ORANGE Bad service for a new (not any more) customer

fimonkey

I ordered Orange broadband and an internet dongle online yesterday, the dongle was due to be delivered today.
After placing the order I got a 2 line email reply from the 'donotreply' address saying

Hello from Orange, thank you for ordering orange broadband. Please find attached confirmation details of the package you have ordered along with the terms & conditions accepted Online.
Many thanks,
Orange

There was no reference or order number attached which I thought was weird. Just a generic attachment stating the broadband plan I'd ordered and no word about the dongle.

No delivery today so called Orange. Their automated phone system is a NIGHTMARE, once I finally got to speak to someone they passed me onto their 'broadband team' who then tried to pass me onto their 'dongle team' (but I refused this time as I was on hold for ages each time).

So, there is NO record of my order at all, nothing the person at Orange can do without an order number and he suggested I emailed them with the problem - which I did at 12.47pm today. 3 minutes later I received the following email

Whoops, due to issues beyond our control we are currently unable to handle your email query. If you need to contact us by calling us on 07973100150 from a landline (landline calls are charged at local rates if you're a BT customer, but if you're with another provider it may cost more so do check). You can also contact us whilst you're abroad on 07973100150, where calls are charged at international rates.

In the meantime, you can always check or manage your account online at orange.co.uk/your account

Our technical teams are working hard to restore the service to you

So how do I find out what;s happened to my broadband or internet dongle?? - talk about chasing my tail!

Because of this I no longer want to be an ORANGE cutomer - but as I have no order number, only that 2 line stupid email, maybe I'm not anyhow? - I have written to customer services stating this - I doubt they will bother to reply given my experience with Orange so far.

Conversely I called Vodafone (re an internet dongle). Straight away I got through to speak to someone who can help me with ALL my queries (not diff depts for different things, no pressing every button on your keypad to hear another automated voice etc). Because I am an existing customer they have discounted their 30 day medium usage dongle so it works out cheaper than Orange would have done anyway! Should have done that yesterday rather than looking online and having the unfortunate experience with Orange.

Now to find a broadband deal that is NOT orange!

Buzby

Orange's online system is flakey in the extreme, and unless you get the goods in your hand, can disappear into the ether. You'll probably get an email in 2 weeks saying that a 'technical issue' has resulted in your order being cancelled.

However, you do not appear to have done any research into whether the network you have selected can provide you with the service you require. Good coverage and bandwidth are vital, and the latter is the most important as more users pile it to use the resource.

Check things FULLY within 7 days of getting your kit, as returning it afterwards will not ben an option.

ioscorpio

I got through yesterday to Orange Broadband Technical on 0800 294 5611

Home Broadband Service 0800 9801492

http://www.saynoto0870.com/companysearch.php