3 PAYG rate increase

merchcon55

Apologies for my poor link - can't believe I did that LOL.  

Nice that you put up the proper links

As pointed out - I am aware of the 2 sets of T+C - my point was: for those who are trying to get credit back from 3 which they put on their account recently, I would download a copy of the 13 Jan 2021 T+C which clearly show 3-2-1 rates.

Whether or not this helps get credit back - and if it's worth the time involved - that's another matter

For the time being, I'll stick with 3, and see what to do after 16 Feb

droopsnoot

I've bought one of these O2 SIMs to switch over to (well, I've actually bought two as I didn't read the advert properly) so all I need to do now is get a suitable phone. I imagine I'll just write off the recent top-up, I've been through the frustration of trying to talk to mobile phone support people before, both at Three and at my previous T-Mobile / EE when I was trying to force them to tell me what tariff I was on.

jon81uk

droopsnoot said:

I've bought one of these O2 SIMs to switch over to (well, I've actually bought two as I didn't read the advert properly) so all I need to do now is get a suitable phone. I imagine I'll just write off the recent top-up, I've been through the frustration of trying to talk to mobile phone support people before, both at Three and at my previous T-Mobile / EE when I was trying to force them to tell me what tariff I was on.

Why not just put the SIM in the phone you have once your Three credit runs out?

droopsnoot

jon81uk said:

Why not just put the SIM in the phone you have once your Three credit runs out?

I haven't tried a non-Three SIM in it, but I think it's locked to that network (it is quite an old phone). I guess I could try it, I can't see it would do any harm.

I bought an LG Nexus to get a more modern phone, but when it wouldn't pick up a Three signal at my two most-commonly-used locations as well as the old phone does, the supplier kindly refunded me. In one of those locations (workshops on a farm) I'm told O2 is the only network that will connect, but I'm a bit reluctant to get another from the same supplier and face the same problem. I have a load of old phones here (just to get an idea of signal strength) but it looks like none of them are O2.

smt37

merchcon55 said:

Apologies for my poor link - can't believe I did that LOL.  

Nice that you put up the proper links

As pointed out - I am aware of the 2 sets of T+C - my point was: for those who are trying to get credit back from 3 which they put on their account recently, I would download a copy of the 13 Jan 2021 T+C which clearly show 3-2-1 rates.

Whether or not this helps get credit back - and if it's worth the time involved - that's another matter

For the time being, I'll stick with 3, and see what to do after 16 Feb

I have just downloaded these "latest" terms and conditions as you suggested. It was still there this evening (22/01/21). You're right - the file name and within the document itself both show that the 321 rates are effective from 13/01/21, which is AFTER they notified the PAYG users (or myself at least) on 12/01/21 that their rates would be changing. I already felt it was unfair the way they have dealt with this price increase by giving such short notice and not honouring the "value" of credit that users had already topped up, however this makes the price increase more unfair I think, that they have actively put these new terms and conditions up at a time when there is already confusion and uncertainty.

Another thing I noticed is that in the 13/01/21 terms and conditions, it says and I quote "In the event of a discrepancy between this publication and the information provided elsewhere, other than the customer terms, this publication will take precedence.". I'm not sure what exactly they mean by "other than the customer terms", but I take from that statement that this overrides notification of the price increase and makes it void.

smt37

smt37 said:

merchcon55 said:

Apologies for my poor link - can't believe I did that LOL.  

Nice that you put up the proper links

As pointed out - I am aware of the 2 sets of T+C - my point was: for those who are trying to get credit back from 3 which they put on their account recently, I would download a copy of the 13 Jan 2021 T+C which clearly show 3-2-1 rates.

Whether or not this helps get credit back - and if it's worth the time involved - that's another matter

For the time being, I'll stick with 3, and see what to do after 16 Feb

I have just downloaded these "latest" terms and conditions as you suggested. It was still there this evening (22/01/21). You're right - the file name and within the document itself both show that the 321 rates are effective from 13/01/21, which is AFTER they notified the PAYG users (or myself at least) on 12/01/21 that their rates would be changing. I already felt it was unfair the way they have dealt with this price increase by giving such short notice and not honouring the "value" of credit that users had already topped up, however this makes the price increase more unfair I think, that they have actively put these new terms and conditions up at a time when there is already confusion and uncertainty.

Another thing I noticed is that in the 13/01/21 terms and conditions, it says and I quote "In the event of a discrepancy between this publication and the information provided elsewhere, other than the customer terms, this publication will take precedence.". I'm not sure what exactly they mean by "other than the customer terms", but I take from that statement that this overrides notification of the price increase and makes it void.

Sorry, just in case what I wrote doesn't make sense, by 13/01/21 terms and conditions I meant the price guide.

Phones4Chris

smt37 said:

smt37 said:

merchcon55 said:

Apologies for my poor link - can't believe I did that LOL.  

Nice that you put up the proper links

As pointed out - I am aware of the 2 sets of T+C - my point was: for those who are trying to get credit back from 3 which they put on their account recently, I would download a copy of the 13 Jan 2021 T+C which clearly show 3-2-1 rates.

Whether or not this helps get credit back - and if it's worth the time involved - that's another matter

For the time being, I'll stick with 3, and see what to do after 16 Feb

I have just downloaded these "latest" terms and conditions as you suggested. It was still there this evening (22/01/21). You're right - the file name and within the document itself both show that the 321 rates are effective from 13/01/21, which is AFTER they notified the PAYG users (or myself at least) on 12/01/21 that their rates would be changing. I already felt it was unfair the way they have dealt with this price increase by giving such short notice and not honouring the "value" of credit that users had already topped up, however this makes the price increase more unfair I think, that they have actively put these new terms and conditions up at a time when there is already confusion and uncertainty.

Another thing I noticed is that in the 13/01/21 terms and conditions, it says and I quote "In the event of a discrepancy between this publication and the information provided elsewhere, other than the customer terms, this publication will take precedence.". I'm not sure what exactly they mean by "other than the customer terms", but I take from that statement that this overrides notification of the price increase and makes it void.

Sorry, just in case what I wrote doesn't make sense, by 13/01/21 terms and conditions I meant the price guide.

Well I wish you luck, it is very sloppy of "Three" to have issued that document the day after the text and make no mention that the document is only effective until 15th February. I suspect though that they'll say that we send everyone on the old 3-2-1- tariff a text giving you 5 weeks notice of the change. The applicable Ts&Cs does in para.4.1 say

" (b)   we will let you know at least one month in advance if we decide to:           (i)   discontinue your Package; or          (ii)  make any variations to your agreement which are (in our reasonable opinion) likely to be of material detriment to you."

We should at least think ourselves lucky that they bothered to send us a text, that's a lot more than Vodafone do!

condoghost

Phones4Chris said:

BUT before you swap, make sure you can get a decent signal on the network you think you'll move to.

I don't get a decent signal from any network and I'm sat right next to a window. Move 5-feet to the middle of the room I get a good-ish signal to receive 'texts' but have to go and stand at the front door to get a consistent signal to make or receive a call.
I really don't need a mobile phone except now banks and so many other websites require this 2-step verification insisting on us providing them with a mobile number. Also for an emergency when I am out such as breakdown.
T&C If within a 180 days you have not made any chargeable events or activities (for example, made telephone calls, sent text or photo messages, accessed content or the internet or any other Three Services for which a charge is made), we may also suspend our Services or disconnect you.
As long as we are not subject to a minimum usage policy or top-up expiry policy 'down the road' I guess I keep my fingers crossed staying with them given £10 every 4-months works out between £2.50 a text and £10 a text!

condoghost

AndrewJB said:

Roger1 said:

Have you looked at Lebara and Lycamobile? They both have £5 monthly packages. OK, not PAYG, but they include 100 international minutes.  Obviously depends on her call profile.  Occasional half-price offers, so £2.50.

She manages to stick within the £30 a year at the moment. International calls weren’t a consideration when I chose 1p Mobile but she was accumulating credit and I was surprised to find that the tariff was quite a lot cheaper than the landline. The companies you’ve suggested are definitely worth bearing in mind if her usage increases.

In days long past we've used 18185, various VOIP services such as VoipCheap, VoipConnect and others in tandem, but now with Broadband we connect using Messenger. In real terms we only need a mobile connection for emergencies when out and about and for 2-Step Verification which so many are forcing upon us these days. Even BT dropped their Free Weekend Calls with their landline last year. Seems they all want to tie us up with some sort of 'bundle' which works out to be way too 'expensive' in real terms such as £5 a month when we rarely spend more than £1 a month in a busy month!

condoghost

merchcon55 said:

For those who use their 3 number mostly as an incoming contact, or for limited usage, it's still pretty good - as the minimum £5 top up remains (others like O2 have a minimum £10 top up). Also - no need to top up every 4 months (as per 1p mobile), as your £5 credit does not expire, nor does your service terminate, provided you have 1 chargeable activity every 6 months - not really a difficult thing to do.
I have 2 numbers with 3 which I use for very limited purposes - while not thrilled with the new prices - 3 still suits my purpose at a very modest annual cost.

This is very true merchcon55. I guess once we get over the initial shock never mind 'audacity' of a 330% price increase for calls and a 500% price increase for texts our low volume usage can be managed just to pinch ourselves every time not to waffle on using up the minutes. There will come a time when all our calls will be seamless via WiFi/Broadband connection incurring no extra cost.
The biggest culprit on the block is still BT obliging us to pay for a landline when in actuality there is no longer a need for us to have one in real terms but there we go. That's "Fibre to the Cabinet, Copper Wire to the Home" for you that they've pushed for all these years. Criminal.