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Old 22-06-2008, 01:21
Polonius
 
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I despise Three with a passion.

Moving to Three was possibly the biggest mistake I ever made. The network coverage is average. They modify their phones to within an inch of their life, forcing settings. Their customer service is appalling. I reckon I could get a much better deal elsewhere. I am a fool.

I joined this cursed network on 3rd January 2008 and for some bizarre reason tied myself to an 18 month contract. It's a £15 a month tarrif (Mix and Match 300). So I'm nearly 6 months in out of 18. The cancelation fee stands at £180. I simply cannot afford this.

My phone is the K800i. It's in reasonable condition. I thought maybe I could sell it but it's quite an old phone so I'd only get about £20 and would still have £160 to pay.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I could get out of my contract at a reduced cost? There's got to be a clause in the contract, or a way somehow.

Does anyone know if a rival network would pay off my cancellation fee if I were to sign a contract with them? Does that sort of thing happen.

What about if I were to transfer my contract to my sister or mother? Would Three let me keep my number and give her a new one, with the 12 remaining months on it?

I am not one for being underhand but I would do more or less anything to get out of this contract. Has anyone got any ideas
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Old 22-06-2008, 08:29
tn2000
 
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I despise Three with a passion.

Moving to Three was possibly the biggest mistake I ever made. The network coverage is average. They modify their phones to within an inch of their life, forcing settings. Their customer service is appalling. I reckon I could get a much better deal elsewhere. I am a fool.

I joined this cursed network on 3rd January 2008 and for some bizarre reason tied myself to an 18 month contract. It's a £15 a month tarrif (Mix and Match 300). So I'm nearly 6 months in out of 18. The cancelation fee stands at £180. I simply cannot afford this.

My phone is the K800i. It's in reasonable condition. I thought maybe I could sell it but it's quite an old phone so I'd only get about £20 and would still have £160 to pay.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I could get out of my contract at a reduced cost? There's got to be a clause in the contract, or a way somehow.
No clause I'm afraid, not even a sanity one. You took the Queen's Shilling and you're tied in for 18 months. The only clause that will get you out is the one that says pay off the remaining months of your contract as they have asked you to do.

Does anyone know if a rival network would pay off my cancellation fee if I were to sign a contract with them? Does that sort of thing happen.
Last month Carphone Warehouse branches were offering £200 cash into your bank account for taking out a new contract. Yesterday, my local Phones4U were offering up to £150 to take out a new contract. However I don't think either of them are offering the cash on new £15 a month contracts, you would probably have to spend more.

And you need to use that to pay off any existing contract, otherwise you'll be running with two contracts. If you trawl the forum you'll find seriously negative posts about both of these firms.

If you are desperate enough to go with one of them you could try P4U first. Go in browse the contracts and stick to your guns of wanting £180 cash to change. If they won't do it - walk. You've lost nothing, they've lost the sale and be careful of what they want you to take out as a new contract. Bargain hard, stick to your budget and don't be intimidated by them and remember walk out if you're not happy.
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Old 22-06-2008, 21:32
mr chef
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Joined 3 in December 2007,Big mistake,Signal is atrocious at my home address,I tried to get out of the contract as I was fed up of dropped calls etc.but they would have none of it saying reception is excellent where I live,customer service is diabolical call centre is in India where they just read from a script and you have to go through them even if you write to them they just write back to tell you to go through their call centre,
The company are a nightmare to deal with.Ive had to take out a sim only contract with o2 their reception is excellent
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Old 22-06-2008, 21:56
Tadpole
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I am in the same boat, but signed up with a K800i at the start of March 2007 so only have 3 months left on this terrible network.

One of the 3 sales guys rang me up mid-week trying to sell me a handset upgrade and a new contract. I turned it around and asked him how much it would cost to buy out the contract - £51. I've decided to find a new network / handset / SIM and migrate the number now before I lose my sanity.

3 also cannot migrate a contract number onto 3pay.

I was previously on Orange. 3 now roam with Orange but the Orange coverage is ten times better - if the "3" phone gets a sniff of a "3" signal then the phone is useless.

I currently carry a Vodafone pre-pay handset around for outgoing calls, which is why outgoing calls no longer get cut off. Vodafone voicemail is a nightmare.

Main problems
* Incoming calls get disconnected at random (except when it's 3 sales calling)
* Signal strength on the handset randomly drops to zero when sending multiple texts or making phone calls.

Maybe I've got a dodgy handset, but either way when I next ring customer services it will be to get my PAC code. £15/month over 18 months has been an awful lot of money down the drain. I've had the phone's firmware updated by 3 but that has not helped.
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Old 23-06-2008, 05:12
chocolate_boy
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Thank god!!

More people who understand what I went through.

Everytime I've mentioned my bad experiences about 3 on this forum, I get told to shut up and I'm over-reacting, and they're actually one of the best networks!

I had the same issues, awful reception, everytime I tried to call it was some indian bloke who I couldn't understand. Eventually I was so upset with the service, I kept missing so many important calls due to lost signal, I told them I was cancelling 3 months in, I was given the usual script of "all the money upfront or no cancel to you!".

I eventually wrote them a formal letter as was getting nowhere on the phone, calls not returned, no supervisors to speak to, being sent round in endless loops.

I wrote a stern letter outlining my issues, and saying I believed I was not getting the service I had signed the contract for and will be terminating it, if they disagree I am willing to take this to court and shall be contacting my solicitor.

I got a prompt letter back from a manager saying my contract had been terminated and no further costs would be charged against me.

Months went by, and I'll admit I'm pretty poor at managing my finances, I tend to be a "put the card in the machine and hope some money comes out" sorta guy. But I noticed I was short of money one month, so looked at my statements closely, and saw that 3 had still been billing me for 3 months after they cancelled!!

The shocking thing here is, I had actually CANCELLED the direct debit with the bank, but 3 had gone to them and set it up again!!

I tried calling again, and got nowhere, basically just indian blokes reading scripts to me. One of them couldn;t understand how I'd cancelled "no sir, you sign on 3rd december, you have til 3rd december this year sir".... argghh!!!

Another stern letter, this time no reply. I figured it was such a headache I went to my bank and declared it as fraud, as they had no permission to re-set up the DD, or take the cash. The bank refunded it and said they'd deal with 3.

I never heard anything else, but went to O2 after that, and been with them happily ever since.

Now whenever I mention this on here, I'm called hysterical, and that is the 3 "of old" and everyone keeps telling me how much they've improved since then (2003), but it would seem not.

3 maybe cheaper, but so are 1p beans from Netto, you get the quality you pay for I think. It'd be a cold day in hell before I ever went back to those cowboys at 3 though, and I'm glad to see I'm not alone afterall!
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Old 23-06-2008, 15:17
riaz
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with every company that has millions of customers there are going to be some that aint satisfied.... think some on here have the older handsets which have issues.. get a n95 8gb and see the difference you experience with the network
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Old 23-06-2008, 16:15
chocolate_boy
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with every company that has millions of customers there are going to be some that aint satisfied.... think some on here have the older handsets which have issues.. get a n95 8gb and see the difference you experience with the network
Having experienced the bug-fest that is the N95 last year, i'll stick to my iPhone thanks!
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Old 23-06-2008, 16:34
Minnimo
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No clause I'm afraid, not even a sanity one. You took the Queen's Shilling and you're tied in for 18 months. The only clause that will get you out is the one that says pay off the remaining months of your contract as they have asked you to do.



Last month Carphone Warehouse branches were offering £200 cash into your bank account for taking out a new contract. Yesterday, my local Phones4U were offering up to £150 to take out a new contract. However I don't think either of them are offering the cash on new £15 a month contracts, you would probably have to spend more.

And you need to use that to pay off any existing contract, otherwise you'll be running with two contracts. If you trawl the forum you'll find seriously negative posts about both of these firms.

If you are desperate enough to go with one of them you could try P4U first. Go in browse the contracts and stick to your guns of wanting £180 cash to change. If they won't do it - walk. You've lost nothing, they've lost the sale and be careful of what they want you to take out as a new contract. Bargain hard, stick to your budget and don't be intimidated by them and remember walk out if you're not happy.
Thanks for this. I am actually going to do this. I wanted to go back to O2 when the contract ended anyway, so I get to do it earlier.

To the OP. I'm really very sorry. I know exactly what you're going through. I was ill for 6 months and my home didn't have ANY signal from 3 or Orange. So I had 6 months of a wasted contract even though this was the ONE thing I enquired about with 3 different people!

I will never again go with 3 if I can seriously avoid it, which I should be able too. It's not mandatory and I've learnt my lesson.
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Old 23-06-2008, 18:16
tn2000
 
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Thanks for this. I am actually going to do this. I wanted to go back to O2 when the contract ended anyway, so I get to do it earlier.

To the OP. I'm really very sorry. I know exactly what you're going through. I was ill for 6 months and my home didn't have ANY signal from 3 or Orange. So I had 6 months of a wasted contract even though this was the ONE thing I enquired about with 3 different people!

I will never again go with 3 if I can seriously avoid it, which I should be able too. It's not mandatory and I've learnt my lesson.
I haven't had the same problems as others here have had with the 3 signal. I do know its frustrating because it was T-Mobile we had signal issues with. My wife is a texter and they wouldn't send. According to T-Mobile voice gets priority over SMS and that might have been the issue.

The strength of voice calls would vary. When we phoned to cancel the CSR asked why so I told him about the signal problems. Half way through the cancellation procedure he said he couldn't hear me - Doh! That's why its being cancelled.

My disappointment with 3 is the promise of an upgrade in the 9th month of this second contract - which didn't materialise and I'm in the eleventh month and still no upgrade offer. And I didn't get it in writing either.

I would like the Tytn II but there is no way they are going to give me that on a loyalty/discount contract. So I'm thinking about going Blackberry with O2. Especially as my wife got a brilliant retention deal with O2.

The OP's that were offered upgrades here, what was the offer, phone & contract price & length?
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Old 23-06-2008, 18:39
Tadpole
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K800i, DirectText 675, £15 per month. Now in Month 15 of an 18 month contract.

I didn't even ask what phones or deals were being offered as I have absolutely no intention of staying with 3, and don't want to renew my contract.

I think I'd be better off buying a season ticket for the Titanic.
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Old 23-06-2008, 21:24
Steven L Hunter
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I wish i could get out of my O2 Contract im fed up with the signal failing all the time I had no problems when i was with T-Mobile and since all my family have moved away from T-Mobile they never get as good a signal some are with 3 others are with Orange and its terrible also it doesnt help that T-Mobile have such good deals now
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Old 23-06-2008, 23:03
CoolboyA
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I'm 12 months into my contract with 3. 100 min and 1000 texts pcm for £20 (K800i free).

I haven't had any problems at all, except my bill is ALWAYS a couple of £s over £20 for some reason. No biggie.

I am thinking on sticking with 3 for when i go to college as they are one of the only networks that gets coverage in the southern end of Skye.
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Old 24-06-2008, 06:26
tn2000
 
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I wish i could get out of my O2 Contract im fed up with the signal failing all the time I had no problems when i was with T-Mobile and since all my family have moved away from T-Mobile they never get as good a signal some are with 3 others are with Orange and its terrible also it doesnt help that T-Mobile have such good deals now
I'll see what 3 offer for retention. My other option is to take out a 30 day rolling contract before committing to 18 month contract. To check service.
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Old 03-07-2008, 23:36
Tadpole
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Well, I got my PAC code tonight, and phoned it int o Orange two hours later. I will be back on Orange PAYG next Monday. So I'm finally free of my 3 contract, two and a half months early.

Orange may have their faults, but they pale into insignificance when compared to 3. I'm so used to avoiding use of the mobile that it will probably take me some time to adjust to actually making calls on it. I've not made a voice call on 3 since Feb because I'm that certain that the network would cut the call off mid-way.

The "you don't want your PAC code now - you'd be stupid not to carry on using it until the end of September" speech was quite persistent. But I guess that's how 3 get business. They gave in finally.

3 even told me the Debit card machine could not take my payment to buy out the contract. But on the 3rd attempt it did work.

It appears to be 3 is the number of times you have to repeat yourself before 3 (the company) actually help you do what you want them to do. Is that customer service?
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Old 04-07-2008, 04:10
tn2000
 
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The "you don't want your PAC code now - you'd be stupid not to carry on using it until the end of September" speech was quite persistent. But I guess that's how 3 get business. They gave in finally.
I recently had the opposite experience. It was like they couldn't get rid of me quick enough!

In one sense it was kind of disappointing. I thought they would have haggled more {like that scene from 'The Life of Brian'}.

They were only too eager to give of my PAC code. I didn't ask for it, they just kept offering it!

In all fairness, the CSR gave me exact & precise details of when and how they would collect the final payment.

The good thing is there are some really good handsets being released in the next few months. i'm not tied to a contract, I can take my time.
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Old 07-07-2008, 13:02
Tadpole
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OK, I am now finally back on Orange.

I feel that a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
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Old 03-06-2009, 19:04
pinkfoot2
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Three recently sent a text to people who have used their phone for roaming abroad, whilst using the 3 network. On the 30th June 2009, they will stop their "3 like Home" service, which is part of your terms and conditions if you signed up after 4th Jan 2007.

I take no credit for this, just wish to pass on the excellent advice I received from another forum. A;ll I will advise is, stick to your guns and be adamant that this is going to be of detriment to you.

"majoringram's Avatar
majoringram
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Opportunity to Cancel Your 3 Mobile Contract! 3 Like Home is Ending

POSTED BY: majoringram 2 weeks, 1 day ago

Apologies if this is a repost:

I got a text today from 3 Mobile stating that the "3 like home" service is being scrapped on the 30th of June. For those who don't know, 3 like home is the service that allows you to use your inclusive minutes/text/data overseas as long as you're connected to a 3 network.
In this text, there's a (free) web link, clicking on it reveals at the bottom:

" Finally because of the 3 Like Home change, it's only fair that we point out your right to end your contract with us, without paying an early cancellation fee. However we very much hope it won't come to that because we still believe we offer great value rates and great coverage. "

Unfortunately for 3, it did come to that. I phoned up 3 (333 on your mobile) and after about 30 mins of refusing £5 account credits, they sent my PAC through.

Reports from MSE say that this may not be possible if you haven't used your phone abroad on a 3 network within the last 12 months.

More info in this thread:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...html?t=1684553

More info on (the late) 3 like home:
http://www.three.co.uk/Help_Support/...me_Pay_Monthly

So i've ended my shocking contract with shocking signal anywhere 8 months early and I get to keep my (lovely) HTC TYTN II

Good Luck!"

And the legal bumf from their contract

"4.1 If you are a Pay Monthly Customer, we will let you know at least one month in advance if we decide to… make any variations to your agreement which are likely to be of detriment to you

10.1(d) You can end the agreement within one month of us telling you about a variation to your agreement (which includes your Price Plan) which is likely to be of detriment to you. You must give written notice to 3 Customer Services within that month and your agreement will finish at the end of that month once we receive your notice. (A Cancellation Fee will not be charged.)"

I have just got out of a terrible contract with 12 months to spare, it tokk 90 minutes or so but am so satisfied!

Basically, tell Three you received a text from them on or around the 20th May, stating that as they have detrimentally changed your terms and conditions, you wish to give 30 days notice, they can't do nowt to stop you! You will have to stand by your guns and be wary of all the "goodwill" they throw at you, stick to your guns and you can get away from the cowboys at three..

Please ask if you need more info

Kev
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Old 03-06-2009, 20:54
kiellliam
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Don't work tried every method this is ridiculous Three state they can change the 3 like home option via removing or adding it when ever they like this is got to be wrong been on the phone for 45mins and the woman does not understand where paper comes from she wanted to send me a paper copy of the contract i signed through email, it may work via fax but i haven't seen it via email unless they got hologram technology
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Old 03-06-2009, 21:02
pinkfoot2
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Don't work tried every method this is ridiculous Three state they can change the 3 like home option via removing or adding it when ever they like this is got to be wrong been on the phone for 45mins and the woman does not understand where paper comes from she wanted to send me a paper copy of the contract i signed through email, it may work via fax but i haven't seen it via email unless they got hologram technology
Kiel...

It will work, you have to stick by your guns and ask them to read their own contract, keep putting the ball back into their court.

THEY have made the statement, THEY have given YOU the ammunition to get out of your contract. It worked for me.

All I would say to them is something like " I have received a text from you stating that the Three like Home service is finishing, this is detrimental to me, I wish to give 30 days notice."

They have no leg to stand on.

Kev
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Old 03-06-2009, 21:40
kiellliam
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Kiel...

It will work, you have to stick by your guns and ask them to read their own contract, keep putting the ball back into their court.

THEY have made the statement, THEY have given YOU the ammunition to get out of your contract. It worked for me.

All I would say to them is something like " I have received a text from you stating that the Three like Home service is finishing, this is detrimental to me, I wish to give 30 days notice."

They have no leg to stand on.

Kev

Got back to them again stating what you have said, by the way thank-you for the information they said to contact them at 8am -8pm to sort the problem out.

Did you cancel because the poor reception as-well or poor customer service?

If you want to know how bad the signal is on Three here imagine living in between 2 orange phone masts and 3 Three masts an still getting a fluctuating signal that goes off from time to time, thank god Orange mast here in case i need to call someone in a emergency
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Old 03-06-2009, 22:05
Roz
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Having experienced the bug-fest that is the N95 last year, i'll stick to my iPhone thanks!
Me too! I hate my Nokia N95!! I can finally upgrade in two weeks, and i'm going back to Sony Ericsson, but staying with 3 as I've never had any problems with them as a service.
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Old 03-06-2009, 22:21
something else
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I had few but some issues when i had my nokia 6210 with three and my mrs had no problem either. THen she lost hers so got a cheap skype phone and had awful trouble. When i renewed i got a viewty and had so much trouble with call drops it was ridiculous, my mrs has the e71 and gets it sometimes but far less than i do so is staying.

I have left them as i was fed up with the call drop so when the 3 like home issue came up I left, it is something i am annoyed about as i work in italy sometimes, but the main reason was the piss poor service. I will actually have to pay a higher tariff now, but it will be worth it to be rid of the issues

plus the internet is piss poor on it
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Old 03-06-2009, 22:29
pinkfoot2
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Kiel..

If you're near an Orange cell site, I should think that you will get coverage, from what I'm led to believe, Three "Piggyback" as a secondary user on orange cell sites...

Don't use the "I'm cancelling because my phone is pants line" Just use the " Three sent me a text stating that 3 like home is finishing in June, I am going to Australia/Denmark/Austria/Ireland (or whichever other country listed in their links) and you removing this service is a detriment to my contract, therefore I am giving you 30 days notice of termination as per clause 4.1 and 10.1(d) in the contract delivered to me by three." line. Stick to this, don't give any other reasons, be adamant that this is why you want to end the contract. They have sent the text out stating that you can cancel the contract, I quote, "Finally because of the 3 Like Home change, it's only fair that we point out your right to end your contract with us, without paying an early cancellation fee. However we very much hope it won't come to that because we still believe we offer great value rates and great coverage."

Use that and they cant get away from it, just say that was in the link you clicked on the text they sent. Keep insisting you want your PAC code to take your number to another airtime supplier... Don't give up, be polite but firm, they have shot themselves in the foot massively.

Best wishes

Kev
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Old 04-06-2009, 19:38
CoolboyA
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Wait: I was meant to get my calls and texts included in my allowance last month in Italy at a reduced rate? They robbed me of over £5 then! Thieving so and sos! 25p for a text, 34p a call and 17p to receive one (each min.)

This is it... 3 have just kicked themselves in the teeth for the last time! I've been waiting to get out of their awful contracts for months and now i might just have the way to do so.

As i am abroad in other "3" countries a lot can i use the same excuse, regarding "3 like home"? I joined 3 in 2008 and i am on my second, problematic, contract with them.

Please help me out!
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Old 04-06-2009, 20:15
jake19801957
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im happy with 3 just signed up for another 18 months never had any problem . now got the nokia e71 200 min calls free 3 to 3 unlimit texts free skpe calls free broadband £20 a month a bargain
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