orange downgrade

17 replies · 10,785 views · Started 16 March 2004

nk8 16 Mar 2004, 22:49

i was sent a private message asking about this, but i wrote it too long, you're limited to 1000 apparently, and mine was 2350 or something like that, so i thought to create a thread about it here, as i'm sure it's helpful to a few people.

g'day skip, if you're buying from the link, firstly, make sure you say that it is free at �70 a month on orange, because the price has gone back up in the link stores, just not on the internet, but they will match it anyway, but the sales person will try and say no,

secondly, you need to get it on orange for the downgrade to work, orange allows you to downgrade monthly, the way the phones are priced is the more cheaper the tariff, the more the phone is, and vice versa, to the point where your phone is free at a certain tariff and above, in the p900's case, it is your plan 700, anything above that , even business your plan 2000, the handset will be free, that shows clearer i hope, how the handsets are priced, orange do not charge you if you downgrade after the first month, shops might do, though i do not know how they impose the fee, carphonewarehouse said in their terms and conditions a month after the p900 launch, that if you downgrade before 3 months, they will charge you, but i do now know of anyone who has been charged, but that is the CPW, the link never charge back for people who drop under any months, CPW say they do, but i don't know of anyone who's done it, so CPW lets say warn you they do, whereas the link don't even warn you,

thirdly, tmobile requires six months ebfore you drop down the tariff, so get it on orange your plan 700, then drop down after one month, either to OVP o2 100, or to your plan 120 on orange for 25 quid, but if you stay on orange your plan tariff, youwill get whatever promotions orange are offereing, one time, they offered free unlimited texthing for six months, if you got that on the first month, then went to OVP tariff the next month, you'd lose that offer, but if you stayed on your plan tariffs, you'd still have it, but that offer was just an example and isn't on anymore,

thirdly, don't go for insurance from the link at all, go for orange care, no matter how much they try and sell it you, don't get it, they send it off for repair if it's faulty for the �7.99 a month one, return time is AT LEAST 10 days, but usually 2 - 3 weeks, if not more, whereas orange care courier next day, all days inc sunday, and is only five pounds a month,

fourthly, stay with p900, don't go with sx1

spangelaregreat 16 Mar 2004, 23:33

Thanks for that nk8.

That certainly explains away most of my concerns.

Just a couple of things.

1. When you say the Link don't charge you, is that in the contract or is it just something they do? Is there any chance (however slight) they might charge at a later date?

2. You said I could downgrade my contract to OVP o2 100. I didn't realise I could also change provider at the time of the downgrade.

I will contact o2 tomorrow to see what the deal would be if I cancel my contract early.

Certainly I will score if i decide to go through with it.

Pay �70 for the first month, then downgrade to my current monthly rate of �25 per month.

Selling my T610 would more than cover the extra cost of my first month.

Regards

nk8 16 Mar 2004, 23:41

the link are just known to not charge, they are dumb

orange value promise (ovp) is a match for any other networks tariff exlcuding hutchison, you pay the same line rental as the networks tairff you're matching is, get the same package, just on oranges network

spangelaregreat 16 Mar 2004, 23:44

Thanks again.

I guess even if they say they are going to bill me if I cancel before 3 months, staying on at �70 per month is �210. Still less than buying it sim free and you get the free minutes into the bargin.

Cool.

Regards

nk8 17 Mar 2004, 12:36

yeah, but orange won't say that

Dagger_meerkat 17 Mar 2004, 16:40

I recently obtained a p900 on the �70 tariff, got it for free from the Link website a couple of days ago. Just had it activated, and was thinking of calling up orange just before 14 days were over in case they cause problems about the downgrade.

Only rcd a payment receipt thru the mail this morning from the Link, apparently I am suppossed 2 get my contract straight from Orange.

Any suggestions on what would be the most appropriate date to call up orange about the downgrade? I know any changes have to be made 10 days before the billing date, but I hope orange wont recall the phone back if I call up on the 13th day of the contract?

nk8 17 Mar 2004, 19:10

just call them today, tell them to leave a note on your account to downgrade for the next bill date

ceanth 17 Mar 2004, 21:02

hi all just wanted to ask if downgrading to the lowest orange tariff would be taking the micheal? Would the link be more aware of someone going from 70/m to 15/m or wouldnt it matter? Also is there anyone here who has actually changed tariff after a month? Just wondering if orange would actually say "well you have only been on this tariff for one month"

spangelaregreat 17 Mar 2004, 21:58

Hopefully Dagger can tell us when he does it.

Who actually is provding the phone? The Link or Orange. Orange certainly do not have this deal on their own site.

nk8 18 Mar 2004, 12:41

Originally posted by ceanth
hi all just wanted to ask if downgrading to the lowest orange tariff would be taking the micheal? Would the link be more aware of someone going from 70/m to 15/m or wouldnt it matter? Also is there anyone here who has actually changed tariff after a month? Just wondering if orange would actually say "well you have only been on this tariff for one month"

i have done it, and no, they don't find out about it, the sales person doesn't find out either although they will lose out on the commision, they don't find out, because in the pay slip, they just get a lump sum for commision + tax, not every single sale worked out

spangelaregreat 18 Mar 2004, 12:57

Unfortunately I will have to wait until August until my contract ends with 02 as I am will be liable for the line rental (�25 per month) until then.

The only possible out is in my bill I got today they are stating they are changing the prices for GPRS and International calls. I am not sure but I seem to remember another thread about T-Mobile changing a price which allowed the customer to terminate the contract without penalty because they had changed the terms.

Might give them a phone to confirm this either way.

Dagger_meerkat 18 Mar 2004, 23:08

The p900 on Link online on the �70 tariff was priced at zero, looked on orange, they were charging 130 pounds jus 4 the phone. And most probably, if you bought it straight from Orange, I don't think it would be possible to downgrade since I have a feeling that they are not as 'dumb' as the link and wud definately hv a clawback phrase!

But I wil let u know as soon as I give the notice. Most probably next mon, tue!

nk8 19 Mar 2004, 08:40

Originally posted by Dagger_meerkat
The p900 on Link online on the �70 tariff was priced at zero, looked on orange, they were charging 130 pounds jus 4 the phone. And most probably, if you bought it straight from Orange, I don't think it would be possible to downgrade since I have a feeling that they are not as 'dumb' as the link and wud definately hv a clawback phrase!
But I wil let u know as soon as I give the notice. Most probably next mon, tue!

yes you can, because before i bought mine, i phoned up orange on the 0500 number (direct sales) and asked three different people if i would be able to downgrade, i took the name of the second one down, who said they generally advise customers that they can't downgrade before 3 months, which wasn't definitive, and eventually, i caught him out, and he said i was right, that there is nothing stopping the end user from downgrading, but they just advise customers not to do so

Dagger_meerkat 22 Mar 2004, 14:13

Well, it seems orange is pretty cool about its customers downgrading! The customer representative didn't ask any questions, simple downgrade from �70 to �20 per month! Guys, its effortless, and no questions asked! I jus got the p900 for 50 pounds! Now that's a GREAT deal! 😃

REALIS 22 Mar 2004, 16:21

Anyone thinking of getting a second subscription to downgrade? 😃

I'll pay ₤100 for the phone 😃😃😃

REALIS 22 Mar 2004, 18:55

No, really, if anyone feels liked oing a good deed 😃 calculate how much this would cost you and I'll pay for your tab, for shipping it to me and an extra ₤50 for your trouble (beer money 😃).

spangelaregreat 24 Mar 2004, 16:15

Hi.

I am afraid I have crossed over to the dark side and ordered the SX1 (�49 for handset on O2 100 xnet contract).

I spent a bit of time in the Link the other day playing with both phones and for my purposes the SX1 is probably better suited.

It was really the 128mb limit on the duo card and the lack of radio that put me off the P900. I don't think I would really use the extra fuctionality of the P900 over the S60 SX1 on a regular basis.

Also the SX1 is just that bit more pocketable.

All the best and thanks for the advice.

Regards

Bassey 24 Mar 2004, 16:26

Originally posted by spangelaregreat
Hi.
I am afraid I have crossed over to the dark side and ordered the SX1

I certainly don't consider Series 60 to be the dark side. For me, the pen based interface makes UIQ more usable. The missus, however, much prefers the one-handed interface of her 7650. There's no doubt the 7650 is a great phone, but I probably wouldn't use it as much as I do the P900 because I find the joystick and T9 to be too slow for inputting data on the PDA side.

But that's the beauty of symbian. Something for everyone. Enjoy!