Opinions on the 3 network - Thinking of leaving 02

sionyboy

Hey there, I posted this question in another thread, but on closer inspection that thread is more for feedback than questioning, so I hope its ok to start a new thread.

I'm at then end of my contract with O2, I've been with them now 6 years, but after being offered a derogatory contract when asking for my yearly handset upgrade last week, I have been looking around at tariffs offered by other networks. One that has caught my eye is the £15 Texter tariff by 3 which is an 18 month contract and offers 75 minutes of calls and 600 texts. For an extra £2.50 I can also get 10mb of data useage, which is pretty handy as I like to check the football scores on the weekend. There is also a range of free phones to choose from, I'm leaning to the Nokia 6120 personally.

What are Three like as a network provider these days? I know a friend of mine was on their service about 3 years ago and ended up using legal threats to get out of his contract after about 3 months. Poor service, dropped calls, phones that lasted a day before the battery died etc... Have they improved at all in the past few years?

Ideally I'd like to stay on O2, I'm a lazy person really and I know that changing network is going to incur some hassle. I know their customer service reps are just trying to get some commission from flogging me a crappy contract, but at the same time they might end up calling my bluff when I ask for a PAC and to disconnect my contract, so it might be handy to have a solid back-up plan should that happen.

So how are 3 these days?

Oh by the way, at the moment I'm paying O2 £15 a month, that gets me 200 minutes and 400 texts and 1mb of data allowance. (Got that tariff after following the advice on this site last year, ta very much!) The other day they offered me a 24 month contract with 50 minutes and 200 texts for £15. Needless to say, I'm wasn't impressed.

anonymousie

Thanked you instead of quoting:o :rotfl:

An well, here's my 2p worth!

I have been with 3 for 18months now. Have had recently problems with dropped/funny incoming calls but folks on here tell me it is likely water damage after I fell in a stream:o (notoriously dodgy N6280 too). I haven't had any trouble with 3, but then I have not been an overly demanding customer!

I would stay with 3 but the retentions deals are a bit rough really, however I haven't been unhappy at all with the coverage etc. I could get a better deal esle where (I really fancy a N95 and 3 wont budge!). However I shall probably stay with 3 in the end and, if I can't have an N95 as my toy I shall get a 6120 with X series instead.

Got DH a 6120 on £15 txt this weekend and I've set it up for him- it is sweet and simple though seems very capeable too. Buttons are teeny "nail edge" ones though so if you can't cope with those go for a bigger phone!.

sionyboy

Thanks for the reply...and the Thanks!!

I hear that Three has pretty poor customer support, but I question how many times I will need to contact them, as outside my phone going *boom* I'm not likely to. I don't regard myself as a demanding customer. In the 6 years I've been with o2 the only times I've had to contact them is;

1. They blocked my mobile because I hadn't paid a bill in 3 months (gave them the wrong sort code...so my fault!)
2. My yearly handset upgrade.

I might give 02 retentions a ring this week to see if I can stay on a similar tariff, with an XDA Graphite upgrade, perhaps a few more MB of data useage as well. But if they say no then I need to know that I'm not going to be in for 18 months of crap on Three.

Thanks once again, other opinions are still welcome of course.

Quinny_2

Why not look here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=451893

And then make your own mind up.

One thing I will say,and that is,I'm off to 02 from 3,so I'll wave at you as I go past.

Ken.

sionyboy

Well I just used the Live Chat Support to ask about internet usage on 3 phones, and the chat assistant told me I could get the "Add TV Channels £5" add-on.... which isn't quite what I was after. So that somewhat soured my opinion of Three.

However I did get an email telling me that its £2 per mb and that's with no subscription needed, they also gave me a promotional code for a free bluetooth headset with my order. So that showed 3 in a better light.

Sid_Harper

it might cost you a few quid, but why not try taking out the 3 contract and testing it "in the field" (i.e. out and about, not trespassing some poor farmer!). If it's no good, take it back under their Ts & Cs. If it's OK, instigate the number transfer.

sionyboy

The only thing with that is, looking at 3's "14 day money back guarantee", it seems that if I use the phone to make or receieve calls or texts, take a picture or download data, then it is no longer covered under their warranty. So if I take it out the box and put the SIM card in, then I can't return it...which seems like the stupidest money back guarantee ever.

SparklyB

I've just posted a thread about 3. I signed up to an 18 month contract with them in April but they never informed me that my tariff is fixed. I'm now going to be a student and not going to be able to pay the £35 a month tariff but 3 won't move me to a lower one.

So basically I'm screwed. They were most unhelpful on the phone. Told me companies can change their policies at any time. If I'd joined up before Feb it would be fine but after that time tariff's are fixed unless you want to go up to more expensive option. But if you need to go cheaper then you really are in trouble!!!!!!

Becca

Sid_Harper

But you'll find most mobile companies work the same way. They are subsidising the cost of your phone by knowing what money you'll bring in over 12, 18 or 24 months. Otherwise you'd be paying a pay as you go phone price and less line rental.

sionyboy

Well, I placed my order on Three's website this morning. Tomorrow I should be getting a Nokia 6120, 512mb SD Card and a Bluetooth headset (they sent me a promotional code). I also signed up for a quidco account before placing the order after seeing the cashback they offered, should have signed up for one a long time ago really.

I phoned up 02 to ask for a PAC code, the retentions person tried to offer me a similar deal but could not. Still, she tried, if I'd had been abroad this year and ran up a few large bills I'm sure they'd be falling over backwards to give me free stuff, but this wasn't one of those years.

Oh well, here is to 18 months of Three I guess, I hope it goes as smoothly as possible.

edit: Anyone know how long a typical PAC takes? I requested my PAC from o2 this morning, should be with me in 48 hours apparently. Just wondering how long it takes 3 to port the number over.