Orange 'Free' Broadband

Leon_W

I'm also switching to SKY and have not been asked for a MAC code. Reading about on the net, in some instances, it seems that they don't need one but I wouldn't take my say so.

I've got mine from Orange just in case but had to be pretty insistent that I wouldn't be taking them up on their kind line rental offer in order to obtain it !

bod1467

Good point. BB connections using BT systems (including "LLU" operators like BE/O2) use a MAC for migration. When migrating to a full LLU connection (e.g. Sky, TalkTalk) then they don't usually use the MAC that you may supply.

What this means is ... don't rely on the MAC to terminate your Orange BB account - make sure you notify them (in writing, email should be OK) of your cancellation. Whilst it doesn't matter at the moment because it is "free", once this is removed and they intend to charge then they might try and start billing you, even though you no longer have a BB connection with them.

nickbirkin

I recieved this from OFCOM today....
Thank you for your web submission of 3 September 2012 regarding the withdrawal of Orange’s free broadband. I was sorry to read about your issue and can understand the concern caused. In terms of our role, although we do not deal with individual complaints, I can supply some information which I hope will clarify the position.

We do set regulations which state that whilst a provider can make a change to the terms and conditions of a contract, including its tariff, they must give the customer at least 30 days notice. If the customer considers the change it to their material detriment, the provider must inform the consumer of their ability to exit the contract, penalty free.

In your case, as the mobile contract is not linked to the broadband one, it appears Orange are doing nothing wrong because they are releasing you from the broadband contract free of charge. I appreciate this may not be the answer you were looking for, but I thought explain the position.

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT!!!!!
How can the the mobile contract NOT be linked to the mobile contract when the broadband contract states you will lose it if you cease to have a mobile contract!!!
This is doing my head in. :mad:
I have expressed this to OFCOM and will post their reply if I get one.
Off to Citizens Advice tommorrow to seek some clarification on contract and implied contract law.
If there are any legal bods reading these forum, speak now of forever hold your peice

diamonds

beelzecubz wrote: »

Orange will give you the information you ask for.

Ofcom's hands are tied until you exhaust Orange's complaints procedure.

ADR will leave you with no free broadband (as will switching to another provider, or allowing the Orange offer to expire) ADR are also not governed by payments from providers, they are fair.

Only one contract exists, and having that contract made you eligible for an additional offer, subject to its own T+C's and not part of the mobile contract after the contract period in which the free broadband was originally given.

I'm not certain why everybody is deliberately choosing to ignore the previous paragraph.

If you can PROVE beyond reasonable doubt that free broadband was an inextricable part of your mobile contract (and not just an additional service with it's own Terms...blah blah blah) after that initial period, then you DO have a case for misselling if Orange are giving you information to the contrary and I have no problem suggesting legal action in any such case.

Its an offer to to treat Under the Sale of Goods Act, one does not exist without the other contract & thus UNfair Contract Regulations apply tieing you to one contract you would not have agreed to without the other.

Ofcom hands are not tied, BULL, as licence giver & regulator OFCON have to ensure Orange apply ALL UK legislation in the running of its business correctly - not doing such is a breach of the issued telecom licence to Orange from Ofcom (who inturn funded mainly by telco fines more than Minister of Media funds, has a unhealthy unprofessional, unindependent, COSY relationship, even ADR is the same as Orange & telcos PAY for the ADR - the whole telecom regulation system is corrupt)

Ofcom - its pass the buck time AGAIN for the last 10 years & you all need to report this behaviour by Ofcom to its boss - voted by the public MP Jeremy Hunt, the Minister for Media (and others).

You pay Jeremy & Ofcom, you going to sit back and do nothing & allow a government minister & his dept & his appointed regulator allow a licenced telco to deny you your legal rights ?

I would do it, I CANT, I have no free Orange Broadband to challenge it.

diamonds

beelzecubz wrote: »

opened up a huge swathe of your time and you're merely adjusting to the loss.

Now this could also "allegedlly" be applied to a disgruntled Orange/EE employee and the possible loss of revenue with all these customers calling them, more so a newbie on a internet forum who has spent most there 31 posts telling customers they can do nothing as Orange are doing nothing wrong, care to put your money where your mouth is for legal opinion from a barrister on behalf of one or a class action group of the affected customers ?

Didnt think so..........

diamonds

BuntyB wrote: »

I started to arrange new BB with Sky last weekend. I asked Orange for the MAC code and they want to charge me £29 for it. A MAC code from my current BB provider, Orange, who have recently sent me a termination of BB letter. What a cheek! Is this normal practice?

MAC's are free, report the whole situation to Ofcom of why you are leaving... they want you to pay for line rental to keep FREE broadband or pay to leave the service before the cease date that they are removing which would leave you with no broadband until you could reprovision a new provider if you refuse to pay for the MAC, thats more than one breach of Ofcom code of conduct & Orange's Ofcom appointed licence.

Email it aswell to Jeremy Hunt Minister of Media, Ofcom's boss when you get the standard "we cant help" Ofcom reply. Show Ofcom for what its really worth to its boss.

thegoodman

nickbirkin wrote: »

How can the the mobile contract NOT be linked to the mobile contract when the broadband contract states you will lose it if you cease to have a mobile contract!!!
This is doing my head in. :mad:
I have expressed this to OFCOM and will post their reply if I get one.
Off to Citizens Advice tommorrow to seek some clarification on contract and implied contract law.
If there are any legal bods reading these forum, speak now of forever hold your peice

This is correct both are not directly linked.
When you took out the mobile contract you were also offered free broadband contract (another contract). At that point you could have said no to the broadband contract.

Either contract can be changed with notice. Since the broadband is free the Orang can change the terms with one months notice. As long as you cancelled the contract within a month you will not loss any money.

I m sure Orange would have checked all that before making changes.

beelzecubz

bod1467 wrote: »

Evidence please? We get this a lot - people making statements of fact yet providing no evidence to support their view.

nickbirkin wrote: »

In your case, as the mobile contract is not linked to the broadband one, it appears Orange are doing nothing wrong because they are releasing you from the broadband contract free of charge. I appreciate this may not be the answer you were looking for, but I thought explain the position.

Ahem.

diamonds wrote: »

care to put your money where your mouth is for legal opinion from a barrister on behalf of one or a class action group of the affected customers ?

Didnt think so..........

I'm quite happy to stick with what I know is fact and has now been confirmed by OFCOM, as above.

bod1467 wrote: »

Once someone resorts to disparaging remarks/insults it is clear they have lost the argument.

In your opinion. I'll take it as fact once you've provided evidence to support your view.

moon777 wrote: »

he wants me to get the car phone warehouse to put in writing what Orange told them when I upgraded, I will visit them before Friday. This should be okay as they have already confirmed on the phone that they remember me, and the call that took them 40 minutes to speak to an Orange manager - who confirmed if I upgraded there I would 'keep' the free broadband for the length of the contract.

Can you say 'Hearsay'?

At best this is going to be an unsubstantiated claim as unless Carphone Warehouse have a recording of the call, it hasn't got a leg to stand on. Sorry.

nickbirkin

thegoodman wrote: »

This is correct both are not directly linked.
When you took out the mobile contract you were also offered free broadband contract (another contract). At that point you could have said no to the broadband contract.

Either contract can be changed with notice. Since the broadband is free the Orang can change the terms with one months notice. As long as you cancelled the contract within a month you will not loss any money.

I m sure Orange would have checked all that before making changes.

The broadband contract is not free, the BB t&C's state that if you cease to have a mobile contract then you have to pay £14.99 pm for the BB AND is subject to a minimum term of 12 months, and again I state can be withdrawn or charged for IF you cease to have the mobile contract.

11. [FONT=Arial,Arial][FONT=Arial,Arial]If your account is terminated for any reason you will no longer qualify for the Free Broadband offer. Broadband will then be charged at the Standard User rate per month for either Broadband Starter or Unlimited.
[/FONT][/FONT] I ask again surely when the BB t&C's contstantly refer to the need and insistence on the mobile contract the one contract is reliant on the other and therefore actually form a contract together?
I will also comment on your last remark that NO consumer rights groups forums etc would exist if companies checked all these types of issue before implementation.

thegoodman

nickbirkin wrote: »

The broadband contract is not free, the BB t&C's state that if you cease to have a mobile contract then you have to pay £14.99 pm for the BB AND is subject to a minimum term of 12 months, and again I state can be withdrawn or charged for IF you cease to have the mobile

This do not make the contract linked. What this says is if you cancel the mobile phone contract, the orange at the same time can change the broadband contract to charge of £14.99 a month for 12 months. If you have the mobile contract then Orange may not change the broadband contract, however still can by giving a months notice.

You can also cancel the bradband contract without paying anything within a month. It's upto you to still have the broadband contract or not.

Another example
If your mobile phone contract have said you can get the free broadband for the life of the contract and if Orange was to change the terms then Orange would need to give you a months notice to cancel your mobile phone contract without paying anything extra. This would have been a part of your mobile contract and the changes will cost you extra.

In this case your broadband contract says that you will get free broadband as long as you have the mobile contract. The terms also say that it can be changed with a months notice. In this case Orange have given at least a months notice for the change either cancel the broadband contract or start paying.

I m not saying no company have broken the law or rules. It is highly likely that Orang would have checked all that before making changes.

If someone can prove Orange wrong, it's a good thing.