Orange phone

[Silver]

Had an interesting chat last night with Orange concerning the upgrade of my mobile.

I was chatting to the chap in the call centre about a suitable package, he suggested one called Dolphin for £30 a month with an 18 month contract. The conversation went on, chatting about football, Newcastle United, Kevin Keegan et al.

Anyway, we got back to talking about the package (ooh er missus!) and I said I wasn't 100% happy about having an 18 month contract, so I asked him what was available over 12 months.

With that, he gave a couple of errs and umms, hesitated then said "Well I can do the Dolphin package, if you go for 18 months at £20 a month!!!"

So I've now got, albeit over 18 months, 300 minutes and 400 hundred texts for £20 a month.

Now this isn't a thread about the best mobile phone packages available but simply if you play it right you never know what they have up there sleeve and how much they can drop. http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-11140.gif

[sleah]

Why are contract phones so expensive now?

Few years back I got onto a £15 per month tariff, luckily kept it!:D

I upgraded end of last year and said I would only upgrade if I kept my tariff, "no problem" they said, but I had to re-sign for 18months, which I'm happy to do.
For me £15 quid I get 200minutes/200texts (I think:rolleyes: ) I haven't paid anymore than £15 for about 3 years now:cool: as I stay within the free allowance.

This is Vodafone BTW, and I only deal direct with them, not via 3rd parties.

Funny with all the hoo-har about getting the cost of mobiles down a couple of years back, they seem to be creeping back up:confused:

Or maybe in my time-zone there's no such thing as inflation;)

[BeerFunk]

If you look at the price of a new phone in the shops, one of the top models you get with an 18 month contract, then you're quids in on their contract offers. They bank on you losing track of the calls you make though, which is easy to do if you're not on PAYG.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I don't think they are more expensive - they just push the higher tariffs more.

I get 600minutes and 500 texts for £28 a month with O2. That was on an 18 month contract though. So in effect, I get more for my money than £15 for 200 minutes and texts.

I also get free calls Saturday, Sunday and Mondays.

[sleah]

I don't think they are more expensive - they just push the higher tariffs more.

I get 600minutes and 500 texts for £28 a month with O2. That was on an 18 month contract though. So in effect, I get more for my money than £15 for 200 minutes and texts.

I also get free calls Saturday, Sunday and Mondays.

It's all down to useage. I never go near my 200 texts/minutes so if I went onto the £28 you're on, I'd be throwing money away. But if you were on mine, it could well cost you a lot more than £28.

Swings & roundabouts as they say.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

To be honest, I never thought I'd use all the minutes up, but last months bill had call charges on it too!! (only £2 though)

[sleah]

To be honest, I never thought I'd use all the minutes up, but last months bill had call charges on it too!! (only £2 though)

Chatterbox :sofa:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Chatterbox :sofa:

Possibly might have had something to do with the fact that it was December last monnth and it was fairly busy.....;)

[robbiedj]

To be honest, I never thought I'd use all the minutes up, but last months bill had call charges on it too!! (only £2 though)

Was it over the usage or non-inclusive numbers?

Some have strange rules on this.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Was it over the usage or non-inclusive numbers?

Some have strange rules on this.

I'm pretty sure all numbers are included.

[djsteve10]

i have 500 minutes and unlimited texts on my phone, works out at £30 a month inc vat,
I also have the phone insured and have broke it a fair few times and had a replacement there the same day, another advantage of having a contract mobile phone

[PropellerHeadCase]

As far as the price phones bucking the trend, price-wise, do bear in mind that cellphones involve a lot of plastic in their manufacture and plastics rely on petro-chemicals... petro-chemicals are getting more expensive. Then add the effect of those petrol prices on freight, etc., etc.

So, has anyone ever had a good - 'I've outgrown my contract minutes can I upgrade with a good deal' stories?

[discomobiledj]

I've been with t-mobile for 2 years now. Upgraded in November, they gave me £5.00 off my line rental and a brand new LG Viewty phone for nothing!

My line rental is now £30 per month with upto 1800 minutes and 900 texts a month!

[rob1963]

Why are contract phones so expensive now?

Exactly...they're a complete rip-off.

Luckily I just have my mobile for emergencies. I doubt whether I make a call once a month. I only really use it for sending a few texts here & there.

I'm on pay as you go, and my monthly bill is probably around £2 to £3.

I can cope with that!

:D :D :D

[PropellerHeadCase]

I'm on pay as you go, and my monthly bill is probably around £2 to £3.

Surprising. Your avatar seems to have been on the phone phorever :D

[BeerFunk]

Rob, you sound like my Dad :rolleyes:


Surprising. Your avatar seems to have been on the phone phorever :D
:lol:

[djgordyp]

I renewed my contract in December (o2). I'm not a big user, maybe a maximum of 30 minutes a month or thereabouts.
I gave Carphone Warehouse a ring a fewv weeks before my contract was up. After been put through to the customer loyalty department (or whatever it's called), I told the CS's guy that I was considering moving to the 3 network as they had some good offers on at the time and I wanted to find out if they had anything similar. Anyway after explaining how I was a light user and was happy with the phone I have, here is what I ended up with. 50mins/100text per month on a twelve month contract with £180 credited to my account. This means I have nothing to pay until about August which means I will only have a couple of payments to make before renewing again.
I've been with o2 for four years now so sometimes it pays to be loyal

I remember now. I had actually called to get a pac number as I was going to go PAYG. I had been looking at the 3 website that same morning. That's how I was able to tell the CS's guy about their tariffs.

[rob1963]

Surprising. Your avatar seems to have been on the phone phorever :D

I know Al...but that's only because the people he speaks to don't have a clue what he's saying!


Rob, you sound like my Dad :rolleyes:
:lol:

And MY Dad, Beerfunk!

He recently had to get a new sim card, as he hadn't used the phone for more than 6 months!

:D :D :D

[CRAZY K]

I know Al...but that's only because the people he speaks to don't have a clue what he's saying!



And MY Dad, Beerfunk!

He recently had to get a new sim card, as he hadn't used the phone for more than 6 months!

:D :D :D

Thanks Rob, just reminded me!:D

CRAZY K

[rob1963]

Thanks Rob, just reminded me!:D

CRAZY K

:Laugh:

[Corabar Steve]

He recently had to get a new sim card, as he hadn't used the phone for more than 6 months!

How come?

[rob1963]

How come?

Apparently you have to use the phone at least once every 6 months (or maybe it's once a year) in order to keep it active!

Otherwise, it locks or something.

:shrug:

[Corabar Steve]

What a rip off!

[rob1963]

What a rip off!

That comment sums up all mobile phones very nicely!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

That comment sums up all mobile phones very nicely!

For you, perhaps.

[rob1963]

What a rip off!


That comment sums up all mobile phones very nicely!


For you, perhaps.

For me perhaps? No...for me DEFINATELY!

Probably for many others as well.

Here are three facts to back up my claim:

1) In the days when I was on a monthly contract, I paid about £20 a month before I even USED the phone!

2) Daytime calls from my mobile to a landline are 35p a minute. The same calls from my landline only cost 3p a minute.

3) International calls from my mobile to the USA cost £1.50 a minute. This is 5,000% more than the same calls from my landline, at just 3p a minute.

I'd be very interested to see how many people think mobile phones offer good value for money compared to landlines.

[Vectis]

I'd be very interested to see how many people think mobile phones offer good value for money compared to landlines.

I virtually always have calls routed to my mobile. I'm usually away from home on the North Island 2-3 days per week, so that's 48-72 hours away from a landline. I am also typically DJing 2-3 nights per week on average, so I'm actually sitting by my landline for a very limited amount of time. When I'm away the only landline available to me is a payphone about half a mile walk from my digs.

My Mrs teaches in a school as far away from home as you can imagine on a small island. She has other interests outside school but her circle of friends and family is quite small. Whilst she's at work there's virtually nil chance of using a landline as there's only a couple and they're in reception. She also travels at least 2 hours per day by car via rural roads.

My only son attends the same school, 3 hours travelling per day plus time in class. He has hobbies outside the home which takes care of a couple of evenings and he roadies for me taking care of 2-3 more. He never gets let near a landline because all his mates have mobiles; that would be silly, right?

Our nearest family are the M-I-L who, admittedly, spends most of her time at home and the F-I-L who is a self-employed tradesman with an extensive evening social hobby involving funny handshakes.

I pay Voda £22 per month for my phone, texts, calls and Family Plan (meaning me and 5 others can all call each other for free anytime).

My Mrs pays Voda £13 per months for phone, texts, calls.

My son is PAYG.

Don't care what my inlaws pay, not my concern, but they're part of my family plan.

Add about £5 per month for redirected 0800 incoming calls and for £40 per month the three of us are in regular and to be honest carefree contact during our busy lives, we have the inlaws on hand to help with occasional issues, and I transact the majority of my mobile disco business.

Grand Total of £1.30 per day. Priceless.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Rob

I think you need to recheck what you are paying. 35p to call a landline seems very expensive in this day and age?

£20 before you use the phone? So you didn't get inclusive minutes then?

And then there's the convenience factor....etc

Sometimes I think you're still living in the dark ages Mr James!

What else is a rip off then? Sky TV? Internet?

[rob1963]

I think you need to recheck what you are paying. 35p to call a landline seems very expensive in this day and age?

35p a minute is indeed expensive...which is one of the reasons I think that mobile phones are a rip-off! (I've just confirmed that cost online).


£20 before you use the phone? So you didn't get inclusive minutes then?

Yes, £20 a month before I even used the phone, and no, I didn't get ANY inclusive minutes.


And then there's the convenience factor....etc

I admit they are convenient, but that doesn't change the fact that I think they are a rip-off!


Sometimes I think you're still living in the dark ages Mr James!

I have an LCD TV, digital cable, broadband internet, do most of my buying on ebay, most of my banking online and am about to update my disco playout system from CDs to a hard drive & purchase a SatNav system for my van...so I'm not sure what your definition of "living in the dark ages" is!


What else is a rip off then? Sky TV? Internet?

To be honest, I can't instantly think of ANYTHING else which is as much of a rip-off as mobile phones.

I can't comment on Sky TV, as I don't have it. My TV service is digital cable. I get over 60 channels for £5.50 a month, which I think represents very good value. My 2 MB broadband is £18 a month. I'm sure it's not the cheapest, but I don't think that's a rip-off either.

If I think of anything else I use which is as much of a rip-off as my mobile phone, I'll let you know.....but don't hold your breath!

:D

[PropellerHeadCase]

To be honest, I can't instantly think of ANYTHING else which is as much of a rip-off as mobile phones.

Coupons :D

[rob1963]

Coupons :D

Nope...mobile phones are much worse!

[BeerFunk]

The majority of broadband services and Sky TV (mainly anything to do with watching football, actually) are more of a rip off than mobile phone bills IMO.

[CRAZY K]

Nope...mobile phones are much worse!

Rather depends on your lifestyle.

I work at home in the winter taking calls--when not on holidays :D

So I use the cheap landline--have a look at Broadband with talk talk Rob --the service has been 100 per cent here and its free broadband with the phone package--I have to pay a £10 monthly surcharge cos I live in the sticks:eek:

Like Hitched--dont listen to the negative stuff-ive had no problems--Cortex etc.

I dont use the mobile--kids grown up etc although I have to ring them--thats a rip off yeah!

Some customers ring when im out so that doesnt cost me--we rarely ring punters back on mobiles by the way--my excellent memory tell me I got 1 gig in about 5 years and didnt get a hell of a lot--- MAINLY TIME WASTERS

Summer -out on my boat so the answerphone takes messages if out and we phone people back--see above :D or they ring me-no charge.

Personally im glad im not reliant on mobiles but others may find it helpful.

They have one use here--emergency--boat breakdown, car breakdown, late for gig due to traffic--think ive made about 2 calls like that in 5 years.

Oh and the best alarm clock ive ever owned :D :D :D

CRAZY K

[Corabar Steve]

3 hours travelling per day .On the IOW????? What's he doing going round in circles?!?!? :sj:
What else is a rip off then?
The tops of Angel Delight packs.

[Vectis]

On the IOW????? What's he doing going round in circles?!?!? :sj:

Nope... just our incredibly inefficient public transport service :rolleyes:

[PropellerHeadCase]

The tops of Angel Delight packs.

That was the point I was making with the coupons quip... I think Rob missed it.


I suspect that the "rip-off factor" with regard to mobile phones fails to take into account the inherent value of having it with you. If you are out of the house more than in it then the expense of your monthly fee is kinda off-set.

[djgordyp]

2) Daytime calls from my mobile to a landline are 35p a minute. The same calls from my landline only cost 3p a minute.


So you carry your landline with you when you're out then lol:D :D :D :D
By the way, landline to landline calls are free 24/7 with Talktalks talk3 @£20 p/m (including line rental) and so are calls to 28 countries. Have my broadband with them as well.

[rob1963]

So you carry your landline with you when you're out then lol:D :D :D :D

Indeed I do.....

















.....but I can't go too far, as the lead isn't very long!

[Danno13]

It all depends what contract your on as to whether its a rip off or not.

I get 1000 texts, 300 mins, 50 picture messages, so if we take them to all be worth the same.. thats 2p per text/min/picmessage based on my £35 a month.. not too much of a rip-off in my eyes.

Infact, the first 10 months were half price, so it averages out at £25 a month over 18 months, so we're down to 1.8p per min/text/pic.

[kilmeedyman]

That's got me. I just woke the doc up laughing. Best line of the year so far, Steve.

Originally Posted by vectisvibe
3 hours travelling per day .


On the IOW????? What's he doing going round in circles?!?!? :sj:

[Corabar Steve]

Why thank you Phil :sj:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

He has his moments...

[rob1963]

[QUOTE=PropellerHeadCase;195521]That was the point I was making with the coupons quip... I think Rob missed it.[QUOTE]

Sorry Al, Indeed I did miss it.

:o


As for vectis spending 3 hours a day going around the Isle of Wight, maybe he just get's lost easily...

...after all, it's a pretty big island!

:rolleyes:

[Sam]

Had an interesting chat last night with Orange concerning the upgrade of my mobile.

I was chatting to the chap in the call centre about a suitable package, he suggested one called Dolphin for £30 a month with an 18 month contract. The conversation went on, chatting about football, Newcastle United, Kevin Keegan et al.

Anyway, we got back to talking about the package (ooh er missus!) and I said I wasn't 100% happy about having an 18 month contract, so I asked him what was available over 12 months.

With that, he gave a couple of errs and umms, hesitated then said "Well I can do the Dolphin package, if you go for 18 months at £20 a month!!!"

So I've now got, albeit over 18 months, 300 minutes and 400 hundred texts for £20 a month.

Now this isn't a thread about the best mobile phone packages available but simply if you play it right you never know what they have up there sleeve and how much they can drop. http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-11140.gif

Cool.
Just got a new 18 month contract for £25 a month. More text based than minutes. But also got a free phone so it's all good.

Only use Orange as I find they are the only network that work out here in the countryside... and also seems to have the best coverage over the uk.

:)