MSE News: Orange and T-Mobile customers face yet more price hikes

Buzby

Anon wrote: »

So is this grounds to get out of the Orange contract please?

Many thanks

Anon

No - it says so in the piece.

Blue_Garuda

NFH wrote: »

Why? Just take better care of your phone or insure elsewhere, for example by including it on your household contents insurance.

Because Orange Care offers much more than loss or damage, it is a complete care package. It's the prices we are discussing, not the service. I've heard that other insurers are very bad at paying up whereas Orange Care has been good when I've needed them over the years. Look at threads on Protect Your Bubble etc.

It is also not a good idea to claim on house insurance as claims can push up premiums, 'protected' bonus or not.

'Take better care of your phone' has nothing to do with their huge price hike. Their excuse is that smart phones are more expensive etc. Really? Up over 20% in one year? Why not just penalise the Apple munchers if that is the reason? Nah, it's purely a price hike by the back door.

Buzby

Oh dear:

"Millions of Orange and T-Mobile pay monthly mobile customers will be hit by another jump in bills, the third rise on 'fixed price' deals in 18 months"

Note that 'fixed price' is in quote marks because, they are NOT on fixed price deals, and never have been. The service contract and tariff are separate elements, so MSE is doing nothing to clarify the issue.

OFCOM will find it pretty hard to turn never ending contracts (which are misdescribed as being the length of the minimum term) into a fixed charge commitment as tat puts the network as serious risk if charges vary.

If you do not like the possibility of an increase - don't sign up. Many others have seen the light and use PAYG. It isn't rocket science - and anything else is just the tail wagging the dog.

gwapenut

@Buzby

My post was about an abusive interpretation of their contractual terms, not the contractual terms themselves

NFH

I fully agree with your sentiments concerning the price hike, but what I disagree with is "insurance you really need on expensive modern phones". This is an optional charge to which you're not locked in, and you're free to go elsewhere or not bother with insurance at all.

DUTR

NFH wrote: »

I fully agree with your sentiments concerning the price hike, but what I disagree with is "insurance you really need on expensive modern phones". This is an optional charge to which you're not locked in, and you're free to go elsewhere or not bother with insurance at all.

Indeed, I have owned mobiles since April 1994, I have never had one lost or stolen, as I take care of my items,
as an aside, I just had a phone sim free on Thursday, was at my brother's and dropped the phone in a tub of water :eek:

robbies_gal

already received my letters and they got the price wrong didnt include my discount

Buzby

gwapenut wrote: »

@Buzby

My post was about an abusive interpretation of their contractual terms, not the contractual terms themselves

Abusive? Under Contract Law it remains your prerogative to highlight any change that is materially detrimental in their application and seek a waiver or recompense. They could of course tell you no dice, but if so you vote with your wallet and exit a the earliest opportunity.

For 2 of my service contracts, I negotiated what I felt was a equitable resolution and I'm still with them.

gwapenut

Agreed, I will be doing. Am just waiting for my price rise letter so I can base my complaint and rejection on solid facts, if they don't play by the rules

arielcohen

I am just over one month into my new contract and i got a letter today saying my contract will increase by £0.86 a month.

they gave me 6 months credit but what about the remaining 18, my contract is ~£21 a month but i get a £10 loyalty bonus every month so when i signed up i agreed to pay ~£11 a month now a £0.86 increase is ~8% increase for me.

I personally think this rise is a direct result of EE trying to make some money back from not reaching their targets on 4g broadband (which they didn't meet because of high prices imo)

and those people that say its in the T&C and that we should read it, well we have and the main problem is that we dont have many other options. Wish another mobile phone company would advertise that they dont rise prices mid contract to shine a light on EE.