Can I return a mobile phone?

handsewn

Just got a new phone today. Had to register it before I could try out the features (sim card etc) It is a phone created with using the internet in mind and I've found that the internet is incredibly slow (wap pages are taking nearly 3mins to load and even then half of the pictures are not showing, still loading!)

In short, I am not happy about it. I purchased it from a catalogue site.

terrierlady

what phone? are the settings right?, ask the experts on here they have helped me loads of time lets see what they say.

handsewn

Hi, It's the Orange Rio. I've been on the phone all afternoon just to get it working (the internet wasn't even loading at one point)

I should point out that it is a 2g phone that came with a sim card that said '3g' but I have no idea if that could be causing the slowness on the phone.

grumbler

Generally, you cannot return it after using, but the internal return policy of the catalogue can be more generous.
And yes, 2g internet is much slower than 3g, although many people on Orange have problems with 3g connection and Orange keep advising them to switch 3g off.

handsewn

grumbler wrote: »

Generally, you cannot return it after using, but the internal return policy of the catalogue can be more generous.
And yes, 2g internet is much slower than 3g.

Thanks. But would a sim card with '3g' written on it be a problem if it is in a 2g phone?

grumbler

I am no expert, but I think it wouldn't be a problem because Orange supports both 2g and 3g.
With "Three" this would be a problem as they support only 3g.

Hammyman

You are on Orange and its taking 5 minutes to load a web page? I would say that is situation normal. It takes 10 minutes to load google.com here on Orange whether on 2G or 3G. Orange's mobile internet is not fit for purpose. It was so bad, I've left my contract 2 months early as I cannot stand the state of Orange's network one more minute.

jd87

Grumbler why do you say it can't be returned. Don't distance selling regs apply?

OP I'm afraid you bought a 2G phone. The download speed on 2G is typically the same as old fashioned dial-up internet (around 56kb/s). Back when people had dial up web pages would typically take 30 seconds to download. Nowadays websites are bigger and more content rich so if you are still on dial-up speeds they will take even longer.

There are plenty of dirt cheap 3G phones around.

grumbler

DSR rules apply to unused goods an services. The OP used both.

handsewn

Hammyman wrote: »

You are on Orange and its taking 5 minutes to load a web page? I would say that is situation normal. It takes 10 minutes to load google.com here on Orange whether on 2G or 3G. Orange's mobile internet is not fit for purpose. It was so bad, I've left my contract 2 months early as I cannot stand the state of Orange's network one more minute.

It's locked to Orange though. Could you recommend a network to use? Thanks.

grumbler

Check networks' websites for coverage.
Ask your friends or order free PAYG sims and check the strength of 3g signal.