Just had to call Orange regarding a mobile phone fault. Both people were English which was quite nice. But, no solution for the fault.

Fault is the handset is dropping network connection on regular occasion, only way to remedy is to switch off and back on again. I wanted to know how to fix it.

First person who answered the phone said oooh, sounds technical, I'll transfer you. Eh? :confused:

Second person had got an incorrect message from the first person. The usual questions such as where did it happen (Crawley, East Grinstead and Lymington), after any actions (yes, picking the handset up) and any external damage (none, yet). The technical knowledge of Orange comes back and says......its a broken handset. Its a known issue with Orange software and the N70. Ok says I, where do I send it off for repair, you can't she says to me, you are out of warranty. :eek:

But! The saviour is here, we can upgrade your handset she says, to a working one you mean I reply, yes we have lots says the commision hungry young lady. Ok, says I, how about a Nokia N95 8GB? We don't do them yet the chirpy bird responds, but I can do a normal N95 for £249.99 upgrade for you, with £25 off if you go through me. I'm struggling to speak as the thought of paying for a mobile phone is looming large at me, no I reply, I will go to Vodafone and get a 8GB version. It is a nice phone says the lady, but please buy from us, we love you. Not enough to give me a free phone and a reliable service I reply.

So, I will rush to Vodafone, acquire a Nokia N95 8GB, play with all the funky features and then ask Col how it all works

It's a sad but all to common scenario and it's not just Orange either - Vodafone are more than capable of pi$$ing you off I can assure you.

Did you pay for handset ?

Sales of goods act protects you for 5 years IIRC

We had a similar thing with Orange last year when it came to upgrading both our phones.

Orange wouldn't entertain giving us an N73 each either for free or upto £50. We ended up going to Vodafone and getting them for £30 each i think and on a better tarif. To be honest i'm half expecting to hop back over to Orange again next month come upgrade time with vodafone etc..... so we'll see what happens when it comes to asking for an N95.

Although looking at a mates N95 8gb it doesn't even have a lens cover for the camera!!!!! And they've stopped supplying the older version so i'm led to believe!!!

Cheers

Dave.

The trick with these companies is to ring up to cancel the contract once you know what a new contract will cost. Then just tell them you will leave unless they can do you a good deal, often they will, as the people who cancel contracts have more power to do deals than anyone else.

Often they will also match the deal a new customer would get with them.

I managed to swing some pretty good deals for my mum and sister a couple of years ago this way.

I had a similar issue with orange and my SPV3100 (Htc TyTn) and one short term fix was to disable the 3G network and just run at 2.5G. I am running in this mode still as not only does it keep the connections longer (it doesn’t trip up when switching between the two in low signal strength areas) but my battery last a lot longer too. It does mean downloads are a little slower, but to be honest I’m never aware of this, as my only way of knowing that I have a downloaded e-mail, is by a little chirrup on completion.

I know all mobile companies are useless, but Orange have fallen badly, which is a shame.

I didn't pay for the handset, though I'm likely to have to pay to get it removed, its that bad.

I offered to stay if they gave me a decent phone at a good price, but I think they want me to leave, stupidly high prices for other handsets.

Amanda, the N70's 3G doesn't even work at all! I've never used it. The handset really is that bad.

I'm going for Vodafone, 12 month contract with one of those N95 8GB thingys, 350 minutes and 250 texts, plus unlimited mobile internet for £25 a month. Seems good enough for me.

I'm going for Vodafone, 12 month contract with one of those N95 8GB thingys, 350 minutes and 250 texts, plus unlimited mobile internet for £25 a month. Seems good enough for me.

You got any more details about that contract?

You got any more details about that contract?

Not much more than what the manageress scribbled down for me and stapled it to the front of the latest catalogue thingy of theirs. It may be available instore only, not too sure.

Either that or the manageress likes me

Not much more than what the manageress scribbled down for me and stapled it to the front of the latest catalogue thingy of theirs. It may be available instore only, not too sure.

Either that or the manageress likes me

Seems very cheap, especially for the 8GB.

Let us know how you get on.

With my luck, my local manager(ess) will be a big burly bloke who'll take a shine to me

Well my local manageress isn't exactly a looker! I know I'm not but I do have some standards to maintain.

Just requested my PAC code from Orange, which they will send to me via post, which will take upto 3 days.

I did call them twice, first time they quoted me £57.02 to end the contract, the second time just £2.02.

Then I have to call the broadband separate to cancel, they advise me not to cancel, as I have free broadband from them until August 2008. Yet they won't get a penny from me. Free broadband!!!

How stupid are they?