Orange Billing Problem - Anybody Else Feel Had?

[Guest bnoc]

Afternoon all,

My sister bought her previous phone from Orange 19mths ago on a £30/mth deal which provided her with 200 minutes of cross-network anytime minutes and 500 texts per month.

7mths ago she upgraded her phone on the understanding that she would continue on the same tariff. So you can imagine her surprise when her 7th bill arrived after her upgrade with a whopping £100 price tag attatched!

It would appear that the deal she originally agreed to provided her with 500 texts for her first 18mths with Orange. However when she upgraded her phone the person in the store assured her that it would be on the same terms as her previous contract, namely that she would continue to receive her 500 inclusive texts. So on month 19 the 500 texts she sent were charged at 10p a text, knocking her bill up by £50!!!

Has anybody else had a similar experience?

Barry

[Guest mavisdavis]

Yeah I upgraded last October and me 50 inclusive texts were taken away. I dint realise until just last month. Youve guessed it I never check my bill but I'a amazed that all my data doesn't roll over to the next month. Thats £18 a month going into Oranges account not put back in my back pocket. Next month I'm buying out my Orange contract and switching to O2 PAYG with 300 free texts a month..

If I want a new phone Ill just buy it out right. My avarage bill is £80 a month so goodbye Orange :D/

Edited March 1, 2005 by mavisdavis

[Guest bnoc]

Yeah I upgraded last October and me 50 inclusive texts were taken away. I dint realise until just last month. Youve guessed it I never check my bill but I'a amazed that all my data doesn't roll over to the next month. Thats £18 a  month going into Oranges account not put back in my back pocket. Next month I'm buying out my Orange contract and switching to O2 PAYG with 300 free texts a month..

If I want a new phone Ill just buy it out right. My avarage bill is £80 a month so goodbye Orange  :D/

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So when you upgraded you continued getting the 50 inclusive texts for a number of months before they were taken off your account? I would love to know just how many people continue to use their phone in the belief that they still have the inclusive texts after the 18mth period.

It would appear to the casual observer, and of course I am not suggesting that this is Orange's intention, that Orange take a hit on the text revenue for the first 18mths so that once the customer is in the habit of sending x-amount of texts a month, and in many cases isn't aware that the free texts have been removed, they continue to do so thus earning Orange a large amount of cash.

Not in to my conspiracy theories but really feel that Orange could be a little more open in relation to this offer, hiding a warning away on the second page of a bill that the messages will no longer be inclusive doesn't seem like straight dice are being thrown.

Before you try to buy your contract out make sure you've dropped down to the lowest tariff they offer, that way you'll pay them the minimum possible amount. They used to do a £10/mth data-tariff, ask if they still offer it then change onto that tariff. If you're currently on the £15/mth tariff that should save you about £35-40 pounds :-)

Barry