[SeanMcQ]

Just had a call from one of those call centre people asking if I wanted to change my phone to the 3 network. I'm on O2 at the minute and I'm pretty happy with it but my contract runs out in December sometime. On O2 i pay £25 for 300 off peak any network minutes and 500 texts, but this guy from 3 says if I switched to them I'd get a new phone, 700 any time, any network minutes and 400 texts for the same price.

Sounds pretty good to me, only thing is, I've heard bad things about 3 and their signal being crap. I said that to the guy on the phone and he said they've got new partnerships that if you run out of 3G signal then they put you onto one of the other networks "narrowband" so that you can still send and receieve calls, etc

I'm in two minds bout what to do

[Everything Goes]

3 are notorius for poor customer service and flaky network. This has improved a bit but the customer service issues remain im afraid.

When you dont get 3G coverage then you will be switched to the O2 network.

[20something]

I think it all depends on where you live.

I have been with 3 for 2 years and they are the only network that i can actually get a proper signal with in my house without having to hang out the window.

You get so many days to try 3 out and you can hand it back if not satisfied.

The tarriffs they offer are good as well.

[Mr Cable]

Sean,

On the forum here you'll find two types of three user;

1) Those who took out a contract (usaully over a year ago) with an LG, NEC or other budget handset and had a really nasty experience with the phone forcing them to call a not great customer service department.

2) Those who have joined three more recently with either a 1000 Series Motorola, 66xx Nokia or the New Sony Ericsson and have never had a days problems. Funny that finally taking on the worlds 3 biggest & best mobile manufacturers have improved experience immensly.

While still not a wide a selection as other networks, here are some more great handsets due to launch next month.

I have been with 3 over 2 years now and have seen them improve and am more than happy with them. My recommendation would be

TAKE THE 14 DAY TRIAL and find out for yourself.

Let us know what you decided on.

[dominoid]

They're not the best network IMO but they have improved considerably.

For PAYG, if you only use GSM services they are great. Data's not as good as it could be though. Limited handset range though.

For contract, they're reasonable but I've seen deals that offer better value for mixed users out there. Again, if you're using basic talk and text they'll be hard to beat but throw other services into the mix and they're not as good. The handset range is limited too.

Customer service though is abysmal from what I've heard, cheap lines to india meaning you can't hear what the person on the other end is saying, lockdown on calltimes for staff meaning they're more interestied in getting you off the line than actually helping you and not enough staff anyway so hold times are pretty bad.



Personally, i would look at a different network for the customer service angle, I'm prepared to pay a little more for good service but not everyone is so worried about that. If you're not gonna being much complicated with your phone they're probably a good choice which is ironic as the UKs firs 3G netwrok!

[SeanMcQ]

Well I'm quite happy with O2 and their customer service isn't bad and I like how I can check my bill and that online (Not sure if 3 offer something similar).

I rang O2 about a new phone a few weeks ago and they said I wasn't eligible until November sometime (a month before my contract expires), but do you think if I phoned them now and told them I've been offered a contract with 3 they might upgrade me early?? I'd be happy enough to stay with O2 as long as their package was similar. I'm not bothered at all about the 3G video stuff on 3, I'm happy with phone calls and texts!

[Mr Cable]

Three do have an online bill checking facility and the actual handset version of it, for me anyway, is a godsend. By just going to 'My 3' you can see on your handset last months bill, or how many calls & texts (and MMS + videocalling mins) you have left for the month you're currently in.

Are you sure your contract ends in December? Some networks allow you to upgrade earlier than 12 months.

[SeanMcQ]

Hmm, 3 do sound pretty good.

Yes I'm sure it's December. I'm not sure exactly what day but I remember buying it before Christmas last year, so I'm guessing around the 20th December or so.

I did get a letter from O2 saying I could have a new handset because of some great special offer if I signed a new 12 month contract before the end of October, then when I phoned and asked about the tarrif I was told it would have to say the same and I wouldn't be eligible for an upgrade until a month before my contract ended.

[Laydee Danielle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20something

I think it all depends on where you live.

I have been with 3 for 2 years and they are the only network that i can actually get a proper signal with in my house without having to hang out the window.

You get so many days to try 3 out and you can hand it back if not satisfied.

The tarriffs they offer are good as well.

I wouldnt take out a contract with 3 for a trail as I know of lots of people who have had problems cancelling the contract even when they have sent the phone back!

[MAGGOTmobile]

Avoid Avoid Avoid!

[Mr Cable]

Go into a reputable provider like a 3 point within Superdrug and take out the 14 day trial.

I've never met anyone who had difficulties cancelling (mind you, the majority of people I know who took out a 14 day trial with a 6680 were more than happy to hold onto the service).

That being said I know some websites & mail order companies can be less than honest and I suppose it wouldn't be that much of a stretch for them to ar*e around with returned contracts.
However, that'd be a retail issue - not 3.

LEGALLY there is nothing they can do to stop you returning the handset (unless you smash it up) and a 3point store will provide you will all nessecary documentation to prove your trial has ended.

[lost boy]

Depends what you're after. If as you say it's just phone calls and texts, 3 are very good. Also i've never had problems with 3's own network - and i say this as an nec 313 user - though that may have something to do with blanket 3g coverage and the nec being able to search for 3g signal only (though that does stop it switching to o2 when out of range) but whatever the reason it holds up really well... and i'm apparently in 'the sticks' here which makes it doubly good.

Also the online (via pc or phone) service, My3, is very handy

Only bad things about the network are: data - there are better deals elsewhere, and customer service - based in india, with abysmal lines and some (not all i have to add, a couple of them i've found really quite good) staff who clearly couldn't care less.

[Everything Goes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laydee Danielle

I wouldnt take out a contract with 3 for a trail as I know of lots of people who have had problems cancelling the contract even when they have sent the phone back!

Yes that happend to me

[wavejockglw]

Best way to avoid problems with 3 is not to have anything to do with them in the 1st place.

A BBC 'Watchdog' favourite with massive numbers of repairs, shoddy customer service, deliberately over sensitive 3G handsets (they have to pay 02 to roam and have no seamless call switching so calls drop regularly) and a wealth of negative feedback on all the 3G forums and on general consumer sites. I'm almost free after trying 5 handsets over 30 months, now at peace with Vodafone and 02.

3 do charge less than others - try it, even with the latest handsets and you'll find out why, they aint a charity after all.

[Mr Cable]

I'm very happy with three (both contracts I have with them), don't take my word for it; take the 14 day trial and discover for yourself.

[dreamypuma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Cable

I'm very happy with three (both contracts I have with them), don't take my word for it; take the 14 day trial and discover for yourself.

Or just cut out the middleman and renew with o2, because that's the signal that your 3 phone will hold onto most of the time.

[frazzel]

I have been with them 2 months after they laucnhed had my problems but at the end of the day im still here for cheap calls and some of their unique and different services they offer.

I can say when you have a bad experience you will come out on top either with credit on bills and possibly a new handset depending what your problems are.

All in all vodafone are rubbish for customer service been there and done that!After 2yrs with them I left

Orange so so, but 3uk actually do help their customers resolve their issues.

[dreamypuma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazzel

I can say when you have a bad experience you will come out on top either with credit on bills and possibly a new handset depending what your problems are.

I think i agree with this statement... I had this with one2one. They were so bad in the early days that they used to compensate by offering really good deals like one2weekend and one2evening. I really used to beat the hell out of those tariffs.

[nidave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

massive numbers of repairs, shoddy customer service,
calls drop regularly 5 handsets over 30 months,l.

Have cut alot of your message but I have similar experances with o2 sent (think the last count) was 10 dud handsets in a couple of months - waiting on the phone to speak to someone for 3 hours being passed from person to person. Being told there was no manager avaiable and also being told the would not speak to me.
Paying my bill by Direct debit every month and every month for 5 months they sent a debt collection person to my house (he was ok - jsut showed him my bank statment, in the end he just called to let me know o2 were still asking him to call ) Ended up speaking to the custimer service manager and they were useless, wouldnt even let me cancel early. Regulary waiting over 2 hours to speak to someone who knew what was going on.
Never ever ever go with O2 - biggest pile of steaming dog poo.

My point is everyone has bad experances with every company and everyons experance will be diffrent. I am on orange now and they are great - very helpfull, no call dropping, being billed correctly and no debt collection agencies

[wavejockglw]

Checkout some customer feedback at this independent consumer review site, 3 UK seem to attract a great many more complaints in proportion to the number of customers they serve than any other network.

http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews12640.html

[SweetVicky]

I had a contract with 3 and a week after giving notice to cancel (i found a deal for new customers I wanted to take advantage of) my handset broke (was a pants LG U182 or summit). I phoned them and waited all of 1 min 25 secs and told them my handset had broken and asked what I could do.

They gave me 2 options, they could pick the phone up the next morning repair it and give it back in 3 days, or I could have a referbished one. I chose to have a referbished one and it was delivered a day later. Its still working 3 months later with no problems (I use it for a spare payg)

I have never had a problem with the customer service, the longest I'v ever had to wait was about 3 mins, (I call them a lot to check how much iv spent, when my minutes renew, cancel add ons i've tried, how to get my phone software updated, where i can get the phone reflashed coz it had a phsycotic episode, the usual stuff) the only trouble i had was the damn handset.

The service cover is in all pretty good, there isn't great video cover by me, and using the internet on the phone (£2.50 per month extra) is a bit limited, there are very few sites you can visit, I cant even visit the sony ericsson wap site for freebies :<

money wise, its great value. I'm now paying £26 per month for 400 anytime any network mins, 250 txt, 25 video mins, 25 mms, and £5 download content from 3 (for games &pics etc). Customer service is ok, and coverage is great.

[onemancrew]

3G is trying hard to satisfy their customers (both in terms of value and service).

any problems just dial 333 for free from any 3 handset. of course you will get one or two rubbish guys on the other end of the phone but just call them up again if you are not happy with the guy! IT FREE ~ ~ ~

let's talk about the good deals they are doing. as i have just posted in the other thread, you can get it for £1.99 per month after cashback on a nokia 6630 with 500 mins + 100 TXT. beat that... i ll take the challenge !

[dreamypuma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nidave

Have cut alot of your message but I have similar experances with o2 sent (think the last count) was 10 dud handsets in a couple of months - waiting on the phone to speak to someone for 3 hours being passed from person to person. Being told there was no manager avaiable and also being told the would not speak to me.
Paying my bill by Direct debit every month and every month for 5 months they sent a debt collection person to my house (he was ok - jsut showed him my bank statment, in the end he just called to let me know o2 were still asking him to call ) Ended up speaking to the custimer service manager and they were useless, wouldnt even let me cancel early. Regulary waiting over 2 hours to speak to someone who knew what was going on.
Never ever ever go with O2 - biggest pile of steaming dog poo.

My point is everyone has bad experances with every company and everyons experance will be diffrent. I am on orange now and they are great - very helpfull, no call dropping, being billed correctly and no debt collection agencies

What i can't understand is, if anyone has a problem with a handset why they mess about with the operator. Contact the hanset manufacturer and they will refer you to an autorised repair centre or resolve the problem in some way or another. Club Nokia repair centres have a repairing or replacing handsets within 24hrs. A lot of the nokia repair centres are Carphone Warehouses. My last experience with a Sony Ericsson was resolved at there service centre while I waited.

When I want car I go to a car dealer not Halfords or Kwik fit.

[wavejockglw]

Under the Sale Of Goods Act it is the handset supplier you have the contract with and it is their responsibility to repair or replace the faulty item during the warranty period. Some dealers/networks buy-out warranty obligations from manufacturer's so its a a gamble trying to have handsets serviced with manufacturers directly unless you are referred there by the original supplier.

If you buy a Ford you dont arrange to take it to Dagenham to have it looked at!!!

[dreamypuma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavejockglw

If you buy a Ford you dont arrange to take it to Dagenham to have it looked at!!!

I wouldn't take my Nokia to Finland, I would take my Samsung to Japan or Korea or whatever. That's basic...

I would however drive to my AUTHORISED service centre so that I don't have to waste my time messing about with the network.

Talk about cake and eating it. Its your choice... If you want to mess about with the network, accept the situation. I have never had a problem doing it this way. Judging by some of the posts on this site, the results have been far more fruitful too.