 1 small. It will be interesting to see how Ofcom reacts to this. There certainly will be some type of investigation by MM commission.

What is interesting is how the customers of the two networks will behave. I personally know people who hate both of those networks. Orange with it's poor customer service and retentions and T-Mobile with lower coverage, cheap looking but expensive tariffs and rude staff reputation. In my personal opinion, the two worse options have got together here. I'd be interested to know how well they retain their new first position market share.

Oh and O2 if you're listening, buy Three, it'd solve your 3G license fulfilment obligation almost overnight and give me decent coverage in my house finally!

greyster

jamielupton wrote: »

I don't believe this will really hurt the consumer at all but I think the only people who will benefit from this are customers of the two networks

Virgin customers and three customers also benefit.

Virgin because they use t-mobile (unless they jump) and Three because they are beginning to share 3G masts with T-Mobile. The later being re-confirmed today after the merger announcement.

thor

I am extremely interested in what O2 are going to do now. They will no longer be top dog and will already be losing customers by offering crap retention deals. Concentrating everything on the iphone is going to make them smaller still. Let's see what they start to offer those wanting to leave next month.