good deal on 3 to retain me

nix_2 · 5 October 2005 at 2:35PM

Hi

I've been relishing phoning 3 for some time to cancel contract due to problems with my phone/reception over the last few months. The main gripe was that I've been through 3 different LG phones and it still cut off calls when showing full reception. Although it seems to be better now! Shame cos the tariff was great for me and had it on the £4.99 redemption scheme.

Anyway, phoned them today and it seems they are desperate to keep customers who have paid on time, got a good record etc. Here's what I've been offered:

keep the same 500 anytime + 100 texts tariff (normally £30 a month)
the new Sony Ericsson k608i (looks the dogs and I've previously had SE's)
12months line rental at £9.99 for 12 months (18 month contract)
last 6 months at full price but in month 13 £152.00 back in cashback!

works out about £148 over 18 months which means around £8.20 a month. Not bad if you're already a 3 customer and the tariff is good for you. No other network can match this so I'm just hoping the phone is better than the LG. I've also been doing the sums on all the dealer sites and over the 18 month period, it's still cheaper than anything I've seen (12months free then final 6 months at full price still equates to £180 overall). Anyway they've given me a 7 day trial to test the phone first before I sign up. And they'll wipe my remain month off now so I only did 11 months total.

And since I'm not keen on 18 months they did say if I still showed a good account, I might be able to upgrade to a newer phone after 12 months for a small fee.

The real bonus on this is that the cashback and discounts are not these bill redemptions that most dealers do and have got pretty bad reputation. This is all automatic with 3 direct.

Anyway I thought this was a bit too good to be true asked the guy from India about 17 times to clarify. Will let you know if there are any loopholes when I get the phone and documentation.

Nicki

waterstar · 5 October 2005 at 4:56PM

Many thanks for the info NIX, I am in similar position re about to cancel "3" 12 month contract, but certainly the price suggested (net of cashbacks etc) does sound interesting.

A question to NIX - what level of average monthly spend did you have previously?

iecuk · 5 October 2005 at 5:17PM

After reading this post I decided to give Three a call to see what they could offer me. I am currently on Talk and Text 600 (500 Mins and 100 Texts) and here's what she suggested:

- Move to Video, Talk and Text 700 18 Months (as I often go over my message allowance)
- First 6 months would be charged at £17.50 (Total: £105)
- Last 12 months would be charged at £14.99 (Total: £179.88) AFTER Cashback in month 12
- Any handset for free EXCEPT a Nokia (I wanted the 6680

)

A total of £284.88 - or £15.83 per month.

The best deal I have had from a retailer on an upgrade with this tariff is £20.42 a month (available as both 12 and 18 month contracts) after cashback. However - that includes the Nokia 6680

Despite my usual worries about retailer cash back, I will probably go down this route rather than directly with Three. I'm still waitiing for a couple of retailers to get back to me, so I'll post back if I get any better offers.

Cheers,

iecuk

reelcrazy · 5 October 2005 at 5:39PM

I got 6 months at half price (£15.00) for 500 mins, 100 texts for an upgrade to the Nokia 6680. My monthly spend wasn't great, probably averaged at £10.

I can't wait until I renegotiate my step daughters account where her monthly spend is £150

nix_2 · 5 October 2005 at 7:29PM

Hi

Yeah I know my offer seems a bit too good to be true. I get my new phone tomorrow with the new contract and pricing etc so we'll see. I kept asking the guy to reiterate that I was paying 9.99 for 12 months AND also getting the cashback then back to normal price for 6 months and he kept saying yes. But then again there always seems to be confusion when phoning their customer services!

He confirmed that I would be paying 148.00 in total over 18 months and none of these offers are like the cashback redemption scam than most dealers are doing as it's with three direct.

He looked at my account and said I was averaging 32 GBP a month and that I had paid on time every month. My useage was always about 350 minutes and about 150 texts which keeps this tariff the best for me.

I will let you know tomorrow when I inspect the contract and small print!

iecuk · 5 October 2005 at 9:51PM

nix - It would be good to hear what the information in your pack says tomorrow. I'm going to call back in the morning to confirm a few details and check out prices for other tariffs, but I've still got my heart set on a Nokia 6680.

I've thought about going for something like the K608i or A1000, selling it on and putting the extra towards a Nokia 6680, but given the cost and agro with Ebay I may as well just go for this other deal I've come across. The only downside is the cashback hassle...

Will look forward to reading your feedback tomorrow,

iecuk

nix_2 · 5 October 2005 at 10:14PM

Hi iecuk

just for you info I did ask the guy at three about the Nokia phone cos a friend has that and thinks it's great. However, the CS man said that this offer with cashback etc was only available for the sony ericsson and no other phone they can match the offer at the mo. Wonder if they've got some deal going with Sony Ericsson? Another friend I've just heard has also got this phone in an upgrade deal so they are obviously offering them around. He likes it though and I know someone else who has the Orange G3 version and he loves it.

Let you know tomorrow whether I'm happy with everything.

iecuk · 5 October 2005 at 10:35PM

I was actually told I could have any phone as long as it wasn't 'the Nokia'... Maybe they know they can sell the Nokia all day long at that price.

A bit annoyed as I tried ringing at 7.30pm (was told the 'Customer Options' line was open 8am - 8pm) only to be that I had got through to 'Customer Services' who had been told by 'Customer Options' that they weren't takikng anymore calls as it was to close to the end of the shift. Half an hour! I work in a call centre and we take calls right up until (and quite often) beyond the end of our shifts! I have been told to call back tomorrow after 9am, so I'll get all of the info I can.

Starting to get bored looking for contracts, so it'll be a decision tomorrow either way I expect...

Cheers,

iecuk

iecuk · 6 October 2005 at 11:44AM

nix - My decision all depends on your feedback now. I have been on the phone to Three and the deals they have quoted me make no sense at all:

1. Talk and Text 600
- 1st 6 months half price (£15 a month, total £90)
- last 12 months full price (£30, total £360)
- cashback on 13th bill £150.12
- 18 month total £299.88 (£16.66 per month)

Something doesn't add up here as she advertised the deal as a total of £299.88 with 1st six months half price, and remaining 12 months charged at £9.99 after cashback. This would bring the total to £209.88 (£11.66 a month - cashback would need to be £240.12 to get this total)

2. Video, Talk and Text 700
- 1st 6 months half price (£17.50, total £105)
- last 12 months full price (£35, total £420)
- cashback on 13th bill £135.12
- 18 month total £389.88 (£21.66 per month)

Something doesn't add up here as she advertised the deal as a total of £389.88 with 1st six months half price, and remaining 12 months charged at £14.99 after cashback. This would bring the total to £284.88 (£15.83 a month - cashback would need to be £240.12 to get this total).

I'm really confused. She also said I can have any handset (SE K608i, LG 8360, LG 8380, Mot A1000 and Mot E1000), but definitely not the Nokia.

I'm tempted just to forget the whole thing and break away from Three while I can. It's all well and good me worrying about retailer cashback, but I've now rung Three 3 times and had 3 different calculations; the difference is I have nothing on paper from Three and the only 'real' point of contact seems to be in India.

Sorry if I sound over dramatic, but right now I feel harassed!

iecuk