With so many negatives about all providers, who is the best to actually go for?

Trinitrotoluene

I'm currently looking at who to move to (currently with Tesco) as I would quite like a new iPhone as mine is starting to show its age.

I always do lots of research before giving money to any company but I am genuinely struggling. Pretty much every UK mobile provider scores shockingly bad on sites like trust pilot.

Money isn't too much of the problem here, I don't mind paying an extra £5 to £10 a month and getting a better service.

I also came across http://www.directmobiles.co.uk/ has anyone had any dealings with them? I don't know how they can offer contracts that cheap compared to the provider?

In your opinion, what is the best network now for reliability and customer service?

JJ_Egan

General fact is people who are happy don't post .
People who are unhappy or feel they have been wronged post multiple times often on multiple forums .

pepdavies

I would go with giffgaff. You can pay monthly for the handset if you wish but remain free to change networks if you want. Personally, I'm very happy with payg on 3 but I've had my handset for a while now.

grumbler

"Reliability" depends on many factors, mainly location.

If you are after "good CS" avoid Vodafone and EE/TM/Orange as well as the majority of small 'virtual' providers. However, if the network is 'reliable' in all aspects, you normally don't need the CS.

If you are after iPhone and "money isn't too much of the problem", buy it directly from Apple as it's the only way to get a normal 2-years' warranty instead of a pathetic 1-year one without paying through the nose for 'Apple Care'.

Many third parties offer cheaper deals then the networks because the latter pay them big commissions for selling their contracts.

Herongull

Most of the problems arise due to people having contracts (as opposed to PAYG) eg the way the contract has been set up, incorrect monthly charges, disputes about whether or when the contract ended, huge bills because the phone was lost or stolen, lack of support with problems with the phone, getting bad marks on credit rating, signal problems

People who don't want to risk that sort of stress go PAYG and buy the phone outright.

With PAYG, if there is a problem with the signal, you can just go somewhere else and most the other issues cannot arise due to lack of contract.

I use White Mobile (free voicemail, free calls and texts within network) and Three 3 2 1 (cheapest UK rates, cheap calls to international numbers via call through codes, and feel at home) and Toggle (cheap calls between toggle countries) in my trisim phone. Never had any significant problems with either of them.

With the small virtual operators the customer service is usually pretty good as they are not trying to do too many different things (consider avoiding Vectone which although cheap seems to get lots of complaints). Most virtual operators do mainly PAYG so they have to have reasonable customer service as their customers are not trapped by contracts.

J_B

grumbler wrote: »

However, if the network is 'reliable' in all aspects, you normally don't need the CS.

My thoughts entirely

Find the network that gives the best signal in your chosen area of use, then choose a package to suit your usage of mins/texts/data

Then you shouldn't need to contact their CS!

Trinitrotoluene

It does make things much simpler to buy the phone outright so I think I will do that.

Someone mentioned if I bought the iPhone directly from Apple they offer a two year warranty but couldn't find this on their site unless you bought AppleCare+?

grumbler

They used to say this on their website and called it 'protection'/'coverage' under the 'Consumer Law'. Now they edited this information and it's far less specific: http://www.apple.com/uk/legal/statutory-warranty/

So, it's rather practical experience than some official warranty. Unless this changed recently as well, if the prone was bought from Apple, isn't damaged and develops a fault, they replace (normally they don't repair) it for free during 2 years

john1

My advice buy outright an unlocked phone Android or Apple.

If you must have an Apple, only buy direct from Apple otherwise you may inadvertently end up locked to a network no mater what the retailer says

Check with you immediate neighbours for service coverage and also at your workplace.

Get a 1 month sim only contract.

There are some good deals out there.

As previously said (and I agree wholeheartedly) with others who said you only read about the problems hardly ever about good service.

Personally I'm with Virgin and as a cable customer have a cracking deal for three 1 month sim only contracts. This cost less that some others operators for 1 mobile, plus I get unlimited calls/ text between virgin mobiles.