3 Change Tariff 5/4/2009

mcguyver

Just got a text off three saying there is a change to the 3pay tariff rates as of the 5/4/2009

http://www.three.ie/new3pay/

Its the same 3pay tariff as the one they currently have, so Just anyone on the 5c text and MMS and 18c Landline calls are being forced to change.

Bye Bye 3 :mad:

Cable

Ya I got the same. I was always under the impression that a network couldnt change your tarriff without oking it with you. I use a second phone for msn and cheap texts to people who arent on meteor. Guess its time to get rid of the three number

Sam Vimes

I got it too. I like how they make a direct comparison of text prices with the other networks without mentioning that pretty much no one pays those prices and how they felt it necessary to point out that the off net price is dropping by 5c but left it up to you to notice that the on net and landline charge is increasing by 12c

friday1

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055505402


Im Fairly annoyed too...

3 Ireland 3Pay Calls to 3 & landlines to increase by 12c Per min

---

http://www.three.ie/new3pay/



This is a joke..


"We have reduced the calls to other networks from 35c to 30c a minute"


BUT.....................

Calls to 3(Yes your own network) & calls to landlines have increased by 12c per minute.

rh555

This sux. Nice price increase there. Well in a recession u have to make money somehow i guess.

How could i chose to go to the new plan before and now i am being forced into it? I guess its legal but it pretty much sux.

Don Carlos

i'm really shocked by this. the prices have almost doubled on same network calls! i only went to three for skype. but to be honest, with price increases like that, skype isn't a big enough attraction to stay. might go back to o2.

parsi

According to Three (posted on the page linked above):

"Terms and Conditions

Under Regulation 17 of the European Communities (electronic communications networks and services)(Universal Service and Users’ rights) regulations 2003 an operator shall not less than one month prior to the date of implementation of any proposed modification, notify its subscribers to that service of the proposed modification in the conditions of the contract for that service, and their right to withdraw without penalty from such contract if they do not accept the modification."

Business must be bad - it explains why they rang me again offering the same deals as on their website because I was a "valued" customer and then got snotty when I pointed out that their special offer was available to anybody via their site.

mcguyver

They now have a Minimum call charge of 5c on this great new tariff, I wonder does this apply to Skype Calls also? Skype to Skype for free no more With all the failed skype calls they will make a fortune.

rh555

I hope in a few years mobile phones will just work over VOIP and all i do is to sign up for a cheap broadband package and use a program such as skype, voipcheap etc. on my phone to make calls for next to nothing.

Its 2009 charging 30cents for a 1min call is kinda nuts to begin with.

friday1

well Im finished with them anyway. I'll be porting back to a cheaper provider for sure.

Sam Vimes

rh555 wrote: »

I hope in a few years mobile phones will just work over VOIP and all i do is to sign up for a cheap broadband package and use a program such as skype, voipcheap etc. on my phone to make calls for next to nothing.

Its 2009 charging 30cents for a 1min call is kinda nuts to begin with.

You can already do that....

jordainius

Bad move, not even 3's two resident cheerleaders here could defend this one.

So 3 customers who were on the original priceplan are now faced with a 600% rise in picture/video messaging prices, and a 67% hike in charges to landlines and other 3 customers. (Also with a min call charge thrown in)

And yeah, the calls to other networks are down from 35c to 30c, but what about the customer who mainly called landlines; they now find themselves where yesterday they were paying the cheapest prepay landline rate on all networks, and today they find themselves on the most expensive.

They already had the least attractive prepay option. Now they've made it a lot worse for many of their existing customers.

I can see the attraction to 3 on bill pay, very competitive. And the "Best of Both" priceplan was one of the most innovative ideas ever had by a mobile network in this country.

But in terms of the pre-pay market they just seem lazy. Which is odd considering thats an area where big gains can be made as shown by Meteor.

flodis79

mcguyver wrote: »

They now have a Minimum call charge of 5c on this great new tariff, I wonder does this apply to Skype Calls also? Skype to Skype for free no more With all the failed skype calls they will make a fortune.

Think Skype-Skype will remain free. No mention of any changes in that service.

The question is: if you are on the legacy 5c price plan (5c calls, texts, MMS), can you still keep that?

Sam Vimes

flodis79 wrote: »

Think Skype-Skype will remain free. No mention of any changes in that service.

yeah that'll still be free

flodis79 wrote: »

The question is: if you are on the legacy 5c price plan (5c calls, texts, MMS), can you still keep that?

I don't think so. Up until now they've been trying to convince everyone to switch to the new tariff but now they've just told everyone they have to. I never opted into their new tariff but I still got the text

flodis79

Sam Vimes wrote: »

I don't think so. Up until now they've been trying to convince everyone to switch to the new tariff but now they've just told everyone they have to. I never opted into their new tariff but I still got the text

Yeah but then again, they sent pricing information about the 3pay08 priceplan to people still on the old priceplan, and then apologised in another text a few hours later.

mcguyver

The difference is this time they said its a price change notice and as of April 5all calls will be charged at the new rate for all customers.

http://www.three.ie/new3pay/

Rsaeire

As far as Vodafone and Meteor are concerned, if a user is on a tariff, they can stay on that tariff for as long as they wish. I know of people who are still on tariffs from over 4 years ago and in no way shape or form are they being moved or even being asked to move from their tariff. 3 have pretty much just put another nail in the coffin as far as I’m concerned.

A certain inebriated simian will have a hard sell defending their favourite network now.

Stephen

I'm counting the days until my bill pay contract is finished with them (2 months to go).

mcguyver

Rsaeire wrote: »

As far as Vodafone and Meteor are concerned, if a user is on a tariff, they can stay on that tariff for as long as they wish. I know of people who are still on tariffs from over 4 years ago and in no way shape or form are they being moved or even being asked to move from their tariff. 3 have pretty much just put another nail in the coffin as far as I’m concerned.

A certain inebriated simian will have a hard sell defending their favourite network now.

Well said as soon as my credit is used up im off to vodafone I reckon

Sam Vimes

Stephen wrote: »

I'm counting the days until my bill pay contract is finished with them (2 months to go).

make sure that you call them when there are 30 days left in your contract to give them notice that you're cancelling or they'll charge you for an extra 30 days. all the networks do it afaik

Walkman

jordainius wrote: »

Bad move, not even 3's two resident cheerleaders here could defend this one.

I presume I am one of the two ;-). I would never justify any company doing this, very bad move from 3.

Davy

They need to get the money in after they wasted it on the irish open

rh555

Actually I was thinking about this a little more and was wondering if this actually might be illegal by Three?

I understand they can change the rates at leat 1monts in advance and I am not arguing about this point. I do howwever think there must be some limit of how much a company can increase their prices which in 3's case is just insane.

Lets see here:

Text Message:
5c -> 3c = -40%

MMS
5c ->30c=+500%

Landline calls
18c ->30c=+66%

Other mobiles
35c -> 30c=-14%

That means taking an average of all the increases/decreases we have a total increase in rates of 148% which is sought of insane.

Now if that would be a service like SKY,UPC or any other service you pay for monthly you could just say screw you and cancel your contract.
On 3Pay however most people have topped-up money which they would lose by not using the phone anymore and so don't have a choice.
I actually still have over 80euros on my phone which is probably higher than most ppl but even having 20euros on it and being forced to pay more should and might be illegal but I dont know.

I haven't contacted 3 about this yet but I was wondering if there is a legal issue with three increasing their prices by such an excessive amount for people that have already payed in advance for it and can't just get their money back.

Thanks

Sam Vimes

The law is that you have the right to withdraw from the contract without penalty so I think that if you decided to leave they'd have to refund you your credit

Cable

Good luck getting their customer care to agree to that.

Our man in Havana

It will be a cold day in hell before 3 refund a PAYG customer their credit.

Sam Vimes

Bond-007 wrote: »

It will be a cold day in hell before 3 refund a PAYG customer their credit.

You're right. What was I thinking!? The law doesn't mean anything to 3 customer care. Their script is above the law!!!


(I'm actually saying you're right btw, not being sarsactic)

bobbbb

ive been a 3 customer from the start.
No more.
Bye bye 3.

T-Square

I'm on 3 bill pay, will this affect me?

I'd love a iPhone, if I was to move, who to?

Sam Vimes

T-Square wrote: »

I'm on 3 bill pay, will this affect me?

I'd love a iPhone, if I was to move, who to?

It doesn't affect bill pay....yet.


If you want an iPhone, only o2 sells them

AdMMM

I'll never forget the day that they rang me with an exclusive special offer, just for me. Coincidently I was looking at the Three website at the time, in search for a new phone and found out that they were offering me a "special price" that was €15 dearer than what I could get it on the website for!

I think I'll be changing over to their Best of Both package.

Sam Vimes

AdMMM wrote: »

I'll never forget the day that they rang me with an exclusive special offer, just for me. Coincidently I was looking at the Three website at the time, in search for a new phone and found out that they were offering me a "special price" that was 15 dearer than what I could get it on the website for!

I think I'll be changing over to their Best of Both package.

I wonder could that be considered false advertising? You're not the only one who's said you got called with a pack of lies

rh555

Ok, I was on the phone with 3 yesterday complaining about the 'forced' switchover to the new plan and I am glad I did.

The guy told me that they cant actually force someone to go to the new plan and he said he would make a note that I dont wanna switch to the new plan and contact his supervisor who will get in touch with me.

Now I am not sure if he knows for sure that you can 'opt' out of the new plan but it sounded like he knew what he was saying.

I can def. imagine that 3 just hopes nobody calls them up complaining about the switchover and by April 4th or so they just automatically put everyone in the new plan that didnt call them. Something like we put u in the new plan unless we hear from u by the deadline.

So I am not 100% sure if I can stay in the old plan bc it has to be confirmed by the supervisor but i would advise everyone to call them before the switchover. After that they may say we contacted everyone 1 month in advance and because you didnt opt out you were automatically enrolled in the new plan.

If you want the new plan however just do nothing and you should have it by beginning of april.

Hope this helps

mcguyver

I wouldn't hold my breath mate bet if you rang back now you'd get a different story. Its a price change on the plan were on and that price change just happens to be the same as the new plan they brought out last year.

Our man in Havana

rh555 wrote: »

Ok, I was on the phone with 3 yesterday complaining about the 'forced' switchover to the new plan and I am glad I did.

The guy told me that they cant actually force someone to go to the new plan and he said he would make a note that I dont wanna switch to the new plan and contact his supervisor who will get in touch with me.

Now I am not sure if he knows for sure that you can 'opt' out of the new plan but it sounded like he knew what he was saying.

I can def. imagine that 3 just hopes nobody calls them up complaining about the switchover and by April 4th or so they just automatically put everyone in the new plan that didnt call them. Something like we put u in the new plan unless we hear from u by the deadline.

So I am not 100% sure if I can stay in the old plan bc it has to be confirmed by the supervisor but i would advise everyone to call them before the switchover. After that they may say we contacted everyone 1 month in advance and because you didnt opt out you were automatically enrolled in the new plan.

If you want the new plan however just do nothing and you should have it by beginning of april.

Hope this helps

I would not believe a word that 3 says via their Mumbai call centre. I would only believe it if they put it in writing.

Sam Vimes

rh555 wrote: »

After that they may say we contacted everyone 1 month in advance and because you didnt opt out you were automatically enrolled in the new plan.

The text I got said:
From 3: As of 5 April 09 we're changing our 3Pay tariff rates. To find out more about your new 3Pay tariff go to three.ie/new3Pay 2stopMsgsGo2My3


It says nothing about being able to opt out and neither does the link. I'd say they'd get in a lot of trouble if they tried that

I just called them and was told that everyone will be switching and there's no choice in the matter. I asked him how they can force this when I signed up to 5c picture, message and video "for life" and to explain how you might have been told otherwise but he just did the good old 3 thing of repeating the same line from his script until I gave up

rh555

I will let ppl know if they contact me.

Walkman

Sister called them yesterday. Told them she didnt want to be put onto the new plan. Agent put a note onto her account and assured her she wouldnt be moved.

Sam Vimes

I called twice and was told that there was no chance of staying on the current tariff and that I should tell the people who were told they could to call 3 and have it explained that they couldn't

Then I called this morning after Walkman's post and was told that it shouldn't be a problem and he'll escalate it to his manager

*holds breath*

rh555

yup thats exactly what happened to me - so we will see. As I said it might be illegal for a company o increase avg. prices by 125% if you have prepaid money for it and lose all your money if you cancel.

Well I just hope there is a way.

Sam Vimes

One of the agents told me that picture and video messages are staying at 5c but someone on boards said they're going to 25c. Can anyone confirm who's right?

Our man in Havana

They are increasing to 30 cent per message.

http://three.ie/new3Pay/

Sam Vimes

Bond-007 wrote: »

They are increasing to 30 cent per message.

http://three.ie/new3Pay/

I don't know how I missed that before. I must have been looking at the page on my phone. Looks like I can add one more to the list of lies the script monkeys have told me

rh555

A little more info about the topic here. http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055506367

According to this it really seems like that you can indeed 'opt' out of the plan although its not confirmed. Also, the more ppl call Three and complain the more likely it is they wont force the new price plan on old customers or at least not for customers that call up and 'opt' out of the new plan.

Davy

rh555 wrote: »

yup thats exactly what happened to me - so we will see. As I said it might be illegal for a company o increase avg. prices by 125% if you have prepaid money for it and lose all your money if you cancel.

Well I just hope there is a way.

Terms and Conditions

Under Regulation 17 of the European Communities (electronic communications networks and services)(Universal Service and Users’ rights) regulations 2003 an operator shall not less than one month prior to the date of implementation of any proposed modification, notify its subscribers to that service of the proposed modification in the conditions of the contract for that service, and their right to withdraw without penalty from such contract if they do not accept the modification."

I would argue this and want a refund for all the credit on my account. I don't think 3 will let customers stay at the old rates, they way the way they are advertising it on the 3 site stating the terms and pricing with the ending and starting dates. Prepare for battle!

As bond said, i would want it in writing that existing customers would not be affected, and not from someone on the phone wanting an easy life. He has april 4th booked off on leave :pac:

mcguyver

The guys in the chat room have said this:

3 will implement a price change to the existing 3Pay tariff as of April 5th 2009. As part of this price change we are currently in the process of reviewing the implications for MMS and Video Messaging pricing. MMS and Video Messaging will remain at 5c until further notice.

I asked why this is not printed on the website:

This message is for internal communications with the contact centre. I have informed you about the same as per our updates. We have not published this on the website.

No mention of the 18c landline calls going up to 30c and when I asked I was told this.

These prices are being reviewed as per our customer feedback. However, the prices will change effective 5th of April until further notice.

Sam Vimes

mcguyver wrote: »

I asked why this is not printed on the website:

This message is for internal communications with the contact centre. I have informed you about the same as per our updates. We have not published this on the website.

It's not so much that it's not printed on the website, contradictory information is printed on the website

mcguyver wrote: »

No mention of the 18c landline calls going up to 30c and when I asked I was told this.

These prices are being reviewed as per our customer feedback. However, the prices will change effective 5th of April until further notice.

Translation: Blah blah blah blah we don't give a sh!t what you say and will ignore the customer feedback


It's all just standard scripted BS. I wouldn't believe a word of it

Our man in Havana

As far as 3 are concerned the rates are changing on April 5 and feck the customers.