Can anyone top this mistake

matthewking26

Just wondered if anyone can top either of these 2 mistakes by well known companies. I know they're not major mistakes but just makes me wonder what's going on to make these things happen.

1 - I sent off through quidco for some Tmobile sim cards to get 50p cashback.
I filled in the form to have them sent to me "Mr King". When they arrived they had the address correct but had addressed them to "MC Chan". Gave me huge confidence in them as a company!

2 - Took out a mobile and broadband contract with Orange. It took them 3 months to set up the broadband. Whenever I rang to see why it wasn't set up I was told they couldn't talk to me about it because I didn't live at my address, someone else did according to their computers (despite them happily sending mobile bills to me at that address).

They finally told me broadband had been set up in the name of Chris Cox. They were only willing to tell me that when I said I was a journalist and going to print an article about my experiences of their poor service if they didn't sort it (try it yourselves, it got me through to a manager in minutes and got the broadband sorted that day).

I was told it was easier to keep that name if I wanted to keep the broadband because if I wanted to change the broadband to my name it might take another few months. They'd have to cancel it and set it all up again as they can't change a name. So here I am with a mobile contract in my name and broadband in someone elses name. Bizarre!

Every now and then I get mail from them addressed to me but when I open it the letters all start, "Dear Chris"
Cheekily they set up my 18 month mobile phone contract from when the broadband began so they had 3 months of payments from me for doing nothing and my 18 month contract became a 21 month one.

Once the contracts up I'm going to run from Orange at lightning speed!

Can you top that for strange mistakes or bizarre incompetence?

nilrs

"They finally told me broadband had been set up in the name of Chris Cox. They were only willing to tell me that when I said I was a journalist and going to print an article about my experiences of their poor service if they didn't sort it (try it yourselves, it got me through to a manager in minutes and got the broadband sorted that day)."

i like it, will have to try that one out myself.

nilrs

Inactive

Perhaps when you next have dealings with them you should refer to them as Lemon.;)

nilrs

we bought an orange payg phone for my dad for christmas took my husband ages to get through to them to register it, i am still not keen on orange as we used to get terrible reception in our area.

one thing my husband used to be registered with the carphone warehouse, and even when he cancelled his contract for 2 years he was still getting monthly bills totalling £0.00. what a waste of paper and time.

way off topic but heres one for you -

last year we had the paint lines etc on our street redone, a week later they dig the entire road up and then they come out again to do the lines?:rolleyes: errr who's paying for this?

nilrs

jamescredmond

matthewking26 wrote: »

Just wondered if anyone can top either of these 2 mistakes by well known companies. I know they're not major mistakes but just makes me wonder what's going on to make these things happen.

1 - I sent off through quidco for some Tmobile sim cards to get 50p cashback.
I filled in the form to have them sent to me "Mr King". When they arrived they had the address correct but had addressed them to "MC Chan". Gave me huge confidence in them as a company!

2 - Took out a mobile and broadband contract with Orange. It took them 3 months to set up the broadband. Whenever I rang to see why it wasn't set up I was told they couldn't talk to me about it because I didn't live at my address, someone else did according to their computers (despite them happily sending mobile bills to me at that address).

They finally told me broadband had been set up in the name of Chris Cox. They were only willing to tell me that when I said I was a journalist and going to print an article about my experiences of their poor service if they didn't sort it (try it yourselves, it got me through to a manager in minutes and got the broadband sorted that day).

I was told it was easier to keep that name if I wanted to keep the broadband because if I wanted to change the broadband to my name it might take another few months. They'd have to cancel it and set it all up again as they can't change a name. So here I am with a mobile contract in my name and broadband in someone elses name. Bizarre!

Every now and then I get mail from them addressed to me but when I open it the letters all start, "Dear Chris"
Cheekily they set up my 18 month mobile phone contract from when the broadband began so they had 3 months of payments from me for doing nothing and my 18 month contract became a 21 month one.

Once the contracts up I'm going to run from Orange at lightning speed!

Can you top that for strange mistakes or bizarre incompetence?

sorry. can't top that but can offer this instead:

my debit card is stolen in s of france.
matter reported in under 24hrs.
arrive back in UK 10 days later and called in at bank.
no block has been placed on card and thieves still having a whale of a time in marseille, tolouse and monte carlo. thieves actually make a 100 euro transaction while I'm still in bank!! over £2000 removed in total.
bank apologizes.
a week later and I receive a letter informing that I am liable for 100% of losses due to personal negligence!!
I move into dispute mode and threaten fsa/local MP.
bank replies admitting error and encloses a list of transactions made on card from the day of my arrival. 'could you please highlight all transactions NOT made by you'.
certainly.
I draw attention to one trans. that WAS made by me - 250 euro cash w/drawal at nice airport.
another week and all funds returned to my account including £ equivalent of - wait for it - 250 euro!

this now leaves me with a conscience dilemma? should I point out the mistake and return funds? should I graciously keep cash as form of compensation for the faffing around that the bank's incompetence has caused me? tough choice. after giving serious deliberation to this grave ethical point for all of 5 seconds I booked another flight to nice.

chuckley

james id say that was compo.... they put u through hell telling u u were liable...

RadoJo

James - I totally understand your point about the extra 250 Euro, but it might be best to be careful as banks can claim back overpaid monies and if you don't have the funds to give them then you are considered liable! It is a way of stopping people profitting from 'honest' mistakes, although in this case they were trying to pull a fast one first, but unfortunately, they will be protected and you may have to cough up.

Terrylw1

Well, from years of working for utilities - incompetance would seem the likely cause! Seen tons of incorrect names on peoples properties over the years.

I once worked for a mobile phone company and their sales people use to credit check and sign you up, then if you name could easily be changed to something funny they would do it knowing the annoyed customer would be on the phone to some poor call centre bod about it.

I once got a guy calling up because his had been put on the system by sales as Mr Shirtlift...but it was actually Mr Shirtliff....

sales people!!!

jamescredmond

RadoJo wrote: »

James - I totally understand your point about the extra 250 Euro, but it might be best to be careful as banks can claim back overpaid monies and if you don't have the funds to give them then you are considered liable! It is a way of stopping people profitting from 'honest' mistakes, although in this case they were trying to pull a fast one first, but unfortunately, they will be protected and you may have to cough up.

thanks, am usually honest and upfront. annoyed though with their time-wasting behaviour. am not saying I acted with integrity and what makes matters worse is that the bs is mutual, so therefore robbing other members, but perhaps less so than directors. still feel justified in part. a cople of years ago since this happened so I'm not expecting a knock on the door from inspector knacker of scotland yard...