Upgrade / Service Plan / C500 / Operator

[Guest Jasonkruys]

My contract with my E100 ran out at the beginning of July. I have been with Orange for at least 3 years, probably 4 or more (mainly to keep my number), and I don't remember having a bill under 50 notes.

Now, I want to upgrade to a C500, which I understand will be free, but my question is is the C500 going to be available with any other operator?

To be honest at the moment I am feeling pretty seen off with Orange, my current service plan costs me about 40 quid a month, I'm on Talk 60 with GPRS 3, a 360 Text bundle (mainly use text) and Orange care. I look at the deals new customers are getting, especially with included texts, and they are far more value than mine, but of course, as a loyal, consistantly spending customer I don't get to take advantage of these offers. It seems other network providers are more keen to get new customers than Orange are to keep theirs. I thought about leaving orange when I upgraded to E100, and they didnt seem that bothered they were about to lose a customer, so I guess why should I put money into their pockets?

I guess that is the question, is the C500 good enough to get stuck in another 12 month contract on a stale service plan? Can I get it anywhere else and transfer my number? What would you do? I refuse to have to take a new contract with orange and lose my number because they couldn't tempt me to stay as an existing customer, so if that's the only option, what other smartphones are there available on other networks?

[Guest zeta101]

you can always ring up and in a calm manner explain this to someone at orange (suppose it would be dial 150, then something like upgrades)...if you just act upset (but not pissed off) and explain then they might do you a deal to keep you there....if it comes down to it and your prepared to leave u can use that aswell , ring up and ask to cancel, and then they will ask why etc and you might get a nice contarct deal that way and a c500....but they also might say "fine"...so make sure thats ur last resort and you arent bluffing.

[Guest blackhorse]

My contract with my E100 ran out at the beginning of July. I have been with Orange for at least 3 years, probably 4 or more (mainly to keep my number), and I don't remember having a bill under 50 notes.

Now, I want to upgrade to a C500, which I understand will be free, but my question is is the C500 going to be available with any other operator?  

To be honest at the moment I am feeling pretty seen off with Orange, my current service plan costs me about 40 quid a month, I'm on Talk 60 with GPRS 3, a 360 Text bundle (mainly use text) and Orange care. I look at the deals new customers are getting, especially with included texts, and they are far more value than mine, but of course, as a loyal, consistantly spending customer I don't get to take advantage of these offers. It seems other network providers are more keen to get new customers than Orange are to keep theirs. I thought about leaving orange when I upgraded to E100, and they didnt seem that bothered they were about to lose a customer, so I guess why should I put money into their pockets?

I guess that is the question, is the C500 good enough to get stuck in another 12 month contract on a stale service plan? Can I get it anywhere else and transfer my number? What would you do? I refuse to have to take a new contract with orange and lose my number because they couldn't tempt me to stay as an existing customer, so if that's the only option, what other smartphones are there available on other networks?

Very simple answer to that one. One im sure you will like.

Speak to rettentions, explain your upset, explain you are looking into moving to another network.

Im sure you will be offered one of these deals that new customers get in an effort to keep you. With possibly an added incentive of credit on your account to keep you along with a free C500

Note.. Just reading above post, DONT make demands from customer service or upgrades, they will do nothing for you. They have to go completly by the book with no second thought. They will probably make you more irate as you will be refused and told these incentives dont exist.

Speak to rettentions only about your unhappiness with your account. (Rettentions are a supervisor department with authority to deviate from guidelines)

[Guest MadduckUK]

so you have to call em up and ask to speak to retentions because your leaving? :)

[Guest Zahid]

Can I get it anywhere else and transfer my number? What would you do? I refuse to have to take a new contract with orange and lose my number because they couldn't tempt me to stay as an existing customer, so if that's the only option, what other smartphones are there available on other networks?

There is another way if Retentions fail to offer what you want; disconnect from Orange, but before you do this Port your number out to another network on a cheap Pay As You Go plan (just go for a sim card £10ish??).

As soon as the port out is complete, port back to Orange as a new customer with your old orange number= free phone, and other goodies/offers.

Let me know if the above doesn't make sense, and I'll try and clarify!

Posted by an ex-Orange project manager who learnt all the tricks before he left :wink:

[Guest Saracen]

Is it possible to port a number to a PAYG plan? Didn't know that could be done. Sounds enticing!

[Guest Blakey]

Yeah, more info please! I'm very interested in this option as I can buy out of my contract for about £100, pay £10 for a PAYG SIM on O2 and then come back to Orange for free with a spangly new C500 and a cracking contract. This has to beat £250 I was quoted for an upgrade....

More details please Zahid?

Blakey