Three Mobile Broadband - cancelling

parahandy

I've been looking at my childminder's laptop for her, as she is struggling to get it online (both her and her husband are non-techy). She got the laptop in November from 3 with a Mobile Broadband contract for 12 months at £30.

She isn't getting that great an online experience for her money (although I do appreciate that the £30 is really paying for the laptop). If she were to cancel the contract after 12 months, does she keep the laptop?

I've recommended that she look at alternatives, as I feel she really isn't getting the best deal.

macman

If it's a 12 month contract, then she can do what she wants after 12 months!

fabjenni

Sorry Parahandy,

3 don't do a 12 month broadband contract (with laptop) for £30. They do an 18 month contract with certain laptops, but the vast majority of the contracts are 24 months. (Unless they didn't get it from 3 direct!)

Your childminder might want to take another look at the contract to find out what the length of the term is, or give 3 a ring.

LeeSouthEast

Does it work ok outside? What does the coverage map say?

If it works outside, get a signal booster and put the aerial outside. If the coverage map suggests better coverage than she's getting, file a complaint. If it says no coverage, then either it was mis-sold, or she didn't check to begin with....

PlutoinCapricorn

Has she tried using it upstairs, near a window and with the dongle on the cable, as 3 recommend?

mickeypops

I use my Three mobile dongle pretty well everywhere, as I travel a lot with my job. I never go without a 5M usb Extension cable, so that I can position the dongle near a window, or simply to try different places in the room. The difference this can make is remarkable. You'll get one on Ebay for a few quid.

Also, and I know this sounds strange, I find that one particular USB port of the four on my laptop works better than the rest - I don't know why, but it's worth a try.

parahandy

fabjenni wrote: »

Sorry Parahandy,

3 don't do a 12 month broadband contract (with laptop) for £30. They do an 18 month contract with certain laptops, but the vast majority of the contracts are 24 months. (Unless they didn't get it from 3 direct!)

Your childminder might want to take another look at the contract to find out what the length of the term is, or give 3 a ring.

Yeah, I wondered that - had a look in the site yesterday, and couldn't see such a contract. I'll check with her to see what they signed up for!

mickeypops wrote: »

I use my Three mobile dongle pretty well everywhere, as I travel a lot with my job. I never go without a 5M usb Extension cable, so that I can position the dongle near a window, or simply to try different places in the room. The difference this can make is remarkable. You'll get one on Ebay for a few quid.

Also, and I know this sounds strange, I find that one particular USB port of the four on my laptop works better than the rest - I don't know why, but it's worth a try.

Might try that solution - thanks!!

Also, on the three website they suggest using a wireless router which would relay the signal - how would that work then? I though wireless routers only worked with landline broadband? I think this might be the way forward.

LeeSouthEast

You can get 3G wifi routers, too. 3 sell them in their web store.

It all depends on the aerial and kit. My dongle is absolute rubbish; I could barely get a signal anywhere, and when I did, it was abysmally slow. Since I bought a Sony netbook with built-in 3G modem, it works flawlessly everywhere, even when my mobile, which is also on 3, only goes to 2G.