'3' pricing / contracts

the watchman

Hi all, nearly a year ago I signed up for a 12month contract and puchased outright the 3.6MB dongle from '3'. From day one to the present day I only get approx 50 -100kbs daytime and 150-215kbs during the night (desktop computer/fixed location). This is because of the technology and my distance from mast from which I recieve the trasmitted data. Its basically a contention problem and has been investigated twice before and nothing can improve it at the present time. I have learned to live with it and I get by. Price as you already know is €19.99 per month.

My contract expires in 10days and I had a phone call from '3' offering to renew contract for one year and get the first two months free, a €40 saving over the year.

The reason I purchased the dongle outright in first place was to get the smallest contract ie 1year at the time. I was hoping that a new provider would come along offering a better or cheaper service but this doesn't seem to have happened. My location is rural and I don't wish to have phone call/tv bundles etc which are provided by some companies. I prefer to keep internet service completely separate.

So before I sign up and save the €40 I thought I'd throw this out onto the table of 'Boards.ie' and see what interesting thoughts come up just in case I've missed anything like cheaper alternatives etc. So its over to you,,,,

PS. when I got the cold call I couldn't believe it ..the girl had the most beautiful 'IRISH' voice. Couldn't believe it from '3'. Amazing, when they want the money from you a home based worker is used. In the past I have refused to talk on the phone to anyone from '3' who is not based in Ireland.
Sorry, I digress, don't get me started lol:). I'll shut up now:cool:

caspa307

PS. when I got the cold call I couldn't believe it ..the girl had the most beautiful 'IRISH' voice. Couldn't believe it from '3'. Amazing, when they want the money from you a home based worker is used. In the past I have refused to talk on the phone to anyone from '3' who is not based in Ireland.
Sorry, I digress, don't get me started lol:). I'll shut up now:cool:[/QUOTE]

there called retentions mate, they get the guys from mumbai, to deal with with customer care and the irish to deal with keeping customers

Sponge Bob

make sure they don't offer you a new dongle allegedly for faster speeds but which will result in a 24 month contract . When you try to get out of their scummy contracts you only ever deal with Mumbai .....not Irish voices.

cowboy.1981

the watchman wrote: »

The reason I purchased the dongle outright in first place was to get the smallest contract ie 1year at the time. I was hoping that a new provider would come along offering a better or cheaper service but this doesn't seem to have happened. My location is rural and I don't wish to have phone call/tv bundles etc which are provided by some companies. I prefer to keep internet service completely separate.

If you have the option of going with DSL broadband via phone line, don't even think about renewing the 3 mobile midband rubbish. You won't get cable tv bundles in a rural area - go for phone line option if you can get Broadband on it. The calls you get will be free - you might as well take them and you may be able to use them to drop your mobile voice to a cheaper tariff.

You will never be happy with 3 - it will only get worse as more users sign up and they keep dropping the cap. Once you are locked in for another 12/18/24 months, that nice Irish voice will be a distant memory and you will regret your decision.

Walkman

Sponge Bob wrote: »

make sure they don't offer you a new dongle allegedly for faster speeds but which will result in a 24 month contract . When you try to get out of their scummy contracts you only ever deal with Mumbai .....not Irish voices.

3 don't do 24 month contracts

the watchman

Thanks for those comments.
I have an eircom l/line which I want to keep for reasons I won't go into here. Eircom cannot provide broadband to me either.
Therefore another call and broadband provider (such as smart) is out of the question.
And a nieghbour said that '3' is the cheapest given my situation.
So it seems my choices are
1/ take the offer 2months free and locked in for 12months or
2/ do nothing and carry on paying every month which allows me to leave whenever I want with 30days notice(just read small print lol ).

If I take first option and another better provider does come along I'm a bit stuck.
If I take 2nd option and no new provider comes along I'll have lost 2 months free which I could do with right now ...HHHHMMMnnnnn!!!!
****************
My gut tells me no one new is going to come along so I reackon I'll be taking the deal...will let you know what I do.:(

Sponge Bob

The three complaints procedure is explained in full here. Do so it WRITING not by ringing Mumbai willye. That is a complete waste of time.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055697446&highlight=procedure

Generally when pushed to produce a recording ( distance selling regulations) to prove that a valid contract exists 3 will roll over and let you exit the contract immediately. That thread has examples and links.