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			Questions, Questions - Corrosive Shame — LiveJournal Therapy for Life




			11:07 am January 20th, 2004

kneeshooter


	Questions, Questions
	How much is a mobile number worth? My last 12 month contract is up, so I can change provider etc, or otherwise pressure my current provider into giving me a new shiny phone. In the spirit of Ticky Box - a Poll. There are four choices: Same Provider, same number, same handset + Same number, no hassle - Wrong tariff, expensive calls, no incentive, phone misbehaves after being buried overnight in beach at Whitby Same provider, same number + Same number - Handset expensive (full price) Same provider, new number + New phone for £30, nice tarrif - New number, hassle of change, keep me on hold for ever Change provider, same number + New phone, same number - £30 punitive charge, marginally more expensive package (£1.50 over my existing provider's "new offer" but includes £2 of data). Change provider, new number + New phone free, nice tarrif - New number, hassle of change I know that I'm change averse, but how about the rest of the LJ massive? Poll #235782 Mobile Phone Hell Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All. Participants: 15 What should I do about my phone? View Answers Same Provider, same number, same handset 0(0.0%) Same provider, same number, new handset 1(6.7%) Same provider, new number, new handset 1(6.7%) Change provider, same number, new handset 7(46.7%) Change provider, new number, new handset 6(40.0%)

21 lies or Lie to me


	Comments




			Comment by Admiral Lord Coelacanth, First Sea Lord

	From: caddyman	Date: January 20th, 2004 03:19 am (UTC)		(Link)

I shan't vote. My advice is meaningless; where mobiles are concerned I'm a tech-slag and they have to be shiny and multifunctional even iof I don't use those functions.

I think I need help more than you... ;-)

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			Comment by imp

From: ikkleblacktruck	Date: January 20th, 2004 03:26 am (UTC)		(Link)

I think same number is important unless you've had hassle with it, but all the rest depend on what you want out of it. Given

sixtine's reports on 3's behaviour, I wouldn't go with them!

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(Deleted comment)

	From: kneeshooter	Date: January 20th, 2004 03:43 am (UTC)		(Link)

£20 from the old lot, £10 from the new. I'm not worried about what I see as £10 for a new handset - but the £20 left me gobsmacked.

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			Thread started by Flannel

	From: load_of_flannel	Date: January 20th, 2004 04:00 am (UTC)		(Link)

Simple.

Contact old provider...

Say as follows.

Id like a new contract I want a new phone and Id like to retain the same number.

Wait for the price quote.....

Say...
Dont be ridiculous I used to work in Telesales, do you want to play this silly game or can we start by you quoting me the full discounted price you can dop or will you call your manager.

Wait....

Say nothing....

Sigh meaningfully.

Say Id like to talk to your line manager.

Do not let the Line manager speak.
Say Look I used to do this job and im perfectly aware what you can do now give me a new handset and contract and retain my number for me and Ill stay with you. My family use the same service and we'll dump thiose contracts to. Furthermore I will quote your name when I cancel and cite your service as the reason for cancellation.

They can wave the charges and will just keep asking for the next person in the chain and dont listen to them speaking crap!

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: kneeshooter	Date: January 20th, 2004 04:09 am (UTC)		(Link)

Do you fancy doing it for me? ;-)

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

	From: load_of_flannel	Date: January 20th, 2004 05:25 am (UTC)		(Link)

This is of course my opinion based on my experience.

Ill give it a go for you, however they usually refuse anyone but the account holder rights of talking to them.

Of course pretending im you would rely on us being in geographically the same location.

On arguing points on your side remember that keeping the same number doesnt really cost the firm anything, cos its already in use by you. If you wants it with a different company they can sell it on. (hence the charges)

Could try a new company and say you'll go with them if they cover the transfer charge for the number and not otherwise.

Bear in mind that this is a buyers market... too many mobiles out there not enough customers so they are all competing. T-mobile kept quoting me bigger contracts than their website offered with the n-gage for free. I mentioned it was on the web and they said they had to go and talk to their manager, came back adn said their was a website mistake and theyd do me a 'special'. This was a lie as they did the same to Ciaran the next day and I had to go through it again when i eventually got the contract.

Its just marketing bollocks frankly.

Also always mention youve got a slightly better deal from the other providers if you go with them...

Also always ask for their name as it will scare them a bit.

so phone say Nokia and say " T-mobile offered to waive the transfer number charges if I went with them butI think I may prefer your contract, if you waive the transfer charge Ill go with you for twelve months. " They have no way of checking as you claim it was a manager offer.

They will probably claim they cant offer such a thing so ask for their manager who can.

Any time they start doing salesy crap at you, just stop them say your aware of the contract details and its cost and benefits and just ask what they can offer you that will make you go with them instead of another company.

Oh and for ultimate chekkiness when you get them to agree just before you give them card details (cos now they think theyve got a sale) say "oh do you throw in (insert number) extra texts with the first month because (blah blah blah) said they do" - but best to leave it then if they say no.

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			Thread started by rebby

	From: rebby	Date: January 20th, 2004 04:29 am (UTC)		(Link)

If your moving from one supply to another by law they have to allow you the option of moving your number so I'd double check the charges.

Other thing to think about is coverage in your area.

New hansets are fun as they have funny buttons to press :-)

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	From: kneeshooter	Date: January 20th, 2004 04:36 am (UTC)		(Link)

They're not stopping me - just charging "administration fees". Bah!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

	From: kathbad	Date: January 20th, 2004 08:02 am (UTC)		(Link)

I do not know who you are with, but I have found with my provider that if I want to change my handset after 1 year then they will do this at a VERY reduced rate (if not for free)

Most places seem to do something similar (or if you went in and said "Well, Orange would let me change the handset for free" then people seem to be more likely to help you with this)

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			Comment by Jo Violet

	From: ant_girl	Date: January 20th, 2004 04:30 am (UTC)		(Link)

or otherwise pressure my current provider into giving me a new shiny phone

Why would you have to pressurise them? Surely if your year's contract is up, you're entitled to a new phone on upgrade? That's how it works on Orange anyway -- my new phone was completely free. I even got £20 trade-in for the old one despite the fact that it was completely buggered (and yes, I was honest, and did tell them).

Although personally, I think you should change to Orange, so it costs me less to phone you. ;-)

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			Thread started by Neill

	From: adze	Date: January 20th, 2004 04:37 am (UTC)		(Link)

What I did the last time I upgraded was to find a deal I wanted, then ring my provider, and tell them I was going to leave, because I'd found the deal I wanted.

They then offered me the deal I wanted, while staying with them. Its in their interest to keep your business, so make out like you're going to leave, and they'll throw things your way.

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	From: caddyman	Date: January 20th, 2004 04:54 am (UTC)		(Link)

Absolutely right.

I did that when O2 tried to impress a new 'loyalty scheme'on me which would have upped my bill by between £5 and £6 a month. Oddly enough it turned out to be a 'mistake'.

I should also have a word with Oftel about the "administration fee" for your proposed number porting code. I don't think they're allowed to do that. Or if they are it's very bad practice.

If you do get a new phone, look at the Sony Ericsson Z600. To quote

mrcook, it makes monkeys evolve if they touch it.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

	From: rebby	Date: January 20th, 2004 05:24 am (UTC)		(Link)

It's now Ofcom.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/test/01/num_user_guide?a=87101#4c
And yes they can charge:
"Just tell your current or preferred supplier that you want to keep your old number. In some cases you may be charged an administrative fee for this service - you should check with your current telecoms provider and with the provider you wish to transfer to."

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)




			Comment by Simon

	From: bellagrim	Date: January 20th, 2004 07:52 am (UTC)		(Link)
	Three Hell

All the advise I will give is stick with a Nokia phone, and don't go to Three.

They are cr*p. My phone has been 'repaired' 5 times now and still has the same fault. All Three say is 'it's nothing to do with us. The handset is provided by the manufacturer'

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			Thread started by Jo

From: feanelwa	Date: January 20th, 2004 11:50 am (UTC)		(Link)

If your old provider want to charge you for not making another contract, and this wasn't in the previous contract that you had to sign, then don't pay it. They are not the law, they are a private company, and if you didn't sign a document to say you would pay them in order to not renew a contract, then you haven't violated any legal promise you made and what they are doing is extortion.

If on the other hand you did sign a contract that said you would pay to not make another contract, then you are a muppet and should learn to read the things you sign. Unless they put it in the contract and then wrote "Everything mentioned above is not valid at the end of twelve months from [date]" in which case they are muppets also.

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	From: kneeshooter	Date: January 20th, 2004 12:00 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Yeah - I need to check the paperwork. Joy of joys.

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			Thread started by a screened user


	(no subject) - irdm - Expand

	From: kneeshooter	Date: January 20th, 2004 01:51 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Possible but hassle - keeping the data is trivial as it's all backed up on the PC anyway.

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			Thread started by Rich

	From: nattydreadi	Date: January 21st, 2004 08:28 am (UTC)		(Link)

K I work for T-Mobile so I have some knowledge here.

It sounds like you are with Voda as they are the only network who charge for your PAC code to transfer number. If you sticdk with them but tell them that you are going to leave they will offer you big shiney new phones to a certain value which is normally determined by how much money you spend with them on a monthly basis. You can normally squeeze your monthly bill out of a company as they will tot up bills and divide to see your average.

Going with a new company means that you can get new phones - but often not top of the range without paying money toward the phone.

If you transfer to T-Mobile and port your number they will often discount your bills for the first few months as incentive. Other companies may do this but I can't comment.

My suggestion would be to try to screw the current provider out of everything you can get, then before agreeing to the deal take a walk into town and visit every phone shop you see. Tell them the deal that you have been offered and most of the bigger ones can match it or better it. Basically the networks don't care how they get your custom, as long as they get it.

Avoid carphonewarehouse as they are the games workshop of the mobile phone world and you will have hassles. BT have recently started a new mobile venture which is buddied on the T-Mobile network - big network coverage, small network service, they are currently doing very good deals for new connections.

[Bad username: @pax_draconis] has my mobile number if you want to chat about it :)

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	From: kneeshooter	Date: January 21st, 2004 08:31 am (UTC)		(Link)

Actually I'm with O2 at the moment. It's singlepoint who want to charge me to move away - which is odd as I believe they've been bought out by Vodafone so I'm surprised they don't want to migrate me across.

I'm quite taken by an Orange deal at the moment - but as you say - I should do as much hassling as I can be bothered to do when I have the PAC code and time to deal with it.

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	From: nattydreadi	Date: January 21st, 2004 11:54 am (UTC)		(Link)

Ah yes, singlepoint did that to me but it was on a voda plan ...

The deals at the moment are good - you can chage the tariff you are on as well if you want to stay with O2 on the same plan ... they can't make you stay on an unsuitable plan.

If I may whore my own companies products for a moment the'Everyone"plans from T-Mobile are good, but I think Orange are currently the best for price - though we were doing a 50% extra free minutes.

Oh and I have 3 'friends and relations'to use up this year (50% off line rental) and I can get a bonus if you connect to t-mobile through me :).

Yes I am a corporate whore

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	21 lies or Lie to me