MY RANT ON 3 !!! (3 Mobile Phone Network)

Member Name: bumblebee86

Product:	3 Mobile Phone Network
Date:	14/09/09 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheapish contracts

Disadvantages: 18 month tie in - very poor network coverage - customer service is hit and miss

A few of my '3' stories:-

I changed from PAYG to a contract phone, as it seemed the cheaper alternative. I had always used a variety of different networks on PAYG but never used 3 before however they enticed me with their cheap introductory contracts. Unfortunately I think 3 are the worse! I got hooked by the low £15 a month contract a few years ago.

The customer service via 333 on the mobile is a bit hit and miss and the in store service has been terrible with the staff having a bit of a big chip on their shoulders in my experience.

I have been with 3 for over 2 years now and I think the worst mistake I have made was renewing my last contract however I was influenced by the early upgrade offer and the idea of a brand new sparkly phone for Christmas so once again they lured me in. I received my new phone a week before Christmas and I was not impressed to look at it was the exact same phone as my previous one - I had been conned! I was fed up I never have good signal if any and they constantly annoy me with their customer survey phone calls this was the last straw I phoned customer services which is free from my mobile (as it should be) luckily this time I had a very pleasant representative who basically told me they had sent me the upgrade to my last phone which was really no better she advised me on a few good phones that she would swap for and apologised sincerely and gave me and my partner 1000 free 3 to 3 mins per month. I was happy. The return of the old phone and receipt of the new one was an easy transaction and I was pleased with my new pink u900. At £20 a month for 150 mins and unlimited texts is great for me and much cheaper than PAYG with a free phone. So I am now stuck with them for another 18 months - oh no I had done it again!

I have complained a few times about the poor network coverage over the phone and in person in store only to be asked my postcode and told that I do have coverage in my home as their computer says so - I am sure I know if I am telling the truth or not they made me feel stupid and that was their answer also concluding thy have the best coverage! I don't think so!

I signed up to their mobile internet about a year ago as they were offering it me half price as a loyalty bonus so £7.50 for 5G £10 for 10G and £15 for unlimited (which is limited to 15G?!) I thought this was a great idea as I wanted the Internet but BT wanted £120 connection fee and line rental far too expensive for me. Once again I was lured in with price! I have used customer services, which are free from 3 mobile on 555, and they were very helpful but to be fair if it worked, as it should then I wouldn't need to use this service! The network is just as bad as the phone service and is very slow. I have to stick the dongle to the window just to get 2 bars and it is not very mobile if I move I lose connection!

Another problem I encountered was when I originally signed up to the contract they illegally took money out of my bank for insurance they had added without my consent. When questioned about the money they had taken from my bank they apologised and explained it was for insurance that I hadn't asked for or even been told about in store they refunded me as a goodwill gesture however I think it was goodwill on my part that I didn't take it further.

I have 3 contracts with 3 which I will be terminating as soon as I am able to do so as I feel the service is poor and the network coverage is terrible me and my partner have to go outside the house to make a phone call which defeats the object of a mobile. I find that they phone far too much for surveys and updates which totally annoys me. With good competition on the market I will be looking elsewhere as my loyalty doesn't seem to count for much!

I do NOT recommend poor coverage and customer service does not make for happy customers!!!

Summary: Not recommended