The True Colours of Orange (Orange Network)

Member Name: cyberem78

Product:	Orange Network
Date:	10/12/08 (144 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Choice of packages available to suit needs,

Disadvantages: Customer service skills lacking.

I have been an Orange Pay As You Go customer for about 5 months since I bought a new handset and changed from O2.

My mobile phone package gave me full instructions about how to register with Orange and how to assign myself to one of the 'animal packages' they have available. I'm sure we all remember the advert with the giant floating balloons in the shape of animals?! When you become a customer you are encouraged to sign up to one of these packages. The Orange website details exactly what benefits you get as a customer with their dolphin, racoon, canary and camel packages. Racoon is the most basic package and the one I chose. This package gives me a 15p flat rate for calls and allows me to send texts for 10p.

The Orange network has provided good coverage for me although the 'Orange World' facility on my phone often malfunctions and does not allow me to download video clips, pictures games etc and leaves me with a "connection failed" message.

I have had some problems when dealing with the Orange customer services too. When I initially tried to register my phone I was unable to connect and it took a day of trying to do so. I have recently had a bad experience when attempting to top up my account by credit card. I phoned the top up line and one of the customer advisors shouted "Ring back in an hour!" and without any other explanation hung up on me. This was quite distressing as I was stuck in a sparse location where there were no shops to purchase an e-voucher and I needed to use my phone in a hurry. Needless to say I have not attempted to top up using a credit/debit card again as I feel the staff may be a touch unprofessional.

Being an Orange customer has some great benefits though like the 'Orange Wednesdays' issue - this allows you to get two cinema tickets for the price of one. This works when you send a text to a certain number and you recieve a 'text ticket' in return which you can simply flash at the box office assistant.

As an Orange customer I also get to use the facilities on their website - these include email and downloads.

I am reasonably happy to remain an Orange customer although I feel it wouldn't take much to persuade me to change networks!

Summary: A network whose packages tailor to your needs.