Best choice for unlimited mobile BB - 3 or Vodafone?

Neuro

I considering jumping ship from O2 and buying an unlimited mobile broadband package from either 3 or Vodafone. Can anyone advise which provider is better in terms of speed, reliability, and customer support?

According to both 3 and Vodafone, I have indoor coverage for mobile broadband. However, I would like to trial the service before committing to it long term. If I sign-up online, do I have the right to cancel my contract within seven days if I'm unhappy with the quality of the service? Can I avail of this right of cancellation if I sign-up in-store?

drunkmonkey

Well the Vodafone has a unlimited cap of 10G and is retarded as in you can't use voip or p2p services, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. It's false advertising on a mammoth scale. Shame on them.

The 3 is good value at 30gb for 26 euro, just make sure you've good reception with them where you are, the b260a router is the best modem to get. You've a 14day money back if it's not up to scratch.

downwithpeace

Three doesn't have an Unlimited version but have the 30GB package, they extended the "Introductory promotional offer" again so you can get it for €26.24. From my own experience Three also has better coverage, can't speak for speeds or quality on Vodafone.

Never bought online but i did do a Bill Pay trial from a store before pre-pay was released and they took a €50 deposit and i had 7 or 14 days in which i could return the modem and cancel the contract, i think i was also charged for the usage. One thing, it took a very long time for me to get my €50 deposit back, had to get in contact with them a few times but hopefully they have sorted that out.

JohnOwonga

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Well the Vodafone has a unlimited cap of 10G and is retarded as in you can't use voip or p2p services, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole. It's false advertising on a mammoth scale. Shame on them.

The 3 is good value at 30gb for 26 euro, just make sure you've good reception with them where you are, the b260a router is the best modem to get. You've a 14day money back if it's not up to scratch.

>>>>>>>>>>>

http://www.vodafone.ie/df/mobilebroadband/plandetails.jsp?packageplanselected=HSDNPRE

I just rang Vodafone about their Unlimited Mobile Plan they said that there was no cap on it and neither was Skype VOIP BLOCKED for €24:99 Euros per month NO Mention that it would cost €40:00 Euros per month????

I told them it was in their Terms & Conditions

12 Month contract? Is it easy to get out of Vodafone's contract?

drunkmonkey

It's no easer getting out of contract with any network, stay clear of the Vodafone one, they can throttle your usage at will it's a very bad contract to get into. It's actually the worst midband contract available in the country, avoid!!!

Neuro

downwithpeace wrote: »

Three doesn't have an Unlimited version but have the 30GB package, they extended the "Introductory promotional offer" again so you can get it for €26.24.

Does this introductory monthly rate apply for the lifetime of the contract, or just until December 2010? The small print on the Three.ie website is unclear:

* This monthly rate is an introductory promotional offer and is available until 31.12.10 This discount will be applied on your bill.

jor el

Seems fairly clear to me, that this price is an introductory one, and ends in December. At that time you'll pay the full regular price per month.

Neuro

jor el wrote: »

Seems fairly clear to me, that this price is an introductory one, and ends in December. At that time you'll pay the full regular price per month.

Which only proves the point it's not very clear at all; I happened to pass a 3 store in town today after making this post, so I popped in, and they said this rate applies for the life of the contract as long as the contract commences before the end of December. It seems like a really good deal to me.

watty

Well, they will find some way of putting the price up.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056080309

They are sell Mobile Data below cost, at their normal prices. All Mobile operators are, that's why out of FUP/Cap data costs between about €120 to €900 a gigabyte depending on exact package and operator.

So extra 30 Gigabyte could cost as much as €2,700 on an "Unlimited" Mobile package!

UPC and Digiweb/Smart throttle if you go over Cap.

eircom DSL charges about €70 for an extra 30 gigabyte?

dub45

There is no such thing as an "unlimited" package.

When will people learn this?:rolleyes:

Any "unlimited" package with a "fair usage policy" of x is a package with a cap of X - remember that.

And how "fair" is the so called "fair usage" when the so called fairness is determined by one party to the contract?

From http://www.askcomreg.ie/home/my_service_provider_has_advertised_an_%22unlimited_package%22___what_does_this_mean_for_me.5.154.LE.asp

My Service Provider has advertised an "unlimited package" - what does this mean for me?

A number of telephone and broadband packages being offered are described as ‘unlimited’. In this context the word ‘unlimited’ would normally be taken to mean that a subscriber, having agreed to pay a set price, may make as many calls or spend as much time online as he or she wishes. However, some service contracts qualify the meaning of ‘unlimited’ by stating that it is subject to an ‘acceptable’ or ‘fair’ level of use by the subscriber. This is referred to as a “fair usage policy” in some advertising.

ComReg would like to advise consumers that any provision of a contract which sets usage thresholds, or describes what constitutes ‘fair’ or ‘acceptable’ use, should be clear and unambiguous, particularly where the service is described as being ‘unlimited’.

Usage thresholds or limits should be clearly set out, as should the manner in which they may be updated or amended.

ComReg expects each service provider to implement a clear, transparent and policy for dealing with customer usage above any set thresholds. The policy should set out the rules for contract termination, including penalties, the charges that shall apply for any use above the threshold/limit, and the policy regarding migration of the customer to other packages, if applicable.

My emphasis by the way.


If the ASA was any use at all it would have banned the advertising of such products long ago.

bealtine

dub45 wrote: »

From http://www.askcomreg.ie/home/my_service_provider_has_advertised_an_%22unlimited_package%22___what_does_this_mean_for_me.5.154.LE.asp



My emphasis by the way.


If the ASA was any use at all it would have banned the advertising of such products long ago.

Comreg are basically useless when it comes to this issue (and a lot of other ones too). They were supposed to take action on this issue 2 years ago but decided not to.