Three no longer using Orange Network

RS2kJane

I'm currently on an 18 month contract with Three. Where I live is pretty remote, but I was always able to use my mobile at home as Three had use of the Orange network.

Since Friday I have had zero coverage on my phone. I have to travel 5 miles before I can get any reception. When I asked in my local phone shop if the Orange mast was "Down", I was told that 3 no longer have the use of the Orange masts. (Due to the merge with T Mobile)

Where does this leave me? Can I cancel my contract early? I have been with Three for 4 years, but now I effectivley have a phone I cannot use at home. I work from home, so I need to have a mobile as well as a landline.

Any ideas what I should do?

Thanks

Guys_Dad

Do you, by any chance, have any paperwork that states that 3 used Orange as a back up when they have no 3 signal at the time you took out your contract?

If you do, then you have a really good chance to get a cancellation as it is then very clear that they have altered the service fundamentally to your detriment.

Are there any neighbours similarly affected?

In any event, you need to contact them and explain your problem seeking a release from your contract.

Also look on their coverage checker on line to see if it reflects the change.

KingElvis

3 use Orange as a fall back for when no 3G signal is available. As far as I know, this is still in place so I have no idea why you were told that.

Could be that your local mast is down for work, out of order or had been stolen by metal bandits.

MarkLS12

Three do still use Orange for backup 2G coverage, but they have been opting out of Orange coverage from masts in areas where they consider they have good enough 3G coverage. I would guess this is what has happened in your case.

Complain to Three, and ask them to cancel your contract early.

RS2kJane

Thank you all for your help.

I rang Three's customer service & told them about my lack of service. They did a post code check & agreed that I had zero coverage, which wasn't acceptable. As they have no time frame as to when the coverage will improve, they agreed to terminate my contract without penalty!

I'm really surprised, I thought they would put up more of a struggle than that!

slugger09

RS2kJane wrote: »

Thank you all for your help.

I rang Three's customer service & told them about my lack of service. They did a post code check & agreed that I had zero coverage, which wasn't acceptable. As they have no time frame as to when the coverage will improve, they agreed to terminate my contract without penalty!

I'm really surprised, I thought they would put up more of a struggle than that!

Hi, Orange did the exact same to me, No fuss either which really surprised me.

brightgirl

I first reported the problem in August, the tech team looked into it for 2 weeks then told me. I just changed to Orange and lot more happier. Three did offer a £5.00 monthly discount if I stayed but no point if zero signal strength. I still had 16 months to go and they accepted their coverage had worsened than got better. :A

dave333

My wife has been having signal problems for the last 3/4 days, called three and they said they would investigate and call back within 48 hours.

They called back 24 hours later and said that they had made the business decision to no longer use Orange as a back up network as their signal is generally a lot better than it was.

Given that our area is affected and we are now lucky to get 1 bar signal in the house, they offered 10% discount on monthly charge - said no point so they are going to call me back in 72 hours to discuss a cancellation, free of any early cancellation charges.

She is 2/3 months into a 24 month Iphone contract - does anyone know if she will be able to keep the iphone or have to return it upon cancelling???

Hopefully get to keep it as Iphone 4 was really cheap on three and should get good deal on sim-only contract

JackAndrew95

She will be able to keep the phone as when you tae out a contraact the phone is yours to do as you please:D

Chorlie

Will it be locked to Three?, you might need to try and get it unlocked via Three before being able to use a sim-only deal.

princesspig

hi
we tool a 3 mobile broadband account out with 3 (and laptop) in may. We then moved a 2 miles up the road and was having trouble getting it to connect. so i called 3 who said that as they was poor signal and no plans to build a mass within the next 3 months then they would cancel the contract and as due to that we were to keep the laptop. in July i took and contract out (iphone) and upgraded my hubby's but for the past month or so we keep losing signal. I called 3 last night who advised me that they no longer use the orange network and again as their own network is poor in my area and no plans to build any mass' they will cancel the contracts and again due to no fault of ours we keep the phones.