Customer Loyalty??

AccyRach · 30-03-2006, 00:32

Ive been waiting to upgrade my mobile phone for weeks now and finally, on Tuesday it became available. Unfortunatley the bloke said it would cost me £160.00 upfront to upgrade. I thought this was a joke considering that if I was a "brand new customer" I could have had it for free (or £70 if I chose a lower tarriff)

He persisted and wouldn't drop the price for anything - he even offered me a 50% discount on my line rent, which would save me £180.00 over the year. How is that logical? I asked him to send me the phone and a cheque for £20 if I paid full line rent, but he didn't find that too funny.
His excuse for this extortion? I haven't spent enough money on my phone over the last 12 months - is it my fault I picked the best tarriff for me? Should I be punnished for being sensible and not running up a £200 phone bill every month?
I told him to sod off and rang up to order it as a new customer - no problem and it's coming in a few days for the grand sum of £70. (Which I am planning to get refunded when I complain and threaten to return it)
If this happens to anyone else it would be a good idea to speak to the disonnections department, as they have more power

to offer deals. Needless to say, I didn't find this out until after the event.

Madhatter · 30-03-2006, 01:00

The prices of upgrades aren't set by the shop that the problem, They're set by the network based on how much you've spent. When you think about it from the shops point of view, having hundreds of people, they have to have some sort of system. What I don't get is why they set an upgrade higher than a new account even after 2 years, we walked into oranges shop in nuneaton and was lucky enough to get served by a girl who knew what she was talking about that was in to cover from the coventry store. we had three hand sets and wanted to upgrade two t610s and a 7250i, to three k750i's and a new one on the same share plan. one was free(the newest t610s replacement) one was 30quid(my 7250i replacement and the oldest of the three) the third was 80 i think, through swappingabout about getting the best phone for the cheapest price and then swapping the sims around so we all had the k750i's, we managed to get the third phone free, which was for the office, (as its free handset to handset calls), don't know what it is but it was free and its got windows mobile on it. Nobody can work out how to make a call on it though .
SO even a business user with four handsets that hasnt upgraded for two and half years on some of them, doesn't get them free. The difference is when your in business it's not so easy to just get a new deal and numbers.

Basher · 30-03-2006, 07:11

Rach shop around, have a look at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ you'll see it's very favourable to switch all sorts of suppliers.

I work on the principle that I'm the customer and therefore I want the best deal for me, companies don't know the meaning of loyalty so why should I be loyal to them. Shopping around is the only way to make sure you're not ripped off these days whatever you're looking for.

carlsbergaddict · 30-03-2006, 07:38

Yeh exactly the same thing happened to me last year. I said to the phone company that another company had offered me the SAME PHONE on the SAME TARIFF for free but my existing contract supplier wanted £100 for the phone, even though I had been with them for the last 12 months and always paid my bill on time, I hadnt spent enough on calls!! So in the end I told the bloke on the phone I would go with the new supplier on the SAME phone network and change my number! If this happens again this year I will again do the same!

MUMMIBOO · 30-03-2006, 08:31

How strange Daddiboo has been on contract for the last 5 years and every year he has upgraded without a problem no questions asked they even said that he was paying too much and changed his contract!

Gayle · 30-03-2006, 08:31

I go to Carphone warehouse once a year and sign up for a new yearly contract and always get a new phone free. I currently have a Motorola Razr which is a very nice phone, on a Virgin contract. I used to be on Vodafone but they didn't do the Razr as a freebie so I switched. Virgin is ok but the reception at home isn't too brilliant but then again I live in a dip so Vodafone wasn't brilliant either. I'm probably going to go with Orange next time and see which free phone they'll give me - Chris has an Orange service and he has a perfect reception even in the house.

The way I go about it though is probably the wrong way - I decide which phone I want and then ask Carphone warehouse to tell me which provider will give it me for free.

jelly baby · 30-03-2006, 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by MUMMIBOO

How strange Daddiboo has been on contract for the last 5 years and every year he has upgraded without a problem no questions asked they even said that he was paying too much and changed his contract!

I too upgrade every year with no charge and I keep the same number.
I'm with orange and they are always ok.
JB

Neil · 30-03-2006, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelly baby

I too upgrade every year with no charge and I keep the same number.
I'm with orange and they are always ok.

JB

Yes, but what is your monthly payment on your contract? The more you pay the more they like you.

Madhatter · 30-03-2006, 13:11

They'll like us even less now we've got free handset to handset calls. Most of the calls made by us are to our own handsets. It's usually customers that call us, not us call the customer, and if we do the inclusive minutes cover it.

Mick · 30-03-2006, 13:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

I live in a dip

You might get better reception if you live in a house like everyone els Gayle

entwisi · 30-03-2006, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

I live in a dip

I've got to ask, Mayo, french, blue cheese, garlic?

accymel · 30-03-2006, 13:38

Tell me about customer loyalty or lack of it

its the same with ISP'S too a new customer gets good deals on broadband megs & loyal ones have to pay to upgrade to same level!!

Always shuning good customers for new ones grrr! what sence is that? If they kept competitive with their exisiting customers then there wouldn't be all this shifting about elsewhere all the time!!!

MUMMIBOO · 30-03-2006, 13:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Yes, but what is your monthly payment on your contract? The more you pay the more they like you.

I think they used to like Daddiboo alot until he cancelled the contract and went pay as you go.

SPUGGIE J · 30-03-2006, 14:41

I worked out what I paid for line rental and my calls and found it cheaper to change to pay as you go. Even buying a phone with it I saved money and as I am not one for having the latest phone every year. It all comes down to usage and what deals are around. Several times I have been asked to go contract with all the frills but as soon as they realise I do not make a lot of calls they disappear quicker than the grub in a food eating contest.

jelly baby · 30-03-2006, 16:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Yes, but what is your monthly payment on your contract? The more you pay the more they like you.

£25 oer month with 200 free minutes to any network and 50 free texts, and I never use all the minutes or texts.