Orange Care worth it? or not?

[Guest simonbratt99]

Hi,

Just got C500, guy in shop said want OC? i said id think about it.

Can you tell me if its really worth it? any comments?

Simon

[Guest paddy_mcnulty]

In my opinion YES. Although they are beginning to slap a £15 admin/excess charge on people they seem to be the best on the market for replacements,etc/

[Guest rintys5]

I'd second that. It's worth having.

[Guest chucky.egg]

Historically with HTC phones I'd say it was essential, althouth if you get a problem handset I think the best policy is just to take it back and cancel the contract (if you're within 14 days) and then take a new one out with another handset.

OC is a 12 month contract - you can't cancel it once it's started unless you cancel your contract.

I didn't get it with my C500, and I'm still kinda nervous about that, but [touches wood] everything has been OK so far. Maybe the C500 really is new... a reliable HTC phone!

[Guest simonbratt99]

I was told as my C500 was an upgrade i didnt have the 14day grace, and infact had to sign something to that effect.

but as i didnt have OC with the e100, i should take it with the C500, as i saved on 1 years cover.

Cheers

[Guest sponge]

In my opinion - no.

But then I have cover for accidental damage, loss and theft with my home insurance. Plus I look after my phones and have never done any of the above.

[Guest simonbratt99]

its just the c500 feels more slippery and easier to drop than the e100. And its a gorgeous little thing.

I too look after them well, i only dropped my e100 once in a year, luckily it was ok, c500 seems more fragile.

Think ill ring the house insurance people and see.

[Guest Zahid]

I was told as my C500 was an upgrade i didnt have the 14day grace, and infact had to sign something to that effect.

but as i didnt have OC with the e100, i should take it with the C500, as i saved on 1 years cover.

Cheers

You're right in that you don't get a 14 day money back option on an upgrade, but what you do get is a 28 day period within which if your phone develops a fault you are entitled to a brand new (not reconditioned) replacement from the supplying dealer (whether Orange Direct, Orange Shop, or an independent).

[Guest squiggs1982]

Just out of interest, Sale of Goods Act 1979 (As amended by the Sale and Supply of Goods Act 1994) gives you up to 6 years in England and 5 years in Scotland to a replacement or refnd of goods that are faulty. The length of time depends on the item in question and you are never ever entitled to your money back just because you don't like something. Even if you buy something which turns out is incompatible with something else you own, you are not entitled to your money back. Your contract is ALWAYS with the retailer and NEVER the manufacturer, so don't be fobbed off with that rubbish!

The Distance Selling Regulations 2000 are the only exception, which allow you to return a product you have bought over the telephone/internet/mailorder and cancel the contract within 14 days. Just thought it might help someone!

[Guest ferret]

You're right in that you don't get a 14 day money back option on an upgrade, but what you do get is a 28 day period within which if your phone develops a fault you are entitled to a brand new

You get a 7 day money back guarantee instead of the 14 days on an upgrade. Can't comment on the 28 day warranty thing.

[Guest blackhorse]

You get a 7 day money back guarantee instead of the 14 days on an upgrade. Can't comment on the 28 day warranty thing.

If you upgrade instore you get 0 days!

7 days is only aplicable for distance selling act

[Guest tarasis]

If you upgrade instore you get 0 days!

7 days is only aplicable for distance selling act

Indeed it is 0 days, I got hit by this the other week. I went in to upgrade my phone and despite pointing out that I use Orange Internet rather than Orange Wap and would want a phone that did that, I was suggested an Motorola M600 would be suitable. Low and behold on my way to the Isle Of Wight (a couple of hours after I got the phone), I discovered that the pages I needed to go to where "413 error page to big" and that the phone was using Wap.

When I went back to the shop (3 days later, as soon as I could get back in) I was told that sorry nothing you can do. Got told to ring orange customer services and they said I had 7 days and that the shop should be able to do that. I was then told again by the shop that no they couldn't do it and the 7 day thing was only for online purchases. Anyways I percivered with the shop and they phone Orange HQ and I no have a SPV C500. Despite the fact it was mis-sold to me it was put through as a 28 day replacement because the 8 key wasn't working by the store manager(!!)

[Guest sponge]

Indeed it is 0 days, I got hit by this the other week. I went in to upgrade my phone and despite pointing out that I use Orange Internet rather than Orange Wap and would want a phone that did that, I was suggested an Motorola M600 would be suitable. Low and behold on my way to the Isle Of Wight (a couple of hours after I got the phone), I discovered that the pages I needed to go to where "413 error page to big" and that the phone was using Wap.

When I went back to the shop (3 days later, as soon as I could get back in) I was told that sorry nothing you can do. Got told to ring orange customer services and they said I had 7 days and that the shop should be able to do that. I was then told again by the shop that no they couldn't do it and the 7 day thing was only for online purchases. Anyways I percivered with the shop and they phone Orange HQ and I no have a SPV C500. Despite the fact it was mis-sold to me it was put through as a 28 day replacement because the 8 key wasn't working by the store manager(!!)

In your case, as I understand it, you are entitled to a refund under the SoGA as the phone wasn't fit for the purpose you specified.

Another example: You buy a Lawn Mower. You ask the salesman if it will mow the lawn - he says, 'Yes'. You ask him if it will make coffee, he says, 'Yes'. You take it back a week later having found out it doesn't make coffee. You are entitled to a refund, even though it mows the lawn perfectly, because it wasn't fit for the purpose you specified.

[Guest barrybryce]

==Quoting chris.orton==

Historically with HTC phones I'd say it was essential, althouth if you get a problem handset I think the best policy is just to take it back and cancel the contract (if you're within 14 days) and then take a new one out with another handset.

==

I'd second that. I can't exactly remember, but I think I had four replacements on my old phone, none my fault though one did cure itself of the headset profile problem before they came to get it.

==Quoting Simonbratt99==

Think ill ring the house insurance people and see.

==

Will they be interested if it's not damage and just that the damm thing stopped working?

My very first SPV (an upgrade) only lasted a few days, and I didn't have orange care for it, so I returned it as unfit for purpose for which sold (unfit for making telephone calls), and when they cancelled the upgrade (after a bit of 'discussion') I immediately upgraded again.

With no 2 I realised Orange Care was going to be worth it. As I've never had phone insurance before, and wouldn't have it for any other make of phone, I realise it's part of the cost of having an SPV. Couldn't live without one now though...

They have indeed started charging £15, but they are pretty fast and I never had any trouble with them

==Quoting chris.orton==

but [touches wood] everything has been OK so far. Maybe the C500 really is new... a reliable HTC phone!

==

I salute your hopefulness!

But the disconcerting thing :roll: ... it seems to be :shock:. Maybe it's just trying to catch us all off guard...

====

You ask him if it will make coffee, he says, 'Yes'. You take it back a week later having found out it doesn't make coffee.

====

:wink:

... and have to prove that somone told you it would make coffee :?...

[Guest spv_user]

I have always had OC but when I lost my MPX-200 they gave me a nokia 6600 as a replacment (I was not happy)

But other than that I have never had a problem ! I have heard that now the new policy with OC is that they will always replace with a lower priced model (Nokia-6600) currently(even in place of a C500) I do not aggree with this policy but we alas can't do anything about it.

[Guest UnLoCkSmItH]

Go sponge

Law Lecturer :) lol

[Guest qwertyuiop2k]

I have always had OC but when I lost my MPX-200 they gave me a nokia 6600 as a replacment (I was not happy)

But other than that I have never had a problem ! I have heard that now the new policy with OC is that they will always replace with a lower priced model (Nokia-6600) currently(even in place of a C500) I do not aggree with this policy but we alas can't do anything about it.

Looking at the T&C's for Orange Care it seems that they are allowed to do this

6      GENERAL

6.1    It is a condition of this policy that the replacement of any phone will only be made with an Orange product. Wherever possible, reasonable efforts will be made to ensure that the replacement phone is of the same or similar specification.

I must admit I would not be happy to buy a shiny new C500 only to have it replaceat a later date with a different phone. It does make it seem more than a little unfair :)

[Guest blackhorse]

In all my time working for Orange ive never heared once of an Care claims getting an alternative handset other than that of faulty.

There is only two exceptions that im aware of that Orange may provide an alternative.

1. The handset has needed to be replaced 3 times over the same fault.

2. The handset is discontinued, or is out of stock. In the latter the customer will be offered to wait until stock arrives or they are prepared to accept a differant handset.

In my eyes a 6600 is a more valuable phone

[Guest markdotpeters5]

Perhaps in yours, but if I had been given a 6600 in place of my c500, i'd go bananas! Let's hope this is rare exception, otherwise I'll bin my OC and just rely on my home insurance.

[Guest barrybryce]

I'll second that - if they gave me a stinking N**** instead of a windows phone.... :cry: :evil: :twisted:

I'd put up a good argument that they aren't of a similar specification. It's like replacing a PC with a MAC.