Bye Bye Free Orange Care

[Guest girobank]

Point to remember, Orange still offer a 3 year manufacturer warranty on all their handsets. So If you do something silly, but can argue that the replacement is for a faulty power switch for example, then you won't need to pay the £15. Orange care has always been one of the best insurance policies available. So really, for £15 to replace an idiot damaged ~£350 handset is a bargain!

[Guest summie]

So really, for £15 to replace an idiot damaged ~£350 handset is a bargain!

No its not

Consider that you get a faulty handset - you should be able to get it replaced free using warranty - if you had O care - no probs - next day delivery - everyone's happy. Now same situation, manu warranty could take ages because they actually send the phone off to get fixed - meantime you have no phone - or you could pay £15 and get one tomorrow? Therefore in a lot of cases £15 = bribe.

Furthermore - for those of us who have O care - we pay so much a month anyway over several years. The premium alone should cover the cost of a new phone. The £15 is to stop fraudalent claims - but it can hurt real claimants badly and there is no way of O to tell who is genuine.

[Guest davidhorn]

I wonder if the reason they stopped it have anything to do with the people who fiddle around with their ROMs, ruin the phone and then claim on the insurance.

[Guest Pagemakers]

No, cos it's across the board, Nokia, Motos, etc etc.

[Guest fasteye]

I think this is a reaction to the vast number of smart handsets coming to market with a whole range of 'undocumented features'.

Orange must have lost an awful lot of money on the SPV as from what I've been told from staff in various Orange shops, there has been a huge return and replacement due to people not getting on/accepting them.

I see this move with OCare preventing the same mistake with the E200 and Symbian smartphones coming to market, all of which will have 'some' issues. It will become much harder to get these problems resolved free of charge in the future without any doubt.

I say this as a long time Orange customer who has always sung their praises. This is not a move which inspires confidence in future products.

[Guest girobank]

You don't pay the £15 on warranty, and it's still next day replacement!!!

[Guest TheRock]

Am upgrading this week, should arrive tomorrow - non SPV. Have been promised and assured the free Orange care will continue with Business 400 on new sim registration! - We'll see. If you have a price plan with Care, don't change it and retain the great service I've had with care.

Take advantage of anything you can retain with Orange 'cos once you change it, it's gone!

Consider Orange World to replace GPRS Bundle 2. 3MB download instead of 2 + photomessages + 50 free texts. Worth looking at.

Knew that SPV wouln't arrive today! Carry on with Eurotel unlocked 1.5 on old unlocked phone and use cheap sim.

Will buy E200 on new connection.......... when it arrives and you guys have shown me the advantages though I'm dying to try the new toy.

[Guest Pagemakers]

Take a look at their terms and conditions, copied directly from the Orange Business website:

8 TERM & PAYMENTS - SERVICE PLAN INCLUSIVE OF ORANGE CARE

8.1 Where you are connected to a service plan which includes Orange Care the Insurance and Warranty will come into force when you register the phone on the Orange network. The Insurance and Warranty will remain in effect for a period of 12 months unless you switch to a different service plan as indicated in clauses 11.2 and 11.6.

8.2 Orange Care may be purchased separately once the initial period of 12 months has expired.

GOOD LUCK!