I have been looking at a newspaper with the offer of

1) Free Phone- Nokia 3120

2)Unlimited Internet

3)500 mins/texts

4)WII Console

for £23 a month, 18 month contract.

Are 3 anygood and are there any catches? Is this a good offer?

http://threestore.three.co.uk/dealsu...ode=18M500D101

PS

I am clueless about mobile phones.

just ditched my 3 phone as i couldnt get a signal at work no calls no texts but could get internet access

just make sure you check the coverage first

3 Customer service is rubbish, and as they only use 3G signals, there are huge gaps in coverage.

3 Customer service is rubbish, and as they only use 3G signals, there are huge gaps in coverage.

Not strictly true.

When '3' can't provide a 3G signal the handset will roam onto an Orange network for all 2g (calls and texts) services. The roaming on Orange won't cost you anything extra, its part of the 3 service, but many don't know about it.

I use 3 and the offers are VERY good, but it is let down by areas of poor signal and i will be moving back to o2 when my contract is up. Just use the area checker online before you commit to a contract.

4 yrs with 3 now, no probs, Indian call centre and you do have to listen carefully, but still all good imo.

I get 500 mins 100 txt and a free SE K770i for £16pm 18 mth contract, it should be £30 but I get £14 loyalty discount, and tbh I just cannot better it no matter how hard I look.

I've had nothing but trouble with 3. Some days I have nearly full signal at work then the next day I may get no signal at all. Plus I can't get a signal at home. The customer call centre are no help at all.

I signed up on a cheap deal but I can't wait for it to finish now...

Not strictly true.

When '3' can't provide a 3G signal the handset will roam onto an Orange network for all 2g (calls and texts) services. The roaming on Orange won't cost you anything extra, its part of the 3 service, but many don't know about it.

This is true, for normal 2/2.5g service you should all have cover as good as Orange.

I've had nothing but trouble with 3. Some days I have nearly full signal at work then the next day I may get no signal at all. Plus I can't get a signal at home. The customer call centre are no help at all.

I signed up on a cheap deal but I can't wait for it to finish now...

Have you tried a different handset?

I had a 3 phone a few years back, had nothing but problems with it, and like others, found their customer service dept worse than useless.

Never again, no matter how cheap..:thumbdwn:

They did have issues with the LG range a few years ago, as for signal, there are area's it goes dead for a few miles, but where I use it 99% of the time it's fine, I'd try another handset if I was you rob, you never know that could just be the problem as it's fine one day and not the next.

This is true, for normal 2/2.5g service you should all have cover as good as Orange.

The problem I found with them was that if you are in an area with intermittent 3G coverage your calls are constantly dropped as the handset switches between 2G and 3G.

3's 3G service was pretty good in the cities and 2G not bad in the country but a real PITA in between, which just so happened was where I worked.:thumbdwn:

Edited 2 February, 200917 yr by Aspman

Have you tried a different handset?

I'm on my third handset now and I've had the same problem with all of them:(.

I've actually bought an O2 pay and go sim card which I'm using alongside my contract phone so I can contact/be contacted when I'm having problems...

This is true, for normal 2/2.5g service you should all have cover as good as Orange.

Orange have removed or repositioned a lot of their estate, and some areas as shared with t-mob now to cut costs.

One of the reasons I left was Orange service was becoming pretty bad. Where I am now thy pulled the 2 masts, and shared with T-mob meaning 0-1 bar of signal. Hence dumping them for T-mob where, funnily enough, I get full signal

I think 3 is very good value and shouldn't be ignored, but the issue of the network hop from Orange to 3 has been an issue for me, and will be the deciding factor in my move back to O2.

If you are in an area with good 3G signal then this shouldn't be an issue.

I think 3 is very good value and shouldn't be ignored, but the issue of the network hop from Orange to 3 has been an issue for me, and will be the deciding factor in my move back to O2.

If you are in an area with good 3G signal then this shouldn't be an issue.

To be fair I think you are right. They do have some very good deals and I don't tend to have any issues when I've been in a city.

However living (and working) in the country means my signal is less than perfect and I have been disappointed with the level of customer service so I'm always negative about 3...:(

TBH 99% all comes down to where you live and work, if you can get a good coverage there then providing you actually need what they are offering in terms of free minutes / texts / internet then it is a decent offer.

But before you decide try and find someone with a 3 contract and check what the service is like where you need it.

I was with orange for over 10 years trouble free, but then the nearest transmitter to my home went down, they failed to repair it despite knowing about it for over 18 months (i believe it is still down another 2 years on) so me and my wife both moved to Vodafone, who have the best coverage where i live.

Another thing i have noticed with 3 which is pushing me to move when my contract is up...

I get far too many SPAM texts and premuim rate texts from services i have never subscribed to, and i have not been able to stop them by replying with 'STOP' etc.

I have been in touch with 3 about this, and they are fobbing me off and claiming they can do nothing about it and won't help or refund me any money.

So a new number and new contract is on the cards in the next few months.

Thanks for the replies. I think I will give the offer a miss.