3 is the cheapest, but is it best

QRScomplex

I'd like to apologise here cause this post is a bit long:

Recieved my PAC code this morning after I phoned up to cancel yesterday. I've been a three contract customer for at least theee years and a pay as you go customer for a year before that. My current contract was direct text 1400 with a loyalty discount. So for £22 a month I got 300 mins, 1000 texts, and an n95. I was also paying £5 a month for internet. My reasons for leaving are the following:

• the signal is very bad and I feel it was better when I first got my contract
• I need a contract with more minutes and have seen better deals elsewhere
• I really really really want the HTC hero and they don't sell it

So I phoned up to cancel and thought I'd maybe hear them out. I'd did this a week ago and was told to change a setting that may improve my signal and see if that helped. Tried this but not to much success. I was now going to listen to the offers they would give me as a valued customer. What followed was a rather annoying conversation which I actually find a little funny due to the ridiculousness. I was offered £150 worth of comet vouchers to stay on my current contract and get a new phone. There were some other deals I don't remember exactly but I was offered the following phones: samsung c903, nokia n86, samsung tocco. I was even offered what the guy claimed to be a "no loss contract" trying to say it would cost them more than they make back (rubbish they will still be making a profit somewhere).

The conversation was very patronising in places. The usual cliches about being the "latest model" and a "popular phone". That could be said about many phones. This may work with some people The guy even said that he personally had this phone and had been using it for the last month :rolleyes: The guy also didn't seem to get what I was interested in that well. I'm a nerd who wants a computer as my phone I really don't care if it comes with a "luxury leather pouch" :rotfl:

I thought I'd play along as if I didn't know much about the phones so they could sway me a bit. Was pretty shocked at what happened though. I was told outright lies many times and even after I refuted them they persisted on some. For example:

1. told the sony ericsson c903 has a touchscreen - website says no
2. told that the n86 had a touch screen - nokia website says no
3. told that the samsung tocco runs android - samsung website says no
4. when I mentioned an orange contract was told it didn't exist - orange website says yes

The best one was the android one:
QRScomplex: "so does the samsung tocco run android then?"
Three Guy: "yes it runs android"
QRScomplex: "as in the operating system made by google?"
Three Guy: "yes it has google search, google maps, etc"
QRScomplex "no I mean the operating system that runs the phone"
Three Guy: "yes it does run android"
QRScomplex "I have the samsung website open and it says it runs a proprietary operating system. This phone does not run android"
Three Guy: "one moment please while I speak to my manager"

... silence for about five minutes ...

Three Guy: "hello sir"
QRScomplex: "hello"
Three Guy "I have spoken to my manager and he checked his computer. He can indeed confirm that the samsung tocco runs android"

I just moved the conversation at this point. I felt like giving them abuse over this outright lying but though well it won't get me anywhere and the guy was only doing his job. Plus his family probably aren't going to eat for a month since he was unlucky enough to take my cancellation call.

My opinion is avoid three like the plague unless your on a really cheap contract and it maybe won't be so bad. They told me several outright lies which could easily trap someone into a long expensive contract with a crap phone if they aren't tech saavy.

tl;dr three are a bunch of liars so avoid them if you can

tizhimi

I've managed to get a fairly decent tariff for three years in a row so will see when it comes up for renewal what they are offering.

loonygooner

I am currently looking at renewing contracts and have had the usual sign on calls but am determined to move away from 3.

I signed to them approx 16 months ago on the mix and match 500 contract and was persuaded to take the £3 video package, asked all about it and advised what a good thing it was. Asked about coverage in my area and they said it was good and i would have no probs.
You guessed it, no coverage etc and when i phoned to cancel, I was told it was part of my package and could not, so I paid £3 every month for something I could not use. Despite them confirming that I shouldn't have been sold it, I could not get out of it.

3 weeks ago, I am talked into the INQ1 phone with £20 internet texter package and again advised that internet has improved and I will have excellent coverage. You guesse it, cannot connect and I have 'personalised' the phone by this stage. I call numerous times and eventually get one guy who accepts that I was missold package and have now returned phone.
I now know that remarks will be told in order to take a package, no matter how unsuitable and it is a real bind trying to get them to admit it.

I am lucky, but have learnt my lesson and will be changing networks in Jan, hoping that there are good advisors somewhere.......anywhere:rolleyes:

quidsinner

I’ve been with 3 for about 3 years - using Sony Ericsson K800i.
Currently getting 1100 min/text for £20 pm

I don’t have good signal strength in my home / workplace and the call often drops or I don’t receive or connect some of the time.
I emailed to ask for PAC code and to close my present contract when it comes to an end in few weeks time.

Within 24hr I received a call from 3 to ask why it was that I wished to cancel - They determined my average usage and said that a lower tariff (400min) would suffice - then asked what it was that I was looking for in a phone - when I told them I was looking at the Sony W995, they offered - as I was special valued long term customer - a special discount of 25% - that would give me mix/match 500 min/txt for £13.50 pm with the latest Sony Ericsson T 715 (the W995 would be too expensive at £28 pm)

That’s not too bad, but not what i was wanting. It did not overcome the poor network connection. They told me that this phone has a special booster that would always give me good signal strength. So much better than my present phone - they said. Also - I had hoped to upgrade the camera end of the mobile.

They then started to finalise deal by telling me that my new phone would be with me in two days. I told them that I had not agreed to anything – they wanted me to have a look on my mobile at a pic of the phone that they would send and would phone me back in 10 min to complete details.

I had a look at their website and discovered this is just a standard offer for all customers - with certain phones available, the tariff was once £18 pm, but now reduced to £13.50 for anybody. So much for their special deal for me as a long term and valued customer.

All in all – I don’t think any phone is going to overcome the weak network strength. Are they spinning a yarn about the special signal strength booster in the Sony Ericsson T 715 ? Will that fry my brain even more ?

They are going to phone me back again in a few days.
I would value your thoughts and advice.

supasaver78

TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH 3 - DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THEIR CHEAP TARIFFS, RECEPTION IS TERRIBLE & CUSTOMER SERVICE......THEN TRY LEAVING THEM

After great difficulty i managed to get PAC code, I ported my number from 3 to new provider in time with my 18 month contract ending. After paying my final 18th bill, another bill arrived for 'remainder of the 30 day notice period' outside of my 18 month contract. i had incurred additional charges i was not made aware of by any of the 3 staff i spoke to. After numerous stressful lengthy phone calls to/from 3, a letter arrived stating my account will be sent to a debt collection agency if i don't pay within 7 days. I have now paid this in fear that my perfect credit rating will be affected. When I called 3 to advise I had made my payment they said my account could still be sent to debt collectors if my payment didn't reach them in time. I'm outraged & disgusted that they can hide additional charges in the small print of their website and are allowed to bully customers into submission, paying for fees which are entirely unjustified. I'm now complaining to every avenue open! Ofcom, Otelo, 3 head office...Watchdog

chokri10

tizhimi wrote: »

I love 3, its great, the signal seems pretty normal these days - it was patchy 4 years ago when I moved to 3 but its great now anywhere I use my phone. In terms of the dongle, I get annoyed using it on the train 'cos of tunnels etc and it cuts out, but tunnels aside it seems fine these days

you seem to be very lucky as everyone else seems to have trouble maintaining a decent signal what area are you using your phone in?

robt_2

chokri10 wrote: »

you seem to be very lucky as everyone else seems to have trouble maintaining a decent signal what area are you using your phone in?

Everyone? Really?

What about the millions of happy customers who don't come onto this site? People generally only complain about things, they don't come on to here to praise!

tizhimi

I'm in Sheffield out in the sticks (edge of the Peaks). My video calling doesn't work however no one has ever rang me for a video call! I've currently got a Nokia N73 whilst my phone is in for repair, I've got a Sony Errikson G502 which is an awful phone (a PAYG) as I destroyed my Contract phone. I can get an up grade next month and if they offer me a competitive price and a indestructable phone (I've been through 36 phones) I'll stay with 3.

The customer service has been fine, signal fine, phones awful (but no mobile can live up to my usages) price is fine too.

cherrykerry

Once my 3 contract is up next year I am not renewing it and would never go with them again. I get a decent signal on my phone but customer service is appaling. When I renewed my contract the phone I was given only lasted a few months before it fell apart and they wouldnt replace it because they said the same problem could have happened if it had been dropped (it hadnt been dropped). I then went back to my original phone but I am now having major problems with that as it just wont stay on anymore. I ordered a cheap PAYG from their website to take me through until the end of the contract, it was supposed to arrive 2 days later and when it didnt I phoned and was told it was delayed for 3 days because of low stock. It finally arrived 4 days later WITHOUT a battery. That was a week ago and despite being told it is down as urgent to send me a battery I keep getting fobbed off and still not received one. Absolutly useless if you ask me :mad:

chokri10

tizhimi wrote: »

I'm in Sheffield out in the sticks (edge of the Peaks). My video calling doesn't work however no one has ever rang me for a video call! I've currently got a Nokia N73 whilst my phone is in for repair, I've got a Sony Errikson G502 which is an awful phone (a PAYG) as I destroyed my Contract phone. I can get an up grade next month and if they offer me a competitive price and a indestructable phone (I've been through 36 phones) I'll stay with 3.

The customer service has been fine, signal fine, phones awful (but no mobile can live up to my usages) price is fine too.

if you are unable to video call, i would presume you will have poor internet connection also ? this is what i wanted from the so called best 3g network provider !
If you only use your phone for voice calling and you have a signal for that then i guess you would be happy with three,
However if your tariff seems good value for money but you are not getting the 3g service, you are not actually getting the full service from three that you are paying for!