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Three phases out "The One Plan" and Unlimited tethering


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Old 29-01-2016, 20:22
squawkBOX
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BBC News Business article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35441452
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Old 29-01-2016, 20:59
paulbeattie87
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Got my letter in the post a few days ago. Called up Three after finding that EE's top SIMO package is £17 with Quidco + Second Line Discount. Three offered nothing, in store I was told 'you had it too good for too long'.

So much for them being sorry to lose a loyal and longstanding customer, there's no point hanging around and paying more money. Just crazy business. For the record my average data usage over the past 12 months was 2.6GB and calls < 500 minutes so it's not like I'm tethering all the time and pulling down 50GB+ each month.
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Old 29-01-2016, 21:08
digiwigi
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I moved from Three to ee last year. It really is chalk and cheese in the 4g age. Three was like having unlimited fuel but only being able to drive in the slow lane. Pay about £12/13 a month after cashback for oodles of minutes/texts and 10gb of data, regularly getting 4G+ speeds and hardly ever dropping back to 3G in London.

Ironically, Three might be better once they've kicked all the really high users off. Might try them again in time.
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Old 29-01-2016, 21:14
Thine Wonk
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The plan hasn't been sold for nearly 2 years, many have been on it for 4 as it's been out a long time.

All very well quoting EE short term quidco offers, but once that's up you'll be back to paying full price or searching around again. It was an amazing offer, but it's over folks, they have given you at least 1 years notice it was coming as it has been posted about here regularly.
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Old 29-01-2016, 21:21
iTech
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How come this is on the news? They made the announcement months ago and have been phasing people off for months?
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Old 29-01-2016, 21:24
jabbamk1
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How come this is on the news? They made the announcement months ago and have been phasing people off for months?
Because Three are forcing customers off 'The One Plan' in batches.

The first batch received media attention, now this batch is receiving media attention again, likely because those who have received the letters have gone to the media about it.
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Old 29-01-2016, 21:38
beans0ntoast
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After seeing the Martin Lewis article on Money Saving Expert, I've just had a look on Twitter and some customers are unhappy on there too!

Originally Posted by Caravan Canary
Double ur money in 30 Days #threeuk I can't believe they can get away with it. It's a 100% increase! #makeitright #robbers

Yes.got my 30 days notice on #OnePlan from #threeuk I won't be taking up offer of doubling to £30 pm. Sod them #makeitright
Source: https://twitter.com/hashtag/threeUK?...rc=twsrc%5Etfw

To be honest I wouldn't be happy either. Doubling from £15 to £30 per month whilst losing unlimited tethering and having it replaced with just 12GB tethering! Going for the £20 option (unlimited data, 12GB tethering) would result in having a paltry 200 minutes, that's 1/10th of the minutes that the One Plan offered!

It's a shame that EE, or any other provider, don't offer unlimited data! The only other alternative would be Giffgaff's "Always On" data, which is capped at 6GB for tethering, and after 6GB, a speed of 256kbps is expected. Not that Giffgaff data would be that fast, because they are on the bottom of the priority ladder for O2s network.
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Old 29-01-2016, 22:17
Thine Wonk
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Just 12 GB!! Try even getting 12GB of non tethering from some networks, let alone with unlimited handset data and for £20.

They were on a plan that was retired almost 2 years ago, yes it was an incredibly good deal as hardly any networks even do unlimited data, but all things come to an end eventually and they can still get unlimited data 12GB tethering etc, even then it's better value than most other networks, comparing against cash back term-ovary offers it's nearer, but those are temporary.

This is year old news, but I suppose as you say another big batch has been done, prompting Martin Lewis etc to revisit it a year on.
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Old 29-01-2016, 23:06
jonmorris
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Losing unlimited tethering is fine, but Three insists it hasn't put up charges and that we can get things like Feel at Home and 4G at no extra cost, ignoring the fact that we already get that.

I know I can't fight it, and I won't be. If they won't negotiate then I'm leaving. So many others have, I am sure it's going to have an impact even when the papers move on to something else tomorrow.

£15 to £30 is a huge increase. Frankly it's an insult. Especially when they will offer some people a better deal, and others nothing.
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Old 29-01-2016, 23:07
gavo360
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Even with price hikes three are still the best for people that need 12gb+ data, three still offer ayce with 200 mins for £20, none of the other networks come close. If you only need a couple of gig a month then you would be best to shop around cos three arent all that competitive
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Old 29-01-2016, 23:23
simon69c
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Because Three are forcing customers off 'The One Plan' in batches.

The first batch received media attention, now this batch is receiving media attention again, likely because those who have received the letters have gone to the media about it.
From what I can gather this latest batch was substantially larger than any of the previous batches too which seems to have generated a bit of a critical mass of disgruntled customers.

Still no letter for me but I decided to be pro-active as if I did want to move to someone else, the current Vodafone and EE SIM Only discounts run out in a few days. In the end retentions offered me the 12 Month £30 AYCE package for £20 so I figured I would go for that. Had to sign up for another 12 months but figured it was worth it for keeping a decent discount and retaining AYCE data & minutes.
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Old 29-01-2016, 23:39
Everything Goes
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Sky did something similar to their Line Renal last year and automatically enrolled customers on to higher tariffs. Ofcom had to step and told them to extend the deadline and they could leave without penalty. Its a good idea to complain to Ofcom.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/b...ice-hikes.html
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Old 29-01-2016, 23:52
Gigabit
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Ofcom don't tend to take complaints from consumers.
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Old 29-01-2016, 23:52
jabbamk1
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Sky did something similar to their Line Renal last year and automatically enrolled customers on to higher tariffs. Ofcom had to step and told them to extend the deadline and they could leave without penalty. Its a good idea to complain to Ofcom.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/b...ice-hikes.html
The issue here being that Three are only contacting customer when they are out of contract. So you actually can leave without penalty here.

Just 12 GB!! Try even getting 12GB of non tethering from some networks, let alone with unlimited handset data and for £20.

They were on a plan that was retired almost 2 years ago, yes it was an incredibly good deal as hardly any networks even do unlimited data, but all things come to an end eventually and they can still get unlimited data 12GB tethering etc, even then it's better value than most other networks, comparing against cash back term-ovary offers it's nearer, but those are temporary.

This is year old news, but I suppose as you say another big batch has been done, prompting Martin Lewis etc to revisit it a year on.
It's still a move that I disagree with. Especially when Three have been so vocal about 'making it right'. At the end of the day they're doing something which is a first for a mobile network in the UK, which is to discontinue a pay monthly plan and force all users onto a new plan. They're also increasing prices on these new price plans and removing features such as tethering.

I know I can't fight it, and I won't be. If they won't negotiate then I'm leaving. So many others have, I am sure it's going to have an impact even when the papers move on to something else tomorrow.
Honestly, I'm not so sure it will have an impact. At least based on the customer growth numbers I've seen recently.
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Old 30-01-2016, 08:22
binary
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All very well quoting EE short term quidco offers, but once that's up you'll be back to paying full price or searching around again. It was an amazing offer, but it's over folks, they have given you at least 1 years notice it was coming as it has been posted about here regularly.
Though that's not the same thing as they (i.e. Three) giving a year's notice... not everyone follows news and rumours on forums such as this one.
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Old 30-01-2016, 08:23
Thine Wonk
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I'm sure they'd rather have 0 growth in customer numbers for 12 months, if it means they've had a clearout of what was a good idea years back, but is now a major headache due to the impact the mass tethering has had.

The net benefit is there for them, even 0 customer increase won't mean 0 revenue increase. We've known this is coming for 2 years, there's no secret about it and it has also been happening for 2 years. It doesn't make it right, but then the plan was retired a long time back and they have been moving people off for a long time too.
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Old 30-01-2016, 09:28
jonmorris
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The problem was when they retired the tariff, and setting a precedent about actually forcing people off a tariff - which has never really happened before. Keep paying, keep the tariff.

It's easy to go around in circles but while Three can do this, it doesn't mean it should. And I tried to get the media interested in 2014 but if course they weren't bothered.

Three should have changed the terms to remove the unlimited tethering. And certainly considered keeping the discount people were getting so it wouldn't double the rental almost overnight.

Anyway, after seeing it scrolling on the BBC News Ticker all last night, getting on Sky, Metro, Daily Mail, The Sun and all over its Facebook Page and Twitter - the whole make it right campaign is looking silly as everyone used it against Three.

Three should consider itself lucky it didn't get exposed earlier. For the consumer it's bad news, even if not on Three, because now all operators can start changing things once you're out of contract (great news for those on 30 day contracts, not). Not that I think they will after this.
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Old 30-01-2016, 10:02
Everything Goes
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The issue here being that Three are only contacting customer when they are out of contract. So you actually can leave without penalty here.
The problem is forced enrolment on a considerably higher tariff if you don't reply within 30 days. This is why Ofcom were unhappy with Sky. Im sure Ofcom will have something to say about this. The matter of being out of contract is not the main issue they will have with this as they are free to leave. Plus giving you less data for Tethering.
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Old 30-01-2016, 10:08
Richard_T
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It deos appear to be a sledgehammer to crack a nut approach, as above they would have been better keeping the legacy one plan, but reducing tethering to 8GB with the incentive to move to a newer plan if you want more (12GB tethering data )

As for contract lengths on sim only, a 30 day rolling contract may be good for short termists, but it now comes with the risk that the price could double or more, a 12 month sim only would mean your locked into a deal.

Three, despite what they say are still not a high quality network, with congestion in built up areas, poor building penetration, no 2G fallback for basic calls and texts ( no data is irritiating, but no calls or texts is even more so ) and there are still huge swathes of the countryside without a signal, most notably for me are areas of Kent, the Peak district ( Staffordshire/Derbyshire) Lake District/Northumberland and places outside the central belt of Scotland.
When I'm in those areas an I need a mobile phone i have to take a pay as you go sim on another network ( back up phone )

As for the responses on facebook, there incredibly patronising and inane

this is one that was being posted by some inept three represntative:
[quote]

Hi Simon, we're phasing out all our old plans to offer customers more options for voice minutes and data allowances, AYCE texts. We'll be in touch to discuss our range of new plans. You will have 30 days to decide what's right for you. We haven't put up prices. We're phasing out our old plans. Our new plans have a range of additional benefits, data tiers & pricing. >Leigh

If i'm not mistaken those on the one plan had 5,000 texts and 2,000 minutes How many people used over the 5,000 texts allowance?
As for Data/4G the one plan already has access to 4G
There are no additional benefits to the new plans, you wont suddenly get a signal and there wont be specail masts for those on new plans in places like Hawkinge in Kent, no new mast at Hartington in the Peak District and so on, and no 2G fallback either.
It will just be the same old service/coverage as before but at higher prices that are closer to those offered by 'premium' networks where you pay for a better coverage such as EE.


If, when my time comes to move form the one plan £15 sim, and I cant haggle them down/sort out a suitable deal then I will have no option than to move
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Old 30-01-2016, 11:14
Everything Goes
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Like I have already said I doubt Ofcom will be impressed.


Sadly there’s not a lot that related customers can do, except for either swapping to a different operator or choosing one of Three’s other tariffs. However we would advise that affected subscribers complain to Ofcom because the regulator doesn’t generally approve of expensive automatic upgrades and has tackled both BT and Sky Broadband over similar issues in the recent past.
http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php...y-upgrade.html
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Old 30-01-2016, 11:18
moox
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I don't know what the Sky and BT situations were, but I know that BT were crucified because of their use of automatically renewing contracts - i.e. if you don't cancel within a 1 month window at the end, they'll automatically put you back on another one or two year contract. Ofcom banned those entirely
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Old 30-01-2016, 11:57
clewsy
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It's naughty but not illegt as your out of contract and remember that protects both parties.

Let's just hope three get shafted on this propoo merger, as then they will need to go back to being competitive.
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Old 30-01-2016, 16:47
Everything Goes
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I don't know what the Sky and BT situations were, but I know that BT were crucified because of their use of automatically renewing contracts - i.e. if you don't cancel within a 1 month window at the end, they'll automatically put you back on another one or two year contract. Ofcom banned those entirely
It was similar to Sky although customer were not tied into a lengthy contract. Sky automatically enrolled their landline customers on a new tariff after terminating legacy tariffs. The tariffs were more expensive than the cheapest tariff they offered. Sky wrote to them telling they would be enrolled in the new more expensive tariff. Sky gave customers 30 days notice. But gave them a 30 day free trail of the new tariff. This didn't stop Ofcom intervening.

Ofcom’s Statement

Some customers complained to Ofcom about the changes. Ofcom contacted Sky and it has now agreed to give any customer who is unhappy with the changes until 31 January 2016 to:

cancel their Sky Talk and Broadband service without any termination fee;
cancel their Sky Talk service without any termination fee, but, where possible, keep any other Sky services without losing any applicable discounts on the prices of those other services until the end of any offer period; or
downgrade their Sky Talk package and receive a refund (or account credit) of any relevant charges.
Customers who have concerns relating to the changes to Sky Talk should contact Sky.
http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php...ge-change.html
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Old 30-01-2016, 17:56
david16
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Even with price hikes three are still the best for people that need 12gb+ data, three still offer ayce with 200 mins for £20, none of the other networks come close. If you only need a couple of gig a month then you would be best to shop around cos three arent all that competitive
Three’s All In One 10 PAYG package is very uncompetitive because they only give you 500MB of data each month. Even Virgin and EE offer at least 1GB of data for a tenner, and with Virgin if you don’t exceed using your 1GB of data your tenner of credit doesn’t get reduced unless you make phone calls (but you must top up by the end of the month to ensure your month of 1GB of data kicks in from the start of the next month).
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Old 30-01-2016, 18:33
Thine Wonk
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Three’s All In One 10 PAYG package is very uncompetitive because they only give you 500MB of data each month. Even Virgin and EE offer at least 1GB of data for a tenner, and with Virgin if you don’t exceed using your 1GB of data your tenner of credit doesn’t get reduced unless you make phone calls (but you must top up by the end of the month to ensure your month of 1GB of data kicks in from the start of the next month).
Don't buy it then, it's a free market, nobody forces anyone to buy or stay. Those going on about Ofcom are out of luck as they don't take direct consumer complaints for mobile, Three also hasn't broken any Ofcom codes or in fact any consumer rules or laws. Yes people might be sad that they are ending a good deal, but that's it. They still, even after the changes seem to be very competitive for those that want to use quite a bit of data.

It must have been a big batch this time to case this much buzz again 1 year on from this starting to happen. Three usually do 20,000 batches they said, but this must have been bigger. Still no letter for me, but I know I'll be in one of them.
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