Three bill-pay plans

jahalpin

I'm not sure if anyone has posted about the great value tarriffs that Three are offering at the moment.

I recently upgraded to a Galaxy S2 with 3 on the Classic Flex Max plan and I get the following for 40.66 a month;

- Unlimited national landline calls
- 3000 3 to 3 voice or video calls
- All I can eat data
- 350 flexi-units (1 flexi-unit = 1 min call or 2 txt messages)

While the above, is in itself, amazing value there's more!

I also get the following;

- I can use upto half my flexi-units to call the UK (mobile or landline)
- I can make calls and send texts using my flexi-units in any 3 country using 3 Like Home (this includes the UK and Italy). I can also use my unlimited data allowance in these countries

I'm just back from a few days in London and Rome and I was able to use my phone to call home, browse the web and use the GPS to find my hotel and it cost me nothing extra.

alan4cult

Three are great, but only if you play by their rules.

Out of contract, you'd need a bank loan to pay for their call charges (calls to UK, US, etc.)

thms.kelly

they charge expensive rates for lo call numbers their data is not very good, unlimited data is great if you can actually use it, the data sometimes takes minutes to load , and im in dublin imagine what its like elsewhere,
there is better offers out there 15 from meteor 1 gb data, 200 mins anynetwork,200 txts and free meteor to meteor calls,

im actually with 3 so im speaking from experience, 3000 free 3 to 3 calls is no use if not many people you know has 3,

ChickenBalls

alan4cult wrote: »

Three are great, but only if you play by their rules.

Out of contract, you'd need a bank loan to pay for their call charges (calls to UK, US, etc.)

Agreed! I've 2 accounts with the deal from the OP and I got a bill(I pay for both accounts) for €280 after my missus came back from Boston in December. Women do talk alot!
My own number bill was €60 and I rang her quite a bit in Boston - it must be cheaper to ring another Three number abroad than to receive one from Three.

Handy tip there...

flink80

thms.kelly wrote: »

...their data is not very good, unlimited data is great if you can actually use it, the data sometimes takes minutes to load , and im in dublin imagine what its like elsewhere,...

i've never had any issues with their data and use it all the time - mostly in dublin but have used around the country too...

godtabh

thms.kelly wrote: »

they charge expensive rates for lo call numbers their data is not very good, unlimited data is great if you can actually use it, the data sometimes takes minutes to load , and im in dublin imagine what its like elsewhere,
there is better offers out there 15 from meteor 1 gb data, 200 mins anynetwork,200 txts and free meteor to meteor calls,

im actually with 3 so im speaking from experience, 3000 free 3 to 3 calls is no use if not many people you know has 3,

I've just changed from 3 to a better deal.

But when I did use them I used them all over the country to tap into the work vpn. In the arse hole of no where you might have issues but in the major towns/cities I never had an issue.

Fuctifino

godtabh wrote: »

I've just changed from 3 to a better deal.

But when I did use them I used them all over the country to tap into the work vpn. In the arse hole of no where you might have issues but in the major towns/cities I never had an issue.

+1.

IN THE FACE

discombobulate

jahalpin wrote: »

I'm not sure if anyone has posted about the great value tarriffs that Three are offering at the moment.

I recently upgraded to a Galaxy S2 with 3 on the Classic Flex Max plan and I get the following for 40.66 a month;

- Unlimited national landline calls
- 3000 3 to 3 voice or video calls
- All I can eat data
- 350 flexi-units (1 flexi-unit = 1 min call or 2 txt messages)

While the above, is in itself, amazing value there's more!

I also get the following;

- I can use upto half my flexi-units to call the UK (mobile or landline)
- I can make calls and send texts using my flexi-units in any 3 country using 3 Like Home (this includes the UK and Italy). I can also use my unlimited data allowance in these countries

I'm just back from a few days in London and Rome and I was able to use my phone to call home, browse the web and use the GPS to find my hotel and it cost me nothing extra.

Its also the same deal they've had going for nearly 2 years now. Im just fiinished it.

Going to try their pay as you go for a little to see if it costs less for me. Top up by €20 a month get free all you can eat data, free texts to any network, free 3 to 3 calls and free calls to any network at the weekend. The 3 abroad stuff also works with this.

-Corkie-

I am paying 40 a month and get free calls and texts to all numbers and landlines with free data. I find the coverage great..

Zab

thms.kelly wrote: »

their data is not very good, unlimited data is great if you can actually use it, the data sometimes takes minutes to load , and im in dublin imagine what its like elsewhere,

3's 3G/3.5G data is excellent. The problem with them is that they don't have their own 2G network, they use the networks of other operators. 3G doesn't penetrate buildings like 2G does so inevitably your phone will lose the 3G signal and start using 2G. That itself is fine, the problem starts when you go back into 3G coverage. If the networks were operated by the same operator your phone would seamlessly hop back over. However, when they aren't by the same operator it can take a very long time to automatically change back as you never "lose" the 2G signal. In practise I always had to do it manually. It's the primary reason I ditched 3 for Meteor.

BlackWizard

-Corkie- wrote: »

I am paying 40 a month and get free calls and texts to all numbers and landlines with free data. I find the coverage great..

Is that normal package? I don't remember seeing that one online.

we'llallhavetea_old

discombobulate wrote: »

Its also the same deal they've had going for nearly 2 years now. Im just fiinished it.

Going to try their pay as you go for a little to see if it costs less for me. Top up by €20 a month get free all you can eat data, free texts to any network, free 3 to 3 calls and free calls to any network at the weekend. The 3 abroad stuff also works with this.

I did this, switched to payg, the 20 lasted me the month, however, I used €7 on data, so it's not all you can eat like the bill pay. something about fair usage I think.

doodio

I get the same deal for 32euro. Last time I signed up via an upgrade and they gave me a 20% discount. Don't forget about the free skype access. Skype on 3 is a must have for me and it's 1000x better than the skype program quality as it dials an actual number.

I believe they are currently offering an second free add on as well. ie. 150 evening+weekend minutes or a text bundle etc.

discombobulate

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

I did this, switched to payg, the 20 lasted me the month, however, I used €7 on data, so it's not all you can eat like the bill pay. something about fair usage I think.

Well it says its all you can eat here: http://www.three.ie/products_services/priceplans/prepay/index.html

whiterebel

we'llallhavetea wrote: »

I did this, switched to payg, the 20 lasted me the month, however, I used €7 on data, so it's not all you can eat like the bill pay. something about fair usage I think.

Fair Usage would only result in throttling, not suspension or charging.....

mathie

doodio wrote: »

I get the same deal for 32euro. Last time I signed up via an upgrade and they gave me a 20% discount. Don't forget about the free skype access. Skype on 3 is a must have for me and it's 1000x better than the skype program quality as it dials an actual number.

I believe they are currently offering an second free add on as well. ie. 150 evening+weekend minutes or a text bundle etc.

When I extended my contract recenly they'd taken off the 1 free add-on.
So for 40 euro a month there was no free add-ons.

Did you get two free add-ons?!

batmanzed

Zab wrote: »

thms.kelly wrote: »

their data is not very good, unlimited data is great if you can actually use it, the data sometimes takes minutes to load , and im in dublin imagine what its like elsewhere,

3's 3G/3.5G data is excellent. The problem with them is that they don't have their own 2G network, they use the networks of other operators. 3G doesn't penetrate buildings like 2G does so inevitably your phone will lose the 3G signal and start using 2G. That itself is fine, the problem starts when you go back into 3G coverage. If the networks were operated by the same operator your phone would seamlessly hop back over. However, when they aren't by the same operator it can take a very long time to automatically change back as you never "lose" the 2G signal. In practise I always had to do it manually. It's the primary reason I ditched 3 for Meteor.

Is this why if I'm online and get a call the 3G signal drops to G and takes an age to come back up? As a matter of interest how do you switch between 2G and 3G on your phone?

Zab

batmanzed wrote: »

Is this why if I'm online and get a call the 3G signal drops to G and takes an age to come back up? As a matter of interest how do you switch between 2G and 3G on your phone?

Yeah, that's why. Your phone decided that the 3G signal was low enough that it should switch to 2G ( G stands for GPRS, E stands for EDGE and is also 2G but the data should be a bit faster ).

I'm on Android and I switch by selecting the mobile operator. You'll probably see two 3s, Vodafone and O2. One of the 3s is actually operated by 3 and it's 3G. The other is operated by Vodafone and it's 2G only, as are the other two options. So you select the first 3 which should be the 3G network. This all takes ages though, more than 60 seconds probably, and then even more time while your phone negotiates the data connection.. I never found a quicker way. People reported success using the "Select Automatically" option on the same menu but that wouldn't reliably switch back for me.

Crackity Jones

jahalpin wrote: »

I'm not sure if anyone has posted about the great value tarriffs that Three are offering at the moment.

I recently upgraded to a Galaxy S2 with 3 on the Classic Flex Max plan and I get the following for 40.66 a month;

- Unlimited national landline calls
- 3000 3 to 3 voice or video calls
- All I can eat data
- 350 flexi-units (1 flexi-unit = 1 min call or 2 txt messages)

While the above, is in itself, amazing value there's more!

I also get the following;

- I can use upto half my flexi-units to call the UK (mobile or landline)
- I can make calls and send texts using my flexi-units in any 3 country using 3 Like Home (this includes the UK and Italy). I can also use my unlimited data allowance in these countries

I'm just back from a few days in London and Rome and I was able to use my phone to call home, browse the web and use the GPS to find my hotel and it cost me nothing extra.

Their website says the free add on is only available on the more expensive super flex max plan and above and then only until June 2012.

daanvieliengen

Well I think they are a disgrace. I got a phone for my kid, they told me bills capped at €40. My bills have never been below €100 and she is cut off every month about half way through. Cancelling the contract is fun, their Customer Service is an absolute shambles and they are really rude.

Minstrel27

thms.kelly wrote: »

their data is not very good, unlimited data is great if you can actually use it, the data sometimes takes minutes to load , and im in dublin imagine what its like elsewhere

Excellent here in Co. Waterford. No problems with it especially when driving around. I like to use my phone for internet radio in the car.

Freddie59

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Excellent here in Co. Waterford. No problems with it especially when driving around. I like to use my phone for internet radio in the car.

Same here in Waterford City. I also used it in Italy last Summer and it was great. No hidden charges (but I'm on prepay). I looked at changing to an iPhone on their bill pay today and it is SO confusing!:mad:

On THIS page it says the €25 a month miniflex max tariff gives you all you can eat data; free 3 to 3 calls; and 100 flexi units. Not really of much use to me as I send around 2 - 3,000 texts a month.

Yet on THIS page (iPhone shop page) you can avail of a €25 tariff which gives you unlimited texts to all networks; free 3 - 3 calls; and 200 flexi units - but no all you can eat data.

For €20 a month I currently get free 3 - 3 calls; unlimited texts to all networks; €10 free credit every month; and free weekend calls to all networks.

I think I'll just buy the iPhone from Apple.

tommyombomb

The value with 3g is great but you better hope your phone doesnt break. had problems with my iphone twice.

they wouldnt give me a replacement phone for when it was being repaired. i didnt want a proper phone, one that i could ring and text is all i wanted. still pretty peeved that they dont have a few old spare phones for circumstances like that.

i had 4days without my phone and numbers as i didnt have a smartphone to take the small sim card so was using an old phone/sim

overall the value has helped me get over it but it still annoys me over a year later

Wider Road

I have 3 broadband, mi-fi I think it's called. I can connect up to 6 devices in 1 go. Their customer service is nothing short of a disgrace and yesterday I called them to cancel as my 18 month contract is up in March & I have to give 30 days notice. After a brief discussion with a nice guy and I told him my reasons for leaving, he gave me 2 free months! I accepted but told him if I received it 6 months earlier (when my problems arose) I wouldn't be going elsewhere.
Still I've 2 free months to enjoy.

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

Did you cancel in the end?
2 months free - great! I just hope they haven't tied you into another 18 month contract without you knowing! (seriously - I would check!)
Unless of course, you were ok with them extending your contract

Wider Road wrote: »

I have 3 broadband, mi-fi I think it's called. I can connect up to 6 devices in 1 go. Their customer service is nothing short of a disgrace and yesterday I called them to cancel as my 18 month contract is up in March & I have to give 30 days notice. After a brief discussion with a nice guy and I told him my reasons for leaving, he gave me 2 free months! I accepted but told him if I received it 6 months earlier (when my problems arose) I wouldn't be going elsewhere.
Still I've 2 free months to enjoy.

Savman

Three are great.....if you never, ever need to deal with them.

steviej25

The worst company I have ever had to deal with. Go with the meteor deal...

tomfoolery60

I must say I've been with Three over a year now and they've exceeded my expections (formerly with Meteor/O2). The 3likeHome is fantastic, I am frequently in the UK/N.I. and it is brilliant to be able to use your phone as if you were in Ireland. Same goes for when I was in Spain and Austria (and soon Hong Kong).

The fact that you can use half your flexiunits to call the UK is an unbeatable offer. As is the inclusive mobile tethering. Highly recommended. Only flaw is they charge for voicemail. Minor in the grand scheme of things.

whiterebel

tomfoolery60 wrote: »

I must say I've been with Three over a year now and they've exceeded my expections (formerly with Meteor/O2). The 3likeHome is fantastic, I am frequently in the UK/N.I. and it is brilliant to be able to use your phone as if you were in Ireland. Same goes for when I was in Spain and Austria (and soon Hong Kong).

The fact that you can use half your flexiunits to call the UK is an unbeatable offer. As is the inclusive mobile tethering. Highly recommended. Only flaw is they charge for voicemail. Minor in the grand scheme of things.

3 Like Home does not apply in Spain. It has always been in Hong Kong. Tethering is gone for any new accounts signing up from 1/1/12

eorpach

Zab wrote: »

Yeah, that's why. Your phone decided that the 3G signal was low enough that it should switch to 2G ( G stands for GPRS, E stands for EDGE and is also 2G but the data should be a bit faster ).

I'm on Android and I switch by selecting the mobile operator. You'll probably see two 3s, Vodafone and O2. One of the 3s is actually operated by 3 and it's 3G. The other is operated by Vodafone and it's 2G only, as are the other two options. So you select the first 3 which should be the 3G network. This all takes ages though, more than 60 seconds probably, and then even more time while your phone negotiates the data connection.. I never found a quicker way. People reported success using the "Select Automatically" option on the same menu but that wouldn't reliably switch back for me.

On any iPhone that network problem you're describe is quickly resolved by flicking "Airplane Mode" ON and OFF in Settings. Is there nothing similar on Android? I agree that its annoying; but its really something that the phone manufacturers should have looked into by now....

As for 3 themselves - I've been with all the Irish networks; and with 3 as a bill-payer for the longest of all. I have nothing but praise for their great value bundles and unlimited data. As far as I'm concerned they bring great competition and innovation to the already too-expensive Irish mobile market. My only bug-bear is the degradation of 3G service inside old buildings; but voice call quality is usually fine.

I also think 3 customer service is absolutely fine - 3 have call centres in India and Waterford (the default option is India; but Waterford can be accessed by pressing 6 (or maybe 5?) on the options menu) - probably the bigger point is that if you're the kind of problematic customer that requires constant interaction with your service provider, then you're probably the kind of customer who really should be thinking twice about signing up with the most competitive operator in the market in the first place. Customer service is expensive. It's obviously going to be harder for any company to offer a gold standard customer service when they're competing aggressively on price.

If you're seeking the Superquinn customer quality experience, why would you ever waste your time shopping in Tesco?

turbobaby

Agreed! Most people who phone customer service constantly are simpletons with an attitude problem, and as soon as they hear a foreign accent they automatically think they're getting a poor level of service.

I recently moved from a bill pay contract to pay as you go with Three and the whole process was grand!

whiterebel

turbobaby wrote: »

Agreed! Most people who phone customer service constantly are simpletons with an attitude problem, and as soon as they hear a foreign accent they automatically think they're getting a poor level of service.

I recently moved from a bill pay contract to pay as you go with Three and the whole process was grand!

Just hope you never have a problem that requires calls to technical support for 3. You will probably find yourself becoming a "simpleton with an attitude problem" when you have to explain the problem to different reps time after time, and they tell you to do the same troubleshooting time after time. Then you realise that they don't have the correct software/equipment to properly track cases.

whiterebel

eorpach wrote: »

On any iPhone that network problem you're describe is quickly resolved by flicking "Airplane Mode" ON and OFF in Settings. Is there nothing similar on Android? I agree that its annoying; but its really something that the phone manufacturers should have looked into by now....

This "non-switching" only happens on 3. No problems on O2, VF or Meteor. It's been going on nearly 2 years now, and 3 have done nothing to resolve it.

Yzf R6

Would never ever go with 3 again as a network provider,reasons being its coverage is brutal and customer service is even worse.Went to cancel bill pay after my 12 months was up then to be told I had to submit 30 days notice which I was happy to do,I was told verbal over the phone was ok,should have known better.30 days later my account was still active so I rang again only to be told they needed it in writing,so I wrote the letter.Another 30 days later I rang again and was told they never received it.Long story short 3 letters and numerous phone calls later I cancel my direct debit,only to receive a debt collectors letter and a solicitors letter threatening legal action.Never been in debt to anyone I was worried as they threatened to destroy my credit rating,looking back now I should have fought. Anyway there are loads of better networks out there now don't just go with 3 because there cheap,you will pay in the end one way or another.

Elessar

I was with 3 on the same deal for a year only sim-free, at €30 a month. Thought it was a great deal, never had any problems. Then I caught wind of Meteors €15 a month deal a switched immediately. Haven't looked back.

For €15 a month you get 200 mins, 200 texts, 1GB of internet and free meteor to meteor calls and texts. Slashed my bill in half. I never even used that much on 3.

Check it out: http://www.meteor.ie/bill-pay/

galwayjohn89

Ive been a three customers for years now on Android phone. No issues at all. I did have a iPhone that I had from 02 when I first moved and three were able to troubleshoot the network issue and was sorted quickly over the phone.

Also, the switch airplane mode on/off happened with 02 on the iPhone aswell.

Borderfox

No problems with three, I signed up to the same deal as the op and cancelled my Eircom Broadband and use the phone as a protable host. Never have any problems with coverage and bill is fine. Long time since I had a bill phone but couldnt fault them

Vahevala

I have been with 3 for over 2 years and I have no problem at all, No issues with 3G and the data package is top notch. I would highly recommend them