new £50 upgrade fee with Orange phone!

[Guest AFCChris]

I was told today it would cost me £50 to upgrade to a SPVC500, even though I have had the phone nearly 13 months! Apparently it's a new rule. This sucks. I will just get a new contract now

Anyone hear about this?!!

Cheers

Chris

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

It depends on the contract you have and how much you spend each month.

[Guest mavisdavis]

Port ya number around for a week then start the new contract stuff em if they're gonna be like that.

Dont forget to tell them aswell when you ask for ya PAC Code when leaving. You might be suprised how they can move the goal posts :wink:

And the biggest rule is BE POLITE :)

[Guest AFCChris]

I heard that the upgrade would be free if I pay more than £25 a month. I am going to change so my monthly fee is more than that so I didn't anticipate this, but like I say this is a new rule (started in the last few days) for anyone who has had their phone less than 18 months.

[Guest awarner [MVP]]

There was word about this a year ago but it seemed to be

inaccurate. It all depends to who you talk to and how.

[Guest Lady Marmalade]

I don't know specifically about upgrade fees on the consumer side of things but the rule of thumb is simple - even if it means you actually pay less each month (no call charges etc.) get yourself on the highest tariff you can.

Orange is trying to make sure that during the life of the contract, they make money - after the cost of the handset. If you are on a low tariff (even with heavy usage) you could, in theory, stop using the phone altogether.

If in doubt (or being offered something you're not happy with) ask for your PAC code, be nice and be ready to say exactly what you want.

Lady M.

[Guest pisquee]

I'm out of the country for majority of the year, and so although my tariff is only £25, an average bill would be £100, though i am not surprised when i get one for £300

Orange were than happy to upgrade me free to c500 9 months into a contract.

:-)

[Guest mavisdavis]

FYI I just called to upgrade 9mths into contract and was told £75 fee. so I asked to drop my tariff from £25>£13.99 and pay out my contract and the fella said they can upgrade me free if I stayed with them. they've also started my new contract from now.

So free fone on Tuesday same number not lost any collated minutes or texts I've built up :)

:wink:

[Guest Dade]

Question for Lady M, are there specific rules set out by O for upgrades or does it depend on the mood of the person you talk to?

Experience tells most of us it depends on who you talk to. Often hanging up and calling back gets you a different offer. Unless you have a good corporate account manager that is! :)

Dade

[Guest blackhorse]

Question for Lady M, are there specific rules set out by O for upgrades or does it depend on the mood of the person you talk to?

Experience tells most of us it depends on who you talk to. Often hanging up and calling back gets you a different offer. Unless you have a good corporate account manager that is! :)

Dade

No. It deppends on if you speak to customer relations or customer services. There is a BIG BIG differance to what will be offered.

I wont go into how to get in touch with relations im sure most people here will know if unsure.

[Guest Dade]

I realise that this is the case Blackhorse but just wondered what the official guidelines were and was hoping Lady M could fill us in...

[Guest blackhorse]

I realise that this is the case Blackhorse but just wondered what the official guidelines were and was hoping Lady M could fill us in...

I cant go into too much detail (as you know i work for Orange o too much info is breach of contract), but the rep you speak to has basically a guidline to what hes allowed to offer.

It works on a number of aspects:

Time with Orange in total

Time since your last subsid phone.

Your average spend per month.

Your time still to go on contract (if aplicable)

This will determine:

How much is possible to discount handsets.

If possible to waive upgrade fee

If possible to offer a special tariff

All these are shown and create a ball park in which you and the rep can play.

Sorry i cant offer too much info on this

[Guest Lady Marmalade]

Question for Lady M, are there specific rules set out by O for upgrades or does it depend on the mood of the person you talk to?

Experience tells most of us it depends on who you talk to. Often hanging up and calling back gets you a different offer. Unless you have a good corporate account manager that is! :)

Dade

Hi,

When it comes to business customers, it's dependant on your tariff and spend. Without going into too many details, the best business customers can have some handsets upgraded after just 7 months. In extreme cases, a £50 upgrade fee is charged after 3-4 months.

For you consumers out there - keep calling until you get someone good! - Or start your own business....

Lady M.

[Guest Dade]

So there are no specific rules for Consumers?

[Guest Lady Marmalade]

Hiya,

I'd have to say 'guideline' rather than 'rule'...

[Guest pisquee]

When you say "business customers" are you only talking about coporate, or do you include "small business" in that bracket. Hoe much average monthly spend are we talking about for a three month upgrade with £50?

[Guest Dave Abrey]

I've been quoted £125 + VAT upgrade fee with just over two months on my contract, although the phone will be free. I'm on a £25 talk plan, plus text and GPRS. I've spoken to several people, and they all say the same thing - "recently introduced new upgrade structure, based on a number of factors, can't waive the upgrade fee, blah blah blah". One disturbing aspect was that the reps have said that they can't guarantee that even at the end of the 12 month contract that there won't be an upgrade fee :). I even tried talking to the disconnection / retention people (or whatever they call themselves), but still no luck with that upgrade fee. Although the guy I spoke to did say that if I spoke to his department after the 12 months, they wouldn't charge the upgrade fee.

Guess I'd better wait for another two months then :lol:. Unless anyone has any sure fire routes I can try?

Dave.

PS, I did consider dropping my current contract down to the minimum, cancelling at the end of the 12 months, and getting a new contract now with the C500. That would end up costing e £30, but I'd lose my current phone number, which is something that I don't want to do.

[Guest pisquee]

Instead of loosing old number could you change it to OVP Virgin tariff (i.e. no line rental) and use everyphone to divert your calls. use all those free calls and text messages you get with your new phone to let everyone know your new number.

[Guest blackhorse]

Instead of loosing old number could you change it to OVP Virgin tariff (i.e. no line rental) and use everyphone to divert your calls.  use all those free calls and text messages you get with your new phone to let everyone know your new number.

OVP virgin was stopped back in July. Wont be able to do this

[Guest pisquee]

really? that sucks!

[Guest AFCChris]

just an update as I originally started this topic.

I did as advised and asked Orange for my PAC code, and lo and behold I have a shiny new SPVC500 arriving tomorrow! I expected to have to pay £79.99 or upgrade my tariff so it's over £25 but I didn't have to so I have a free phone, without an upgrade fee and no increase on my tariff.

Sorted! Thanks for all the tips.

Cheers

Chris

[Guest Lady Marmalade]

When you say "business customers" are you only talking about coporate, or do you include "small business" in that bracket.  Hoe much average monthly spend are we talking about for a three month upgrade with £50?

I'm not sure if this includes small businesses (as they seem to operate differently). If you have more than one phone on your account and spend more than £60 per month it shouldn't be a problem.

[Guest Lady Marmalade]

I've been quoted £125 + VAT upgrade fee with just over two months on my contract, although the phone will be free. I'm on a £25 talk plan, plus text and GPRS. I've spoken to several people, and they all say the same thing - "recently introduced new upgrade structure, based on a number of factors, can't waive the upgrade fee, blah blah blah".

I'd only suggest asking what the 'number of factors' are. I could be as simply as change from one tariff to another very similar one.

One disturbing aspect was that the reps have said that they can't guarantee that even at the end of the 12 month contract that there won't be an upgrade fee ^_^

After the 12 months, go to a shop! They get incentives on the number of upgrades they do...

Good luck,

Lady m.