Anyone on 3 mobile?

throberto

I’m planning on getting a new phone and 3 looks pretty tempting – i.e. pretty cheap!

I’ve heard bad things about both their reception and customer service and wondered what experiences others have had, good and bad.

skyd0g

eh? what was that?

...is there anyone there???
...Can't hear you!!??

Stewie Griffin

A mate used to work in Hammersmith and his firm gave everyone a 3 phone, they all had their calls redirected to their personal phone as 3 had no reception in the middle of London :shock: . This was a few years ago so I would hope thats been sorted by now.

bails87

They 'piggyback' on either O2 or Oranges signal, can't remember which. It was one and changed to the other a few years ago. I've been on 3 for 3 or 4 years now and have had no problems with signal. Or no more than my friends and family on all of the other networks.

They sent my new phone to my old address when I upgraded, despite me giving my 'current' postcode when they asked me to confirm my identity at the start of the call :roll:

It was sorted out easily enough though, luckily the person living there refused to sign for the parcel.

Other than that, customer service has been fine, on the very rare occasion that I've had to call them. I'd say go for it. Someone called trying to get me to switch the other day, and when I told them what deal I was already on she just gave up and apologised for wasting my time

ScaldedCat

I think '3' were best summed up when I went into town with my son just after Xmas to get him a mobile, all the many phone shops in the Westfield were absolutely rammed and you couldn't get served for love nor money, all except for the '3' shop that is which was completely empty of customers and the staff immediately and desperately pounced on anyone who ventured into the shop. Not a good sign imo.

bails87

ScaldedCat wrote:

I think '3' were best summed up when I went into town with my son just after Xmas to get him a mobile, all the many phone shops in the Westfield were absolutely rammed and you couldn't get served for love nor money, all except for the '3' shop that is which was completely empty of customers and the staff immediately and desperately pounced on anyone who ventured into the shop. Not a good sign imo.

They're a bit like Skoda. Not the greatest history, used to get laughed at a lot. But now they're a very good product (VW/Orange) but with a different badge on, and 20% cheaper.

Slow1972

Had a 3 for about 3 years, no better or worse coverage wise for the places I live / work / visit than T-mobile, better for me at home than Vodaphone was (large town just to the South of Manchester). As previous posters say, if there is no 3 network they switch onto Orange.

My deal last time I renewed seemed pretty good 500 mins or texts (any combo) for £15 a month iirc, more than enough for my usage

Can't remember the last time I needed to call customer service anyway, except for an upgrade.

Busy/empty shops analogy is shyte - more people probably go in your local Halfords than your local lbs, does that mean Halfords sell better products?

beverick

bails87 wrote:

They 'piggyback' on either O2 or Oranges signal, can't remember which. It was one and changed to the other a few years ago.

............

Not quite. 3 have their own 3G network although coverage drops away very quickly once you move away from centres of mass-population.

They have a network sharing agreement with Orange for 2G coverage ie where 3 don't have masts or their 3G network is unavailable.

This agreement was with O2 until 2007.

Bob

kettrinboy

i use a 3 mobile dongle on me laptop and from mid jan 2010 when i bought it indoor reception was a bit hit and miss ie about 50-60% success rate in logging on, but over the last month i think their network has been upgraded as now i get five bars on the signal strength meter instead of the previous two or three bars at the best and about 95% logon success rate, so the same would apply to phones i suppose

guilliano

I went with 3 even when I worked for O2 as their deal was better than the staff deal I used to get. That was 5 years ago and I have never once had a problem with signal. The customer service and speed of bill payment if done over the phone or via "My 3" (App for phone and computer) is much quicker than any other network I have encountered. OK, the handset choice is a little more limited, but I have never let that put me off.

cougie

I've been on 3 for 8 years or so now - never really had a problem - better reception than my mates phone on O2 at the bike cafe anyway. I use 3g all the time -im using it now even. Certainly worth a go to see if your area is good for reception.

prawny

I had 3 for a 18 months reception was carp. When I called them to cancel it at the end of the contract the overseas call centre told me that he checked on his system and the reception was fine then the call cut off. Actually cancelling the thing was a nightmare I was on the phone for ages them giving me the hard sell, I had to shout at the bloke in the end.

Would never use them again, this was about 18 months ago.

I'm on virgin now, better signal and the best customer service I've ever experienced from a phone company. I don't think I'll ever change and I recommend them to everyone.

oscarbudgie

Been with 3 (after Vodafone) for about 2 years. No problems with reception. but my contract ends next month and I doubt I'll stay with them as they don't look that competetive at the moment. If you say your leaving do they offer you fantastic upgrades etc to stay?

Pross

beverick wrote:

bails87 wrote:

They 'piggyback' on either O2 or Oranges signal, can't remember which. It was one and changed to the other a few years ago.

............

Not quite. 3 have their own 3G network although coverage drops away very quickly once you move away from centres of mass-population.

They have a network sharing agreement with Orange for 2G coverage ie where 3 don't have masts or their 3G network is unavailable.

This agreement was with O2 until 2007.

Bob

Phew, glad you confirmed that as I thought my Client had just been scammed by paying 3 a large amount of money to relocate a mast on their development site! :shock:

Cressers

It's been quite some time since I was involved in the mobile phone retail market, but when 3 launched the joke was that the network was called 3 because that was the number of satisfied customers they had.

jairaj

I've switched over to 3 about 6 months ago. I was previously at O2 for about 5 years but they couldn't get any where near the fantastic offer that 3 gave me.

I live and work just inside the M25 (north east) and find reception when out and about is good usually getting a fast 3G connection. When inside I get good reception for calls and txts but internet usually drops its 3G connection.

Only had a brief experience with their customer services and they were polite and helpful.

If they have a handset you're after at a great price then go for it IMO.

Cressers

But don't try to put a 3 SIM in a non 3G phone ( as you might if you wanted to keep connected but take a scruffy scrapper phone on an MTB ride, on holiday, or on a raucous night out) as it won't connect.

Just thought you'd like to know that.

throberto

Thanks for your replies guys,

I think I'm going to go for it!

Ho hum

I have been with them for 3 years and I have no complaints about them.

Slow1972

oscarbudgie wrote:

Been with 3 (after Vodafone) for about 2 years. No problems with reception. but my contract ends next month and I doubt I'll stay with them as they don't look that competetive at the moment. If you say your leaving do they offer you fantastic upgrades etc to stay?

Just renewed my contract to a HTC Desire, 500 mins/txts and unlimited internet for £25 a month, seemed reasonable enough without bothering to scour the internet

guilliano

The only time I've not been able to get a signal of any kind with 3 was at the Edale youth Hostel. But my Vodafone handset couldn't get a signal either and neither could people on O2 or Orange so this isn't a problem. Couldn't find a T-Mobile customer to ask.

As for pricing, they are hard to beat and as I said before, their customer service is vastly superior to O2 from my experience (and I would have said the same when I worked for O2).

Matt the Tester

throberto wrote:

I’m planning on getting a new phone and 3 looks pretty tempting – i.e. pretty cheap!

I’ve heard bad things about both their reception and customer service and wondered what experiences others have had, good and bad.

im on 3 mate :0 i could highly suggest getting as phone with them if u do you can add me on skype for free as it;s free