What have they offered you to stay?

[Guest mjoyeux]

I've currently got a c550, I'm, due an upgrade at the end of January, it's showing £0 for me to upgrade to a c600 now.

My step Dad was due an upgrade with O2 a few months ago, he's been with them for about eight years, and they offered him 18 months half price line rental, cutting his bill from £40 to £20. I've been with orange now for three years and am very happy with my current tariff (the orange student tariff), but wanting to know what they're offering in terms of incentives to people in order to stay.

I'm wanting the c600 and am happy with the tariff I've got, so I don't want to move networks, but if I can get something extra for nothing, then I might as well try...

What have you been offered by orange?

[Guest Tech]

nothing - thats why i cancelled one of my contracts

I stayed on for an additional year because of the SPV they had out at the time

Edited January 14, 2006 by Tech

[Guest shadamehr]

I used to have three tariffs with orange, but for a few months its now been down to two.

I was entitled to Upgrades on BOTH of these since last October, but Orange have had bot all in stock in the way of any decent phones, so I have been hanging on for either them to get something decent in, or the 6280 Nokia to come out with O2.

I happened to be in Blackpool on Holiday this weekend with my Girfriend, who decided whe would settle for a 6230i as an upgrade as she currently has a 6230i, and a 6230, and she would like both to be a 6230i.

Fair enough said me - surely that should be free with me having TWO contracts with them on my account - it's now an oldish phone anyhow.

So the Phone Trainer does a check (well two young female staffers actually). And it comes back (in one of their own words, that I overheard and clearly wasn't meant to) that I was rated a 'low value' customer. And then I was informed it would be around £150 to upgrade to a 6230i (not really even an upgrade at all, given that I have one), and that it would be nigh on cheaper just to buy the handset on PAYG for around the same price.

Orange you are utterly taking the..... no, er, extracting the urine, with your existing loyal customers.

So your not screwing me... screw you...

The future's bright - the future is a PAC code first thing tomorrow morning, you greedy greedy people...

And to think folks - somewhere, there really is a high up man at Orange that can't understand why they are losing so many customers - has no one thought to tell him?

[Guest mjoyeux]

nothing - thats why i cancelled one of my contracts

I stayed on for an additional year because of the SPV they had out at the time

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's funny, I just got off the phone with them... Well I did about three hours ago...

And I'm a "high value" customer they said, so I'm entitled to a free upgrade now, thee months before my contract ends.

My bills are always in the £45 region a month, which isn't that much of a problem.

It's odd how they work it out.

I think they should really crack out the offers, last year I got moaned at by a phone trainer for doing backdoor upgrade, by getting a new tariff and phone on my existing account, then cancelling my main phone.

O2 aren't exactly much to write home about, nor are vodafone, their both as bad as each other. T Mobiles the only network I've never been on... Unless their amazing I'll be sticking with Orange...

[Guest rsearley]

That's funny, I just got off the phone with them... Well I did about three hours ago...

And I'm a "high value" customer they said, so I'm entitled to a free upgrade now, thee months before my contract ends.

My bills are always in the £45 region a month, which isn't that much of a problem.

It's odd how they work it out.

I think they should really crack out the offers, last year I got moaned at by a phone trainer for doing backdoor upgrade, by getting a new tariff and phone on my existing account, then cancelling my main phone.

O2 aren't exactly much to write home about, nor are vodafone, their both as bad as each other. T Mobiles the only network I've never been on... Unless their amazing I'll be sticking with Orange...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am not yet in the last 3 months (think im in the 4th month) yet i am being offered a C600 at £0 and a fee of £100 to bye off the end of the contract, which they say that will drop each month closer to the end of the contract until at reaches £0 once my contract is complete.

or if i dont upgrade then i will get discounts off the contract price

My talk plan only costs 12.75 a month and i spend on average £30 a month, i have been with orange since day 1 when they were only available within london, but i wouldnt consider myself anymore than 'low value'

But i have found in previous years that you may get a better deal going to a non orange shop as you may be offered some 'extras' which orange never offer.

i know the dealers dont get so much on upgrade as they do selling a new contract, but there is not a great deal in it!

[Guest kam_]

This 'low value' / 'high value' stuff is calculated by their system and often goes wrong. If you talk to a human person through the customer service line on your network and moan at them you'll get the true value of what you're worth.

You can, on some networks, secure the upgrade with them and pick it up in any of their shops, on others its 48 hour delivery.

Anyway if they make a note that is what they offered you can get their shops to do the same.

The 'value' is calculated from the amount of money they make from you. Someone with a great deal - i.e. very low monthly contract, and high inclusive minutes - who doesnt spend any money on top isn't a big money maker for them.

Alot of people usually say oh i make lots of calls, but when you look at it, they're mostly inclusive minutes you negotiated at connect time on a great deal.

The computerised system works out peak/off peak and on net/off net gross amounts. When you talk to an operator they usually just look at the final bill amount. This can work in your favour if u just roamed for a month for example. They'll see last month u spent £200 and offer u a crazy deal.

If you really want to hammr out a great deal, walk into their store first. The offer they make here won't be logged. Once you know what their standard 'computerised' value/offer is for you, call up 150 from your handset and moan at them acordingly. This offer WILL be logged, so don't think u can call back and try try again with a different method of negotiation!

Edited January 16, 2006 by kam_

[Guest Tech]

i used to have 2 contracts with orange both on £35/month - surely they would treat me with a bit more loyalty or respect but no!

so now i only have 1 contract left with them.

when I cancelled my other contract in november they did not even ask me why I wanted to leave or interest me in any offers - nothing. this was the convo:

"Hi. I like to request a PAC code please"

Orange: "Sure, can I confirm your details please?"

me: "yeh sure...."

[details given]

orange: "Ok, your PAC code has been created and will be txted to you in the next couple of minutes. Is there anything else you like for me to do for you today?"

me: "er, no thanks!"

orange: "Thanks for calling orange"

[Guest kam_]

Most of the networks just don't care anymore because the market is saturated and they make just as much money on interconnects than they do with their own customers. Unless you spend (a fair amount of) money outside inclusive minutes you're not considered a valuable customer.

Think of it this way.. They'd probably make just as much money terminating your calls to your friends on orange if you were an O2 customer, than they would giving you 400 inclusive minutes and having you spend the majority on off network calls.

Admitidly its often nonsensical the way these companies behave, but not always when you look at it from the inside out.

[Guest Gladers]

Just had nightmare upgrade.

Called Orange (150) to upgrade, and asked for a good offer such as those on 3.

All she could offer was free C600 upgrade and 6 months double minutes and double texts (12 month contract).

I said "ok, guess I could live with that, could you lower my text bundle then as I won't text 240 times a month."

She had a go at me arguing I'd have no texts, blah blah blah, so I demanded my pac code.

Yesterday I rang back asking when my pac code expires (and to take up the damn offer anyway, disgrunted, grr) and I was informed that I was issued the pac code for my old contract!!! :?:

So I complained to the guy and he asked what I wanted, I said 400 minutes 200 texts and 25 picture messages (like 3 did for £35 and I pay £40 for orange).

He said can't do that, we're orange we provide quality of service.

"what like issuing a fake pac code?" I interupted.

He shouted at me for 2 minutes telling me to "let it go man" and included a speach about how Bangalore call centers can't even speak english (little harsh bordering racist I thought)

But... 16 hours later a fresh new C600 arrive in my hands no upgrade cost, and I have double minutes and texts for a year, and lowered my text bundle, woohoo ;)

I should have asked to get put on the select 500 network when I had the chance, lol.