Giffgaff 4G "speed" con.

Jimrod

Hi guys, I'd just like to put a question out there...

Does anyone get "reasonable" 4G speed with Giffgaff?

I signed up a few days ago, coming from O2 (whose network giffgaff use) I foolishly presumed I'd get similar service... I signed for the top £20 goodybag with unlimited everything. One thing I noticed immediately was how slow the 4G speed was, even slower than standard expected 3G speed.

I've done multiple tests at different times of day and locations (places I know my speed was fine with O2 - 30-40mb down, 20mb up) and I get the same every time - 1-2mb down at best, still 20mb up (indicating the connection is fine).

I've now looked into it and it seems there are the same complaints going back years with giffgaff, I'm sorry but 1-2mb is not and should not be sold as "4G superfast speeds", I feel conned by it to be honest. Everything else with their service has gone smoothly and quickly but I'm not getting what I signed up for and it seems no-one does, I see endless excuses on their forums about busy areas, data allowances, traffic shaping etc but none of it was ever an issue when I was on O2, I do understand the peak time busy periods getting slower with demand but this is NOT that. It's restricted access at all normal times of day and location and I've no idea how I would ever even manage to use up that "unlimited" (6gb of data before restrictions) quota they offer at these speeds!



(this is just an example, I get the same results in the quiet Cotwolds any time I've tested)





So, can anyone post a speedtest with acceptable performance from 4G on giffgaff during any "normal" time of day and prove me wrong about them?

Very disappointed there wasn't more info on this up front really, I know I can leave but I'd convinced a few family members to switch as well and I'd just like to make sure others don't make the same mistake leaving one of the big providers and presuming you'll get the same level of performance just because you're still on their network!

ballyblack

Some posters on this site claim Gifgaff is only on tier 3 behind Tesco of o2 MVNO's


"Also, it's worth bearing in mind that O2 have a tier system with their mvno's internet (basically O2 Pay monthly + Business gets Tier 1 priority, O2 Pay as you go + Tesco Pay Monthly/pay as you go gets Tier 2 priory, and Giff Gaff gets Tier 3 priority)"


"No its not Nonsense Gifgaff get a third class service you may get fall bars on your phone BUT it doesn't mean you will be able to use your data all i got was unable to connect to service. O2 and Tesco get a far better service."

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5529490

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oldagetraveller

If you are not happy then do they provide a 14 days "cooling off" period during which the contrct may be terminated?

Here you are -

"Your right to cancel
13.1. Subject to Clause 13.2 below, if you are entitled to cancel your acceptance of these Terms and Conditions at any time up to 14 days after placing your order for the Service (the “Cooling-Off Period”), provided that you cancel in accordance with our cancellation policy or notify us in writing to Member Services. This does not affect your statutory rights.
13.2. Please note that by using your activated SIM Card you will be deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions. You agree that the Service may start before the end of the Cooling-Off Period. If you have used airtime credit or Bundle prior to cancellation you will not be refunded the used airtime credit or such proportion of the Bundle that you have used as calculated by us."

Jimrod

oldagetraveller wrote: »

If you are not happy then do they provide a 14 days "cooling off" period during which the contrct may be terminated?

I understand that and I can move away once my number has finished being ported over etc but that wasn't the point of my post. Your comment is exactly the same as those said by people on the giffgaff forum when people bring up 4G speeds every few hours - rather than just say "you can go if you don't like it" I'm trying to figure out if:

1. ANYONE actually gets reasonable 4G speed on giffgaff (and by reasonable I mean anything like the advertised speeds for 4G or even half of that - 1-2mb down is less than 3G should realistically offer)

2. If no-one does then I think OFCOM/trading standards should be involved to stop giffgaff saying (quote): "4G Mega-fast browsing and downloading" because it's blatantly untrue. If I'd known their performance would be nothing like advertised, and judging by their own forums many others too, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place.

Jimrod

Ok, just as a test myself and a colleague both just ran Speedtest (same app, both iPhones) at the same time - he's on Tesco, also using O2's network in our office here in Cirencester.

Giffgaff 4G = 2.34mb down, 21.2mb up.

Tesco 4G = 40.4mb down, 20.8mb up.

So, since both use O2 it's definitely a restriction related to giffgaff it seems, ties in with ballyblack's comments about tiers of provider it seems.

Shrimply

If this is true it really is a con, and definitely shouldn't be allowed. Why not have GiffGaff as 3G only like other budget networks.

I'm on Talkmobile which is 3G only but I'm nearly always connected to HSPA+ so I've just done a speed test and got 22mb/s down. I struggle to see how anyone could need speeds faster than that on their mobile to be honest.

Jimrod

Shrimply wrote: »

If this is true it really is a con, and definitely shouldn't be allowed. Why not have GiffGaff as 3G only like other budget networks.

I'm on Talkmobile which is 3G only but I'm nearly always connected to HSPA+ so I've just done a speed test and got 22mb/s down. I struggle to see how anyone could need speeds faster than that on their mobile to be honest.

Absolutely, I'd be happy enough if it was even 6-7mb+ to be honest but at between 1-2mb makes it hard to even stream music or video, I've asked on giffgaff forums if anyone actually gets a decent speed and they seem to just fob it off with excuses rather than anyone being able to demonstrate an actual download speed of any relevance.

silverwhistle

Interesting. Just turned off wireless (at 30Mb down) and checked my GiffGaff - 0.82Mb!

Looks like I'll have to review my provider. I hope you're listening, Giff Gaff..

Shrimply

Might be an interesting experiment to see what sort of speed you get if you tell your phone to only connect to the 3G network.

Jimrod

Shrimply wrote: »

Might be an interesting experiment to see what sort of speed you get if you tell your phone to only connect to the 3G network.

I would but for the last half hour I've had "no service" for the first time ever here at work, perhaps it's a pitfall of criticising giffgaff on their own forum (as well as here!)... Hmm. :rotfl:

System

Ask for your cash back and port out.

They only buy a finite amount of data from their O2 parent and shoehorn all their users in.