o2 being unreasonable

[ashby]

I tried to explain to O2 that I needed to use my Orange Sim until my orange number was ported accross. They stuck their heals in and state that I have to pay the contract price up front. As i'm on O2 max this is going to cost £900.

I told them they were beinging unreasonable and that I should have been warned that the unit was latched when i sold it.

What can I do?

[Rudegar]

are not almost all phones sold by telephone companys locked ?
i mean otherwise why should they sell them cheaper ?

you could wait for somebody to make a unlock program for the xda2 like they did for the xda1

[ashby]

I tried to expalin the reason why I needed an unlocking code, but they wernt interested. This is my first time dealing with O2 and currently I am not impressed. They have terrible customer service compared to Orange. I am now considering taking the XDA II back and getting a unlatched unit.

Does anyone have a name of a good supplier?

Ashby

[sublimatica]

While I agree that O2 customer service is abysmal by comparison with Orange (my provider for 12 years until 2 weeks ago), I don't think O2 are being unreasonable in trying to protect their investment in your XDA2. They've paid roughly half the cost of your shiny new machine, and they need to know they're gonna recoup that, by forcing you to pay your line rental up front.

You can't reasonably claim that they should have specifically made you aware of the lock they've applied to the unit. None of the phone operators in Britain has ever sold phones unlocked for contract-competitive prices, so to claim you're surprised your machine was locked sounds like you're just trying it on, IMHO. :roll:

Maybe you are, maybe you aren't, but put yourself in O2's shoes.

[ashby]

The last O2 phone I brought was a 9110 (BT CELLNET). This was a very expensive phone and unlocked. I thought it was only Orange that networked locked phones. If I had know it was locked I would not have signed up to O2 Max. I am not trying it on, I just wanted to use my Orange sim in the phone until my number was transferred and then I was planning on being on 02 full time.

However this has shown me that o2 have very bad customer service and I am reviewing my options. Should I spend~£2000 a year with a company like O2.

If I can find an unlatched XDA II I might buy that and stick with Orange.

[s786999k]

hey there,
yes i agree with u - after 3 weeks of trying to get a unlatching code of o2 iv been promised lots but no results so far despite having agreed to pay up my line rental...
by unlatching u o2 dont lose out as u are still under ur contract for 12 months, i wouldn't mind so much if their policy was consistent but its not as they have provided some ppl with codes - iv had a customer service provider go as far as saying that he could promise me they dont have the tech to provide this info.... what bull!!

[ashby]

I was told the same thing. I said that there were loads of people that:

1) were unlatched by paying £15.00 (no need to pay a year in advance)
2) had already got the unlatch codes.

She told me that she didn’t believe me as the technology to release would not be with O2 for another 2 weeks. I said check out the web, its full of people already unlatched and some firms were offering unlatched units.

I told her that O2 seem to have a problem with consistency. If you have rules about unlatching, fine, but make sure the whole of O2 sticks to these rules. It is clear that some departments within 02 are happy to unlatch, some aren’t. I think it all comes down to your service provider.

Ashby

[s786999k]

mmm

and it doesn't help as i think iv run up a very high phone bill as their customer service number costs a lot!

now i wish i had waited a bit rather than rushing out to get hold of this latest device, i think o2 realise they hav got a unique product in the uk which has already got a cult following - they kno most of us hav only gone for the contract option as we are loyal xda fans!

trust me when the xda 3 comes out im gonna wait for expansys to get the unlocked units rather than stay with o2...

im very annoyed !!

[mrg2003]

I've found them very helpful. I just divert my old T-mobile number to my O2 one. O2 say they would allow the divert costs against my O2 bill, untill the t-mobile number is transferred.
A new number might be good, it would stop all those young women ringing me up all day.

I was in Orange yesterday and they said they will be doing the XDAII in the new year, no date set.

Mr.G

[s786999k]

guess what?

i phoned o2 customer services today AGAIN and went to the complaints department & told the lady who answered about the difficulty & inconsistency iv faced from them regarding getting a unlatch code for the xda 2, to which she promtly gave me a speech on
1. how they didnt have the tech

&

2.its their own product so they wont unlock it

i explained to her on how ive been told so many different things regarding this and if she looked at my records it would or should show this, she then said il put u through to some1 u talked to b4 & as i answered the line a lady said oh hello, iv got the unlock code u requested plz write it down - which i did....

she forgot to charge me the line rental upfront & the fee! he he he....

so much for not having the technology!!

i suggest all u ppl who want it to keep calling in and requesting your code the more customer service advisors you talk to the more likely it is that one of them will get back to you.

good luck

[gazzaman2k]

customer services without the fee......... ;)

dial 4444 to top up if on payg then put in a voucher code wrong bout 2-4 times it will put you through to CC for free ;)

[toxic]

hi!

Well quite frankly there's been a very long discussion on the 'locking' issue for years. The idea _was_ that they give you a subsidised phone for signing up, and at the end of the contract you have to come back to them. Thus the subsidy is spread over potentially TWO contract periods.

With the price of phones droping through the floor in just one contract period this is no longer the case.
The single contract period you are tied to more than covers the subsidy on the phone. And the counter argument is usually that u may default on the payments.

In reality its all about commisions and figures. Up front payment cost them less in theory and looks better on paper.

Providers such as virgin will give you the unlock code for FREE.
In the states T-Mobile will give you the unlock code for FREE in several states.

I personally wouldnt touch O2 with a barge poll. Their customer service _used_ to be the best. Its now the worst.
Their radio service (reception, handover ESPECIALLY etc) used to be next best to vodaphone, in my opinion it is now the worst!

If you are prepared to cancel your O2 max tariff, then threaten them with it. Dont bother with the complaints department.. call sales and say u got this tariff and you want to cancell it all, you've had enough.. thats what i usually do [for my friends and collegues]! They'll panic and ask why.... you'll probably get your unlock code pretty quick since u have a pretty valid argument!

Toxic

Good luck!

[ashby]

I did get this sorted.

I went back to the shop that I brought it from and got a refund. I then setup a new account on the lowest O2 tariff. I then phoned O2, spoke to a different department who charged me £15.00 to unlatch it. (didnt have to pay one year in advance)

I am now running on Orange and due to the greif O2 gave me, I will not be returing.

My only out standing issue is setting up MMS on Orange. Orange have been very helpfull, but they do not have settings for the XDAII

Ashby