Guest robinknight Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 Can anyone help me re: Orange upgrade policies - My original SPV contract stems from last November, I foolishly switched to a Sim Free p800 in June and sold my SPV via e-bay. After a few weeks I got fed up with the size of the p800 and the ridiculously clunky pc sync software and so got hold of a T610 on a new contract in September at no cost. Apparently Orange have a policy to reduce upgrade costs after 8 months. I'm now very keen to come back to Smartphone land and would like an E200/SPV 2 - Orange are quoting me a £250 upgrade fee on top of the handset charge ! Can I get around this at all ? Does anybody know after what period of time this will reduce ? I'm a high user - £200+ per month, lots of GPRS and international roaming - is it an urban myth of if I use this as a bargaining tool with Orange CS might there be some flexibility ? Any advice gratefully received.
Guest awarner [MVP] Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 Sometimes it's actually easier and cheaper to just get a new contract, strange but true :? I had this problem last year and ended up getting a new contract instead of upgrading.
Guest leo-balou Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 Are you saying you were with Orange, your contract ran out and you managed to start a new contract with Orange AND still keep your mobile number? I always thought you lost your number (unless going to another network). I'm running to the end of my contract and am considering options...
Guest robinknight Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 AWarner - thanks for the reply mate. So what's the deal with a new contract - I assume you have to pay up the value of the remaining months at the minimum value - i.e. in my case £35 p/m ?
Guest willo Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 I've heard many different stories about upgrades, but I think its £250 for an upgrade if you've had the contract for 5 months then it goes down to £75 after this period, after 12 months its free. Because you spend £200 a month (!!??) on your bill then they should be able to do you a deal, I'd be very supprised if they didn't. Try to find out you can pay to opt out of your contract, use this to threaten to leave them and see what they say.
Guest awarner [MVP] Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 If you start a new contract with your existing operator you will have to get a new number :) Lucky for me I had an old O2 nunber I could port over so I gave the other half my old number and phone. Instead of paying up the rest of the contract it was easier to just let it run out.
Guest mcwarre Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 Robin, You have to pay-up your existing (alternatively change plans to the cheapest, and then let that go for the 12 months). If your'e gonna change numbers (new contract) then walk (or at least threaten to). As willo has said ask them what they can do for you (if no joy ask to speak to supervisor). I am sure taht you will not have to pay anything. If you get no joy then f*** em and go join O2 or sumone
Guest leo-balou Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 Re New contract versus upgrade: Yes - thought so - however I use my number for business so need to keep it. Thanks all the same. Nick
Guest blewer Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 Isn't there someone you know (at work, friend, girlfriend etc....) that needs a phone?? If so, you could get them to sign up for a new E200 for 12 months. Obviously you pay for the phone and keep it yourself, swap sims and give them your current phone. This isn't a bad deal for someone if they are thinking of buying a phone anyway. All they would have to do is pay the monthly charge and they get a free phone :) And even better you get an E200 :( :D :lol:
Guest leo-balou Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 Yep good idea - however if you checked my phone out .... looks like "Torvel and Dean" have been doing a tad of pirouette practise on the screen - it's looking really OLD!! (Just noticed too that the metal strip covering the docking port is coming away from the phone too.) No doubt someone on ebay will chuck me a few quid for it. Later.
Guest blewer Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 I'm sure one of your mates will have a phone they don't use anymore that you can have/buy for a small amount. Then you can trade this one??????? Just an idea, let us know how you get on, especially if you do get a E200 :)
Guest robinknight Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 Blewer, Good plan mate - might have to give that a go. Thanks everyone for the advice. Nick - you seem to have become me in tersm of reponding to this thread !!
Guest dma Posted October 31, 2003 Report Posted October 31, 2003 If you start a new contract with your existing operator you will have to get a new number I have heard of people getting a new contract within the network (not an upgrade) and porting their number. Just like everything else at Orange I guess it depends on who you speak to & what you say. I have had my number for 7 years and don't plan on changing it now, upgrades are the worst thing about having a mobile phone. Seven years as a customer with bills between £30 and £200, and 'they' are happy to let me go to another network. It's all about the big customer though; I have a friend who manages to run up bills of 4k sometimes hitting 6k a month on a single Vodafone number [heavy international roaming], they let him have any phone he desires for free, kinda makes sense really !
Guest mcwarre Posted October 31, 2003 Report Posted October 31, 2003 I have a friend who manages to run up bills of 4k sometimes hitting 6k a month on a single Vodafone number! Bleeming Hell! Thats more than Amo earns!! :) :( :D
Guest gcparris Posted October 31, 2003 Report Posted October 31, 2003 You could always try the upgrade trick with Orange. When they say you have to pay an upgrade fee, bang on about how long you have been a customer, rant, rant, threaten to leave. Ask to be put through to the termination line, and start to go through with it. NOW - at this point I have always been offered a deal to waive the upgrade fee and pay for a new phone. I can't guarentee it will always happen but I've done it twice now. I am tempted to try again with the E200 but I've only had my E100 for 4 months so it might be pushing it a bit at the moment! Gareth
Guest dma Posted October 31, 2003 Report Posted October 31, 2003 Termination line.. i like that one :)
Guest TonyL Posted November 3, 2003 Report Posted November 3, 2003 I think a lot depends on your usage and who you talk to! Im a ₤200 a month user. When I wanted the upgrade I was told no first time. When I called back I accused their staff of lying to me and that I was told I could upgrade before the year was out. Bit naughty, but in the end they offered the phone for free! It all depends on how you get on with the person on the other end of the line. For the new E200 I’m lucky. My company does corporate tariffs with Orange. At ₤3 a month line rental Im hoping to buy a phone with a new tariff and just swap Sims.
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