Signed 3 network one-plan iphone deal today. Can I return it?

posidom

Today (13/July/11) I signed a Three network one-plan iPhone4 deal. The iPhone and sim card are still in their packaging (and cellophane) untouched.

When I rang Vodafone to get my PAC number they offered a deal to almost match the one-plan. For my circumstances at least the deal is equivalent.

However, they drew my attention to superior network coverage and also included BT Openzone 1GB which I wasn't offered with Three.

So... my questions.

Q1. Is the Vodafone network (coverage and service) better than the Three network?
I've checked their own websites - both of which show a google map of coverage - and at 1st sight it would seem Vodafone is much better. But is this true in practise?

Q2. Is the added BT Openzone 1GB a deal clincher? Or is free wi-fi extensive enough to for it to make little difference?

Q3. So... can I return the Three iPhone and get one from Vodafone instead? It would seem not.

I bought it from a 3store and not from the three.co.uk website. The T&Cs say,

If you bought or upgraded your Device (Phone, Dongle, Mi-Fi, Tablet or Laptop) from Three’s telesales team or if you’ve bought your Device from Three.co.uk and you change your mind and want to exchange or return it, you must tell us within 14 days of getting your Device.
If you bought your Device from one of our 3Stores, you may exchange it within 7 days of purchase.

Is it that simple or is there a way around this? As I say the iPhone and sim card are still in their packaging (and cellophane) untouched.

For instance, my wife already has an iPhone4 on a Three network one-plan deal. She says there is a shop where her friend works where she gets no signal on the Three network but her friend gets a full signal with Vodafone. There may be other examples based on my own movements but, of course, I don't know because I've not opened/used the Three network iPhone yet.

Thanks for all replies. I accept that these questions may be elsewhere on the forum (or web) and I'm grateful for any links. :beer:

Snakeeyes21

nope.. your stuck with it for the 24 months now.

moty1984

there must be a cooling of or cancelation period, i cant see why you cant return the phone.

deano72_2

i did return mine twice with in the 14 day returns policy,oh & had used them both aswell.
i had the ip4 on voda & 3 and voda was slightly better on network coverage but found 3 slighty faster for data.
i have now gone back on the 3 contract 7 months now all is ok sofar

MissKeith

moty1984 wrote: »

there must be a cooling of or cancelation period, i cant see why you cant return the phone.

When you buy anything in a store, the retailer is under no obligation to offer a refund/return/ exchange if you simply change your mind.

OP, on paper, Three's 3G coverage surpasses Vodafone's by far. The One Plan gives you unlimited all you can eat data which Vodafone do not, Three allow tethering which Vodafone do not. I, personally, would stick with Three.

Heretic_osjc

MissKeith wrote: »

When you buy anything in a store, the retailer is under no obligation to offer a refund/return/ exchange if you simply change your mind.

OP, on paper, Three's 3G coverage surpasses Vodafone's by far. The One Plan gives you unlimited all you can eat data which Vodafone do not, Three allow tethering which Vodafone do not. I, personally, would stick with Three.

The Question remains who has the far worse customer services. I found 3s to be a struggle to understand the English language, very rude and quite forceful on taking their products. Like the 25minutes it took me to get a PAC code because the idiot on the phone wouldn't accept the 6500 Slide wasn't a better handset to the N95 8GB and wouldn't let me upgrade to it staying on the same price plan and paying towards it.

However Vodafone's customer service are bloody lazy if you get through to a UK call centre example after being robbed at knife point and quite shaken up, I was told twice by UK reps that they are unable to issue a proof of purchase as its not something they can do. Twice I was assured this and told I had to go back to the store (and I know for a fact the store cannot do it) but once getting through to a 3rd person he told me that the other 2 CS reps were lying to me for some unknown reason. That they have a form on their intranet that generates a P.O.P and it e-mails it over to the customer. They were a nightmare to deal with and added extra stress to a situation that didn't need it!

Its a tough call.

posidom

MissKeith wrote: »

OP, on paper, Three's 3G coverage surpasses Vodafone's by far. The One Plan gives you unlimited all you can eat data which Vodafone do not, Three allow tethering which Vodafone do not. I, personally, would stick with Three.

Thanks.
The vodafone offer is 500MB data plus 1GB BT Openzone. I have wifi at home so wasn't too worried about the data but thought the BT Openzone might be useful(?).
Just looked up tethering. Not sure that I'd want that.

re: Three's 3G coverage surpasses Vodafone's by far.
Looking at the maps I don't see that. Am I missing something?
[I'm not able to post links so....]
maps.vodafone.co.uk/coverageviewer/web/default.aspx
three.co.uk/Help_Support/Coverage

marywooyeah

3 might cover more areas, but I used to have trouble getting a signal a lot apparently regardlesss of wher eI was, and my phone was always playing up. 3 months before my contract ended someone rang asking if I wanted a new phone - which from the discussion I was led to believe was a replacement for the broken one. result! or not - the guy signed me up for a new 18 month contract and I only found out when I tried to change providers thinking my original contract was up.
found it difficult to understand the call centre staff and most of them had trouble with english too so found it hard to understand me, went round in circles and got cut off fairly regularly too. would never go back to them - stick with vodafone!

MissKeith

Ofcom website : http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/mobile-wireless-broadband/cellular/3g/maps/3gmaps/

Make sure you're checking 3G, Vodafone's 2G network is excellent but the iPhone 4 is primarily a 3G device. Also, 500mb for the same price as all you can eat? I'd pass.

gjchester

marywooyeah wrote: »

3 months before my contract ended someone rang asking if I wanted a new phone - which from the discussion I was led to believe was a replacement for the broken one. result! or not - the guy signed me up for a new 18 month contract and I only found out when I tried to change providers thinking my original contract was up.

Most likely it wasn't Three but another company pretending to be three, I get them on Vodafone too, and they come unstuck when you ask them to tell you something on your account. Last time they did they said I had a Motorola L7 as my phone. I did, three phones ago, and Vodafone would know that as they did the upgrades.

gjchester

MissKeith wrote: »

Ofcom website : http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/mobile-wireless-broadband/cellular/3g/maps/3gmaps/

Make sure you're checking 3G, Vodafone's 2G network is excellent but the iPhone 4 is primarily a 3G device. Also, 500mb for the same price as all you can eat? I'd pass.

Coverage maps are fine but get a sim card and test. Coverage maps say Three is fine in my house but in fact due to the block of flats next to me it's none existant.

Vodafone may be less data but it works in my house, so it doesn't matter how cheap three are they are not an option to me...