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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Cell Phones in Great Britain > September 2006 > Orange upgrades (have they lost the plot?)
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Orange upgrades (have they lost the plot?)
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| It's upgrade time for me on Orange, and to be honest, I think I've had
enough of them. Not only does it take AGES to get through to their call
centre these days, they're also sneakily putting up prices across all
sorts of areas.
I was looking at an upgrade to the SE K800i. They offered the handset
for =A350 plus =A335pm for 750 x-net minutes (and no texts). O2 does the
handset for free with 750 x-net mins and 750 monthly texts for =A335.
Both are 12-month contracts. However, if I went for an 18-month
contract with Orange, I'd get the phone for =A34.99 and 500 monthly
texts which is really worth the extra =A3200 for the additional six
months (not).
Anyway, given that Orange has lost the plot ('animal' tariffs are a
prime example) and that their coverage seems worse than o2, I'm going
to take my business to o2. Rant over!
Is the general consensus that Orange has lost it? Am I wise going to
O2? I know they don't even butcher the handset software.
Thanks,
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> I was looking at an upgrade to the SE K800i. They offered the handset
> for =A350 plus =A335pm for 750 x-net minutes (and no texts). O2 does the
> handset for free with 750 x-net mins and 750 monthly texts for =A335.
> Both are 12-month contracts. However, if I went for an 18-month
> contract with Orange, I'd get the phone for =A34.99 and 500 monthly
> texts which is really worth the extra =A3200 for the additional six
> months (not).
>
> Anyway, given that Orange has lost the plot ('animal' tariffs are a
> prime example) and that their coverage seems worse than o2, I'm going
> to take my business to o2. Rant over!
>
> Is the general consensus that Orange has lost it? Am I wise going to
> O2? I know they don't even butcher the handset software.
First off, did you try Customer Services (normal 150) or Customer
Retentions (0800 number that's on here somewhere)? The latter has much
more leeway to offer you things that the former can't.
Second off you mention that it takes ages for Orange to answer the
phones. Presumably you like someone answering the phone, right? In
which case, O2 is a non-starter. Their CS number is a premium rate
number, and they generally refer you to the website (if you can get
through).
Personally I wouldn't touch O2 with a very long poking stick, but each
to their own.
Nick
| |
| Gerry \(The MOTH\) 2006-09-05, 10:33 am |
| www.saynoto0870.com usually has the alternative )2 CS numbers, I've never
rang the 0905 numbers.
"NickD" <nickdrew90@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1157457968.423678.202250@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> I was looking at an upgrade to the SE K800i. They offered the handset
> for £50 plus £35pm for 750 x-net minutes (and no texts). O2 does the
> handset for free with 750 x-net mins and 750 monthly texts for £35.
> Both are 12-month contracts. However, if I went for an 18-month
> contract with Orange, I'd get the phone for £4.99 and 500 monthly
> texts which is really worth the extra £200 for the additional six
> months (not).
>
> Anyway, given that Orange has lost the plot ('animal' tariffs are a
> prime example) and that their coverage seems worse than o2, I'm going
> to take my business to o2. Rant over!
>
> Is the general consensus that Orange has lost it? Am I wise going to
> O2? I know they don't even butcher the handset software.
First off, did you try Customer Services (normal 150) or Customer
Retentions (0800 number that's on here somewhere)? The latter has much
more leeway to offer you things that the former can't.
Second off you mention that it takes ages for Orange to answer the
phones. Presumably you like someone answering the phone, right? In
which case, O2 is a non-starter. Their CS number is a premium rate
number, and they generally refer you to the website (if you can get
through).
Personally I wouldn't touch O2 with a very long poking stick, but each
to their own.
Nick
| |
| Simon Finnigan 2006-09-05, 10:33 am |
| NickD wrote:
>
> First off, did you try Customer Services (normal 150) or Customer
> Retentions (0800 number that's on here somewhere)? The latter has much
> more leeway to offer you things that the former can't.
> Second off you mention that it takes ages for Orange to answer the
> phones. Presumably you like someone answering the phone, right? In
> which case, O2 is a non-starter. Their CS number is a premium rate
> number, and they generally refer you to the website (if you can get
> through).
>
> Personally I wouldn't touch O2 with a very long poking stick, but each
> to their own.
I use the phone number from the website, 0870, and have always gotten
straight through to someone who`s been able to solve the problem.
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Gerry (The MOTH) (TheMOTH) wrote:
> www.saynoto0870.com usually has the alternative )2 CS numbers, I've never
> rang the 0905 numbers.
>
> "NickD" <nickdrew90@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1157457968.423678.202250@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> First off, did you try Customer Services (normal 150) or Customer
> Retentions (0800 number that's on here somewhere)? The latter has much
> more leeway to offer you things that the former can't.
> Second off you mention that it takes ages for Orange to answer the
> phones. Presumably you like someone answering the phone, right? In
> which case, O2 is a non-starter. Their CS number is a premium rate
> number, and they generally refer you to the website (if you can get
> through).
>
> Personally I wouldn't touch O2 with a very long poking stick, but each
> to their own.
>
> Nick
I called OCR, I always do come upgrade time as I know they have the
best deals. I'm already on their 'Select 500' tariff and this was
'Select 750' which was a lot less competitive month-on-month, even with
it being a longer contract, than o2.
I've heard o2 CS isn't amazing either. That's OK, but having used o2
with work now, their coverage appears to be so much better when
travelling. That, and the fact they're a lot cheaper for shorter
contracts and the phones have original software, has swung it for me.
And I remember reading that Orange is haemorraging contract customers
at the moment.
| |
| Benedict Addis 2006-09-05, 12:33 pm |
| > > I was looking at an upgrade to the SE K800i. They offered the handset
> First off, did you try Customer Services (normal 150) or Customer
> Retentions (0800 number that's on here somewhere)? The latter has much
> more leeway to offer you things that the former can't.
> Second off you mention that it takes ages for Orange to answer the
> phones. Presumably you like someone answering the phone, right? In
> which case, O2 is a non-starter. Their CS number is a premium rate
> number, and they generally refer you to the website (if you can get
> through).
>
> Personally I wouldn't touch O2 with a very long poking stick, but each
> to their own.
I called OCR, I always do come upgrade time as I know they have the
best deals. I'm already on their 'Select 500' tariff and this was
'Select 750' which was a lot less competitive month-on-month, even with
it being a longer contract, than o2.
I've heard o2 CS isn't amazing either. That's OK, but having used o2
with work now, their coverage appears to be so much better when
travelling. That, and the fact they're a lot cheaper for shorter
contracts and the phones have original software, has swung it for me.
And I remember reading that Orange is haemorraging contract customers
at the moment.
----------
Try calling OCR again and asking for Talk & Text 900.
For a friend I recently got Talk & Text 900 at £40 per month (and it's half
price for the first six months) with 750 minutes and 150 texts, plus 500
bonus texts per month on an 18 month contract. This works out to £33 per
month across 18 months - cheaper than Select 750.
Plus a free phone of her choice and free care for 12 months, although
admittedly her call spend was £120+ pm.
Benedict.
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| purple pete 2006-09-05, 10:33 pm |
|
I was looking at an upgrade to the SE K800i. They offered the handset
for £50 plus £35pm for 750 x-net minutes (and no texts). O2 does the
handset for free with 750 x-net mins and 750 monthly texts for £35.
Both are 12-month contracts. However, if I went for an 18-month
contract with Orange, I'd get the phone for £4.99 and 500 monthly
texts which is really worth the extra £200 for the additional six
months (not).
I took this tarrif in June when it was last on offer as I was also getting
fed up with the price hikes. Was on Select 750 with No texts for £35pm
Now its 750 T&T which suits me fine.
Some things that you may not be aware
The O2 contract is for 18 Months
The upgrade process *seems* to be much less flexible than Orange's - ie you
DO have to wait til month 17 before you can upgrade (unlike Orange, pay the
upgrade fee and handset price, even after 6 months) Even the CS reps
confirmed this. No real flexibility.
The K800i is a great phone but have noticed recently more and more how the
phone cover is sliding to the open postion when in the pocket ;( This is
not terrible as the cam deactivates if no pic/video is taken but its still a
pain.
So far Customer services on the phone have been fine with the right answers
and not too long a wait on the phone to connect. Signal has been slightly
better than Orange but not by much.
Things I miss being on O2 compared to Orange.
When listening to voicemail you cannot dial the person who left the message
by pressing hash key - Unless someone knows a way.
O2 do not tell you the time message was left unless you press 8 when message
is playing.
Delivery reports are not normal on O2 - you have to type *0# at the
beginning of each text if you want a DR ;-( Simply add it to your words
and then its just a matter of pressing "101" at the start of each message or
even create a template.
Not terrible things but it of a PITA
Just my thoughts, as a recent convert to O2 from Orange (9 years now)
HTH
| |
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| On Wed, 6 Sep 2006 00:34:47 +0100, "purple pete"
<dmrt46@claRANOSPAM.CO.UK> wrote:
>When listening to voicemail you cannot dial the person who left the message
>by pressing hash key - Unless someone knows a way.
Press 5 at the end of the message, then you have to mess about with *
and # to set caller id.
>Just my thoughts, as a recent convert to O2 from Orange (9 years now)
I agree with your comments as another ex-orange (10 year), now o2
customer.
Sam.
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|
Sam wrote:
> On Wed, 6 Sep 2006 00:34:47 +0100, "purple pete"
> <dmrt46@claRANOSPAM.CO.UK> wrote:
>
>
> Press 5 at the end of the message, then you have to mess about with *
> and # to set caller id.
>
>
> I agree with your comments as another ex-orange (10 year), now o2
> customer.
>
> Sam.
Wow, a lot of ex long-standing Orange customers on here. I have been
with Orange for the last six years and I wouldn't have even considered
another network until the last year or so. It feels like they're
gradually milking me for more cash, in a sneaky way, whilst service
levels are poorer. It takes a lot to lose loyal customers and I think
they are showing themselves to be the new masters of this art.
| |
| Alan J Robertson 2006-09-07, 3:33 pm |
| Mark wrote:
> It's upgrade time for me on Orange, and to be honest, I think I've had
> enough of them. Not only does it take AGES to get through to their call
> centre these days, they're also sneakily putting up prices across all
> sorts of areas.
>
> I was looking at an upgrade to the SE K800i. They offered the handset
> for £50 plus £35pm for 750 x-net minutes (and no texts). O2 does the
> handset for free with 750 x-net mins and 750 monthly texts for £35.
> Both are 12-month contracts. However, if I went for an 18-month
> contract with Orange, I'd get the phone for £4.99 and 500 monthly
> texts which is really worth the extra £200 for the additional six
> months (not).
>
> Anyway, given that Orange has lost the plot ('animal' tariffs are a
> prime example) and that their coverage seems worse than o2, I'm going
> to take my business to o2. Rant over!
>
> Is the general consensus that Orange has lost it? Am I wise going to
> O2? I know they don't even butcher the handset software.
>
> Thanks,
>
I've just swapped from Orange to O2 to get a K800i at a decent price
too! Even better - go to OSPS and get a clearance deal and you'll get 6
months of free line rental chucked in!
It's certainly nice having a non-butchered handset and getting inclusive
0870/0845 calls :)
The only downsides I've noticed - data more expensive than Orange (£9 or
so for 4Mb compared to £4 on Orange), the annoyance of service provider
being separate from network (although given Orange's declining CS this
perhaps is less of an issue - also not an issue if you go direct to O2
but you won't get such a good deal!).
Alan
| |
| glenn 2006-09-09, 10:33 am |
| I was an Orange customer for 7 years. With the loss of Wildfire and the
charging for 0800 numbers along with there new naff tariffs I have finally
moved.
I have gone to Vodafone who seem excellent to be honest and there replies to
emails is around 2-4 hours unlike Oranges 4-5 days. The only downside I
would say is that you can't just dial 150 and get you outstanding minutes,
with voda you get a text which is 72 hours behind.
Glenn
"Alan J Robertson" <ajr@nnnnooooosppaam.alanjrobertson.taanyway.co.uk> wrote
in message news:V5ednV__f-qi6J3YRVny3w@pipex.net...
> Mark wrote:
> I've just swapped from Orange to O2 to get a K800i at a decent price too!
> Even better - go to OSPS and get a clearance deal and you'll get 6 months
> of free line rental chucked in!
>
> It's certainly nice having a non-butchered handset and getting inclusive
> 0870/0845 calls :)
>
> The only downsides I've noticed - data more expensive than Orange (£9 or
> so for 4Mb compared to £4 on Orange), the annoyance of service provider
> being separate from network (although given Orange's declining CS this
> perhaps is less of an issue - also not an issue if you go direct to O2 but
> you won't get such a good deal!).
>
> Alan
| |
| Paul Duncan 2006-09-16, 10:33 pm |
| glenn wrote:
> I was an Orange customer for 7 years. With the loss of Wildfire and the
> charging for 0800 numbers along with there new naff tariffs I have finally
> moved.
Ah, thats interesting. Where can I get a tariff with free 0800?
Paul
~~~~~
| |
| Ivor Jones 2006-09-16, 10:33 pm |
| "Paul Duncan" <paul@chaos-nospan-hovel.demon.co.uk> wrote
in message news:0g6ut3-215.ln1@Concorde. HovelNet
> glenn wrote:
>
> Ah, thats interesting. Where can I get a tariff with free
> 0800?
Nowhere, unless you're a very high spend Orange customer with a large
number (50+ IIRC) of handsets.
Ivor
| |
|
| paul@chaos-nospan-hovel.demon.co.uk declared for all the world to
hear...
> glenn wrote:
>
> Ah, thats interesting. Where can I get a tariff with free 0800?
Become a business customer.
--
Regards
Jon
| |
|
| ivor@despammed.invalid declared for all the world to hear...
> Nowhere, unless you're a very high spend Orange customer with a large
> number (50+ IIRC) of handsets.
Small business qualify for free 0800.
--
Regards
Jon
| |
| Oldie 2006-09-17, 10:33 am |
| Jon wrote:
> Small business qualify for free 0800.
That's interesting. I have an Orange business account, yet I assumed
that I don't get free 0800. Should I just try it or do I have to ask
for it to be invoked? (I got Everyphone without asking).
Oldie
| |
|
| realoldie@googlemail
.com declared for all the world to hear...
> Jon wrote:
>
>
> That's interesting. I have an Orange business account, yet I assumed
> that I don't get free 0800. Should I just try it or do I have to ask
> for it to be invoked? (I got Everyphone without asking).
No harm in asking. 345 is the number you need, although you may enjoy
better success during normal business hours.
--
Regards
Jon
| |
|
| Jon wrote:
> realoldie@googlemail
.com declared for all the world to hear...
>
> No harm in asking. 345 is the number you need, although you may enjoy
> better success during normal business hours.
I've just tried to call 345, but the wait in the queue is too long. I'm
out of the country tomorrow so I'll try on Tuesday.
Oldie
| |
|
| "Oldie" < realoldie@googlemail
.com> wrote in message
news:1158498495.573082.237200@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> That's interesting. I have an Orange business account, yet I assumed
> that I don't get free 0800. Should I just try it or do I have to ask
> for it to be invoked?
Shh .... just use it, then check your bill ;-)
If they find out, they may 'simplify' it! ;-))
| |
|
| "Jon" <spam@jonparker.plus.com> wrote in message
news:MPG. 1f7736fb1377f89898a3
8e@text.usenet.plus.net...
> Small business qualify for free 0800.
Interestingly we have 5 phones on a 'small business' a/c
Mine is on 'select500' and I *do* get free 0800
The other 4 are on OVP Virgin and they don't.
Is it worth me complaining??
--
J B
| |
|
| jb@privacy.net declared for all the world to hear...
> Interestingly we have 5 phones on a 'small business' a/c
> Mine is on 'select500' and I *do* get free 0800
> The other 4 are on OVP Virgin and they don't.
>
> Is it worth me complaining??
If 0800 calls are free for real Virgin users then you might have a case.
As it stands, no.
--
Regards
Jon
| |
|
| "Jon" <spam@jonparker.plus.com> wrote in message
news:MPG. 1f78302fcd81ee5298a3
94@text.usenet.plus.net...
> jb@privacy.net declared for all the world to hear...
>
> If 0800 calls are free for real Virgin users then you might have a case.
> As it stands, no.
Best keep 'stchum' then!
--
J B
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| Oldie 2006-09-18, 10:33 pm |
| J B wrote:
(snipped)
>
> Shh .... just use it, then check your bill ;-)
>
> If they find out, they may 'simplify' it! ;-))
Well, I managed to call 345 this morning. They checked all my numbers
and told me that none qualified for free 0800 because not one of them
is actually on a business tariff, although I have a business account.
I guess that makes sense (unless Jon knows anything different). Maybe
I'll try a test call from each line and see what happens at the billing
stage.
Oldie
| |
|
| realoldie@googlemail
.com declared for all the world to hear...
> J B wrote:
>
> (snipped)
>
> Well, I managed to call 345 this morning. They checked all my numbers
> and told me that none qualified for free 0800 because not one of them
> is actually on a business tariff, although I have a business account.
>
> I guess that makes sense (unless Jon knows anything different). Maybe
> I'll try a test call from each line and see what happens at the billing
> stage.
No, it does make sense. Well it does to me. What tarrifs are you on? You
have to be on Business Plus I think.
--
Regards
Jon
| |
| Oldie 2006-09-21, 12:33 pm |
| Jon wrote:
(older quotes snipped)
> No, it does make sense. Well it does to me. What tarrifs are you on? You
> have to be on Business Plus I think.
OVP Virgin (x 4) and Everyday 50. Probably not Orange's favourites, but
I do have a Business account!
Oldie
| |
| Jon Pitts 2006-09-22, 7:33 am |
|
"Oldie" < realoldie@googlemail
.com> wrote in message
news:1158854041.557010.317530@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Jon wrote:
>
> (older quotes snipped)
>
>
> OVP Virgin (x 4) and Everyday 50. Probably not Orange's favourites, but
> I do have a Business account!
>
Out of interest, I'm presuming your business account status comes about by
having a "trading name" or somesuch? I only ask because a while ago when I
was on a domestic account with the first "Orange Business" tariffs I had a
bit of confusion with CS at one point over whether I was entitled to
register as a "business" user or not. It became academic in the end and I
didn't pursue it.
Regards
Jon.
--
Jon Pitts
Email: jon@pitts50.co.uk Attachments: files@pitts50.co.uk
| |
|
| Jon Pitts wrote:
(snipped)
> Out of interest, I'm presuming your business account status comes about by
> having a "trading name" or somesuch? I only ask because a while ago when I
> was on a domestic account with the first "Orange Business" tariffs I had a
> bit of confusion with CS at one point over whether I was entitled to
> register as a "business" user or not. It became academic in the end and I
> didn't pursue it.
That's right. I used to run a small business and paid Orange quite a
bit in roaming charges. Because I was overseas so much there was hardly
any point in having a tariff with UK minutes, hence the OVP Virgin. I
had other people on the books, so they had the ED50 and the other OVPs.
Now that I'm semi-retired there's been no need to change.
Oldie
| |
| Jon Pitts 2006-09-26, 10:33 am |
|
"Oldie" < realoldie@googlemail
.com> wrote in message
news:1158951753.254160.233650@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Jon Pitts wrote:
>
> (snipped)
>
by[color=darkred]
I[color=darkred]
a[color=darkred]
I[color=darkred]
>
> That's right. I used to run a small business and paid Orange quite a
> bit in roaming charges. Because I was overseas so much there was hardly
> any point in having a tariff with UK minutes, hence the OVP Virgin. I
> had other people on the books, so they had the ED50 and the other OVPs.
>
>
Fair enough, and thanks for clarifying the business account status thing. I
guess this the market that the new "monetary allowance" business tariffs are
aimed at, where the bundle can then be used against roaming calls and all
sorts.
Cheers
Jon.
--
Jon Pitts
Email: jon@pitts50.co.uk Attachments: files@pitts50.co.uk
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