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Contracts, just say no.

Seriously, aren't contracts brilliant? Basically we agree and are legally bound to pay a company money every month for two years and in return they don't have to give us jack crap.

"What's that? Nobody can get through to you? you're not receiving texts? you can't use data services? Oh well that sucks for you" is basically the story I get from Orange.

I'm unemployed and starting to wonder if my shoddy mobile network this is half the reason I never seem to get many call backs. GF is a little !!!!ed too at the fact I can't be reliably contacted.

Not only will they not do the decent thing and let me go they won't even let me simply move my number (had it for ten years) to another network and keep the contact with a different number. They hand out phone numbers (with PAYG SIM cards) like candy to non customers!

Basically they're holding my number and life hostage for the sake of £300, which I'd gladly pay by now if I had it!

:mad:
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Comments

  • gjchester
    gjchester Posts: 5,741 Forumite
    Seriously, aren't contracts brilliant? Basically we agree and are legally bound to pay a company money every month for two years and in return they don't have to give us jack crap.

    Presumably you got a shiny new mobile at the start of the contract for nothing? You get calls,texts and data for "free" or rather included in that monthly cost too.

    Not exactly "jack crap" and did you work out what the same package would on PAYG? Remember to include the phone cost in that calculation.

    "What's that? Nobody can get through to you? you're not receiving texts? you can't use data services? Oh well that sucks for you" is basically the story I get from Orange.

    I'm unemployed and starting to wonder if my shoddy mobile network this is half the reason I never seem to get many call backs. GF is a little !!!!ed too at the fact I can't be reliably contacted.

    Not only will they not do the decent thing and let me go they won't even let me simply move my number (had it for ten years) to another network and keep the contact with a different number. They hand out phone numbers (with PAYG SIM cards) like candy to non customers!

    Basically they're holding my number and life hostage for the sake of £300, which I'd gladly pay by now if I had it!

    :mad:

    Why should they? You took a new mobile for free and that phone was subsidised, it has to be paid back somewhere.

    The issue you have sounds like a phone or network issue not a contract issue. If you are having issue I don't believe for amoment you've been told "sucks for you" by any call centre person, they'd risk losing their job over treatment like. What exactly have they said. Have you checked your SIM in other phones to try and work out if it's a network fault or a phone fault?


    If you really think you are missing job call backs callls theres nothing stopping you buying a cheap £10 PAYG phone and using that for interviews. However even if you miss a call it should go to answerphone.

    Are the mobile company holding you phone number hostage, maybe. Your life, no mate, your the one doing that.
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 15 April 2011 at 8:58AM
    Not only will they not do the decent thing and let me go they won't even let me simply move my number (had it for ten years) to another network and keep the contact with a different number.
    gjchester wrote: »
    ...theres nothing stopping you buying a cheap £10 PAYG phone and using that for interviews.
    Exactly. A PAYG phone on the same network or unlocked will cost even less than £10. Just £3ish in fact with £10 credit included.
    Then just switch the sims. As simple as that.
  • gjchester wrote: »
    Presumably you got a shiny new mobile at the start of the contract for nothing? You get calls,texts and data for "free" or rather included in that monthly cost too.

    Not exactly "jack crap" and did you work out what the same package would on PAYG? Remember to include the phone cost in that calculation.

    No, I got a !!!!y HTC Wildfire which I traded in for £80 assuming the problem was it and bought one out of my own pocket.

    The point of a mobile phone is not only that you can make calls and texts but that you can also receive them reliably, else what is the point?

    As to PAYT, I actually would be better of on a number of those deals over my current contract.

    gjchester wrote: »
    Why should they? You took a new mobile for free and that phone was subsidised, it has to be paid back somewhere.

    And what's the point in them giving me the phone if they're not offering a service to go with it? They'd have been as well off handing me a banana. I'll HAPPLY HAPPLY give them a BRAND NEW HTC Wildfire if that is what they want!

    You seem to think I want something for nothing, I JUST WANT THE SERVICE I AM PAYING FOR!
    gjchester wrote: »
    The issue you have sounds like a phone or network issue not a contract issue.

    No crap sherlock do you think I'm unhappy because there's a spelling error in my contract? They're not providing me with the service I am paying for, they are not willing to sort the problem, yet I am still expected to pay for it?
    gjchester wrote: »
    What exactly have they said. Have you checked your SIM in other phones to try and work out if it's a network fault or a phone fault?

    Every sigle time I call I go through the same routine of !!!!ing about with my phone settings until they say "give us all call back if it doesn't resolve the issue". Suprise suprise it never does. Yes I have tried it in other phones.
    gjchester wrote: »
    If you really think you are missing job call backs callls theres nothing stopping you buying a cheap £10 PAYG phone and using that for interviews. However even if you miss a call it should go to answerphone.

    Yeah I'll just go out and buy another phone with all my spare cash I have from being on the dole. Then I'll go around changing all my job site profiles, CVs, and go to every employer I applied to in the last 3 months just to be sure! You're right I'm totally being unreasonable here.
  • grumbler
    grumbler Posts: 58,629 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Before buying a contract you can always check the reception with a free sim or by asking your friends.
    No network guarantees you coverage all over UK. Many have 7-14 days returns policy unless you used the phone. You can try the sim with some other phone and this will cost you almost nothing.
  • mobilejunkie
    mobilejunkie Posts: 8,460 Forumite
    Orange is now joined with T-Mobile - which means a phone should be able to pick up either network/transmitter. Presumably Orange have changed the phone settings so it can? Does the phone work in other locations?
  • shifty27
    shifty27 Posts: 58 Forumite
    grumbler wrote: »
    Before buying a contract you can always check the reception with a free sim or by asking your friends.
    No network guarantees you coverage all over UK. Many have 7-14 days returns policy unless you used the phone. You can try the sim with some other phone and this will cost you almost nothing.

    very true, call quality checkers are available on every network. Check yours if it says coverage is fine, get in touch with consumer advice. Google them and also get in touch with Ofcom.
  • MisterBrico
    MisterBrico Posts: 136 Forumite
    Judging by the way you speak to people on here who are trying to help you out of their own good will it's no wonder you don't get anywhere.

    If you shout and scream down the phone at people who never knew you existed until you called them no wonder they don't seem too fussed about helping you.

    Have you tried getting a replacement sim card? Could be something as simple as that going faulty.
  • tifo
    tifo Posts: 2,170 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Not only will they not do the decent thing and let me go they won't even let me simply move my number (had it for ten years) to another network and keep the contact with a different number.

    Didn't know they could legally keep you from moving numbers? But then they'd have to end your contract and you pay the remaining months.
  • gjchester
    gjchester Posts: 5,741 Forumite
    tifo wrote: »
    Didn't know they could legally keep you from moving numbers? But then they'd have to end your contract and you pay the remaining months.

    They can't, however they can ask that you pay any outstanding balance (including fee's) before they will issue the PAC.
  • tifo
    tifo Posts: 2,170 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    gjchester wrote: »
    They can't, however they can ask that you pay any outstanding balance (including fee's) before they will issue the PAC.

    That's what I said. And the thread starter said they'd happily pay the £300 ....
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