Suggested Phone Provider Name Change...
Discussion
To "Lemon".
My contract is due to end tomorrow so I quite fancy one of those Samsung D600s. I see "Lemon" are offering them for free to new customers on the same tarrif as me. So I ring up to ask for one.
"I'm afraid your contract only ends tomorrow so there's nothing we can do until then."
"Yes, I know, I thought I'd ring you a day in advance seeing as you're probably very busy and it will take you a few days to process it anyway."
"I'm afraid it doesn't work like that sir."
(I didn't think it would but you have to try)
"I can tell you though that the upgrade won't be free."
"Why's that then? I expected it would be. I've been a cusomter for 15 years and I can't recall EVER getting a free upgrade and also I've seen your adverts offering the same phone and tarriff to new customers for no charge."
"Yes, but there are charges for some of the newer phones and..."
"Yes, I appreciate that but are you saying I'd be better off cancelling my contract and then getting a new contract as a new customer?"
"Erm. Ummm. Well we will try to match or get a good deal on your upgrade but can't guarantee that it will be free."
".......I'll ring back tomorrow."
*Click*
Mmmmmmmooootherfuuuuucccckkkkerrrrssss.....
My contract is due to end tomorrow so I quite fancy one of those Samsung D600s. I see "Lemon" are offering them for free to new customers on the same tarrif as me. So I ring up to ask for one.
"I'm afraid your contract only ends tomorrow so there's nothing we can do until then."
"Yes, I know, I thought I'd ring you a day in advance seeing as you're probably very busy and it will take you a few days to process it anyway."
"I'm afraid it doesn't work like that sir."
(I didn't think it would but you have to try)
"I can tell you though that the upgrade won't be free."
"Why's that then? I expected it would be. I've been a cusomter for 15 years and I can't recall EVER getting a free upgrade and also I've seen your adverts offering the same phone and tarriff to new customers for no charge."
"Yes, but there are charges for some of the newer phones and..."
"Yes, I appreciate that but are you saying I'd be better off cancelling my contract and then getting a new contract as a new customer?"
"Erm. Ummm. Well we will try to match or get a good deal on your upgrade but can't guarantee that it will be free."
".......I'll ring back tomorrow."
*Click*
Mmmmmmmooootherfuuuuucccckkkkerrrrssss.....
I don't know why we have to go through this every year. I'm with lemon, and quite happy with them, but without fail you can never get the upgrade you want despite it being offered to new contracts meaning you have to go through the motions of requesting a PAC code etc to get a decent deal.
ProPlus said:
Repeat after me....
'I want my PAC number'
I said it, now I get a better contract every year and a free upgrade thrown in.
Now on 750+ x-network anytime minutes
1000txt
free insurance
£40
Plus I got a free N70 this/last year.
try it you will be surprised...
You'll have to excuse my ignorance - what's a PAC number?
ProPlus said:
Repeat after me....
'I want my PAC number'
I said it, now I get a better contract every year and a free upgrade thrown in.
Now on 750+ x-network anytime minutes
1000txt
free insurance
£40
Plus I got a free N70 this/last year.
try it you will be surprised...
Who's that with?
neil.b said:
Repeat after me....
'I want my PAC number'
I said it, now I get a better contract every year and a free upgrade thrown in.
Now on 750+ x-network anytime minutes
1000txt
free insurance
£40
Plus I got a free N70 this/last year.
try it you will be surprised...
You'll have to excuse my ignorance - what's a PAC number?
Can't remember what it stands for but its the code given to you to pass on to your new network to allow you to transfer your old number to your new provider.
Hmmm, I called 'Lemon' as my contract was up and I wanted to see what deals they could do on an SPV M5000. Initial response was for 'business customers only' but that he would ask his manager and call back the next day. Did I get a call back - yep, you guessed it - no. So I got the O2 version with a new contract. Called up for a PAC number and got the 'why are you leaving us' spiel, told them why and they would not give me my PAC number over the phone. Said I had to wait for it to be texted to me. Strange how Judas got his read out over the phone eh? 
Anyhoo I think Lemon's customer service has gone down the pan in recent years, I really don't think they used to be this bad. Mind you it is rather a Hobsons choice out there for service. If the poop hits the fan then I don't think any of them are any good. Shame really.
Ace-T
Anyhoo I think Lemon's customer service has gone down the pan in recent years, I really don't think they used to be this bad. Mind you it is rather a Hobsons choice out there for service. If the poop hits the fan then I don't think any of them are any good. Shame really.
Ace-T
neil.b said:
Repeat after me....
'I want my PAC number'
I said it, now I get a better contract every year and a free upgrade thrown in.
Now on 750+ x-network anytime minutes
1000txt
free insurance
£40
Plus I got a free N70 this/last year.
try it you will be surprised...
You'll have to excuse my ignorance - what's a PAC number?
The PAC number is the number you take with you when you go to a rival phone company with your current phone number, your usual one then thinks aww.. shit, what can we do to make them stay and they start offering amazing deals that you can't get in the shops just to make you stay.
Thats how I got mine, after a massive rant about how orange shop was crap and after I had been a loyal customer for 5 years and they thought that they can simply turn around and state 'if you want a new contract apply to us in writing and we will process it in 28days' I was fuming and tried to leave explaining to customer services about the orange shop and that I had actually gone in and tried to upgrade and was told wait for a month and, blah, blah. Anyway she apologised and offered me what O2 were offering at the time, bit of advice tho, find out what the competition is offering first before asking for the PAC and they should match it.
pmanson said:
Repeat after me....
'I want my PAC number'
I said it, now I get a better contract every year and a free upgrade thrown in.
Now on 750+ x-network anytime minutes
1000txt
free insurance
£40
Plus I got a free N70 this/last year.
try it you will be surprised...
Who's that with?
Lemon...
neil.b said:
You'll have to excuse my ignorance - what's a PAC number?
Port Authorization Code.
Basically tells them that you're leaving, and taking your phone number and custom with them.
You'll usually find, if you're a good customer, that they magically make an exception and give you what you want.
Phoned up Orange when i was 11 months thru my last contract to see if i could get a free upgrade. Was told no and i'd have to wait, so went online and got a free upgrade immediately with the phone being delivered the next day!!
I then phoned them again a few days later asking to downgrade my tariff but was told i'd have to wait 6 months to do that. Went online again and downgraded successfully the same day!!
Whats all that about?
I then phoned them again a few days later asking to downgrade my tariff but was told i'd have to wait 6 months to do that. Went online again and downgraded successfully the same day!!
Whats all that about?
Vodafone are good, upgrade after 9 months, but still, every year it goes something like:
"You want this phone .. it's £100 sir .. yes I know it's free in the shops but mumblenewcustomersonlymumble"
"Oh you want to leave? OK, the phone is £50"
"Oh you're still leaving? OK, the phone is free and you just need to sign a 24 month contract.."
"Oh you're STILL serious about leaving? OK, the phone is free, normal contract ..."
"FFS bastard customer! OK phone free, normal contract, half price line rental for 3 months .."
That's with bills of £50-£100 per month though .. but never ever ever pay for an upgrade
"You want this phone .. it's £100 sir .. yes I know it's free in the shops but mumblenewcustomersonlymumble"
"Oh you want to leave? OK, the phone is £50"
"Oh you're still leaving? OK, the phone is free and you just need to sign a 24 month contract.."
"Oh you're STILL serious about leaving? OK, the phone is free, normal contract ..."
"FFS bastard customer! OK phone free, normal contract, half price line rental for 3 months .."
That's with bills of £50-£100 per month though .. but never ever ever pay for an upgrade
o3 just upgraded mine.
"Upgrades" wanted £100 for an N70
"PAC number people" offered free N70, £15 a month for 300 mins any network/anytime and 750 sms if I signed up for 18 months, or £15 for 200 mins and 500 sms any network/anytime with a 12 month contract.
Same time next year?
>> Edited by mcflurry on Thursday 26th January 23:10
"Upgrades" wanted £100 for an N70
"PAC number people" offered free N70, £15 a month for 300 mins any network/anytime and 750 sms if I signed up for 18 months, or £15 for 200 mins and 500 sms any network/anytime with a 12 month contract.
Same time next year?
>> Edited by mcflurry on Thursday 26th January 23:10
john_p said:
Vodafone are good, upgrade after 9 months, but still, every year it goes something like:
"You want this phone .. it's £100 sir .. yes I know it's free in the shops but mumblenewcustomersonlymumble"
"Oh you want to leave? OK, the phone is £50"
"Oh you're still leaving? OK, the phone is free and you just need to sign a 24 month contract.."
"Oh you're STILL serious about leaving? OK, the phone is free, normal contract ..."
"FFS bastard customer! OK phone free, normal contract, half price line rental for 3 months .."
That's with bills of £50-£100 per month though .. but never ever ever pay for an upgrade
Hmm I ended up paying $150 to upgrade last January. Here in the states with Verizon we get $100 toward a new phone every two years upon renewing a 2 year contract. Except they only have sh!t phone for that cost, and nothing Motorola. And Motorolas tend to put up to my abuse better. Not too many phones I know that I can throw across a room at a wall and survive without scratches, and only a dislodged battery. Only thing about my V710 is that it guzzles battery power and can only standby for about 20 hours with an extended battery, 12 hours with the regular battery.
the trick is not to bother with upgrades/sales/etc. etc. just go straight through to customer retentions. i got 1000 texts per month added to my account and a free spv m2000 through them. the other departments just messed about offering me different, expensive "deals"
>> Edited by paulhol on Friday 27th January 08:51
>> Edited by paulhol on Friday 27th January 08:51
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