topic Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent! in Discussions & Feedback

I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Robtheupset — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 14:44:40 GMT

Hi everyone! Let me tell you a bit about myself and my telecom journey. I've lived in four countries and had my fair share of experiences with major telecom providers. In Australia, I worked with Telstra; in the U.S., it was Verizon; in Canada, Rogers; and here in the UK, I’m currently with O2 after switching from EE for the (hopefully) better pricing. I thought the service couldn’t get any worse than EE, but I was in for a surprise!

If you’re not familiar, the UK has some of the world’s worst mobile network coverage and speed—and it’s costly too. With only three major providers, there’s little incentive for them to really compete or innovate. We don’t have the likes of T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T to keep them on their toes. And that lack of competition shows.

Here’s my gripe: when you’re signing up, they’re all over you with smiles and offers, but once you’re locked into a contract, it’s like you’re invisible. Need help with an issue? Good luck battling through their automated phone system, listening to tinny hold music, and getting absolutely nowhere. It’s night and day compared to companies like Apple or Amazon, which know a thing or two about excellent customer service. Why can’t O2—or any UK provider—aim higher?

Instead of flashy gimmicks like concert tickets, how about investing in the basics? I don’t want 5G in every nook and cranny; I want a solid, reliable 4G signal that doesn’t drop my calls or sound like I’m talking through a tin can—especially right in the city center. So here’s to hoping O2 and others can start delivering the service we deserve in this century. Stay tuned—I've got plenty more to say!

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Oxonian — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 21:24:01 GMT

You had a similar vent earlier @Robtheupset :-

DHL and O2 : a match made is Customer Service Hel... - O2 Community

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Discussions-Feedback/DHL-and-O2-a-match-made-is-Customer-Service-Hell/m-p/1758924#M135554

It is good to let off steam ! 👍

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

RunrigForever — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 06:14:50 GMT

Hello @Robtheupset sorry about your experience and yes it is good to vent.

To me, from an office background, a person on the phone who is your first point of contact represents the company ... also ... whatever happed to market research ? I agree no incentive to improve for loyal customers as not much competition.

I go to the town's O2 shop where they help me very well considering I am an old person not very good with tech.

Well done you for saying your piece @Robtheupset

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Peter_L — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 08:15:59 GMT

I agree that the UK mobile networks are slow and really bad. I am currently on O2 and in Manchester city centre where I have a full 5G signal on my iPhone and also 5G Standalone on (and there should be 5G SA), I can't even open a simple website and many times getting error "couldn't load the page" or if it at least loads, it takes ages to do it - you have a feeling like you're on 2G/3G network instead. However I had Vodafone and Three and even EE and in some parts of city centre even when the signal is full you can't load anything. I can strongly agree with the UK mobile networks being probably one of the worst in the world - and like it's been told - very expensive also 🤔😐

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Oxonian — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 18:44:44 GMT

I must take issue with your "very expensive also" comment @Peter_L. I actually believe that if you take something like an O2 Big Bundle, unlimited calls, unlimited texts and quite a bit of data for a tenner is really good value.

I also think that current 'phone contacts are cheap when compared with times gone by. In the 1970's, thirty-odd quid a quarter would cover your line rental and a few off-peak local calls.

I fully agree with you that all of the UK networks need to improve their capacity in many locations. 👍

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

jonsie — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 21:19:15 GMT

Manchester city centre has been diabolical for years on O2

EE on the other hand....

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Enlli — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 21:57:58 GMT

@Peter_L Do you have the correct SiM / eSIM for 5G SA? You need a plastic SIM of the R15 type. When it comes to eSIMs then these have just been released but customer services know little about them

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

RunrigForever — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 21:58:42 GMT

Reception is patchy in the market town where I live in North Yorkshire, despite relatively another new phone mast. I seem to fall between the 2 I know of, but it could and has been worse. I'm in with O2 for the long haul, not least because of a darn good O2 shop in the town centre.

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Peter_L — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 10:30:58 GMT

Hi @Oxonian yes, you might be right, contracts are definitely cheaper than in a past. I just don't understand why do we need 4G/5G networks really for if we can't even open a simple website and speeds are terrible

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Peter_L — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 10:33:07 GMT

Hi @jonsie I don't understand why they don't try to improve speeds of their networks. They must be aware that at some places although you have a full 5G signal, you can't open a single website... Do they don't use their network at all?

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Peter_L — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 10:34:10 GMT

Hi @Enlli. Yes, I've got now a new eSIM with 5G SA support and everything works fine, thank you

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Oxonian — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 17:27:26 GMT

@Peter_L wrote:
Hi @jonsie I don't understand why they don't try to improve speeds of their networks. They must be aware that at some places although you have a full 5G signal, you can't open a single website... Do they don't use their network at all?

I think @Peter_L that the reason might be that it costs money - lots of money.

The only thing that would force O2 - and any other mobile network operator - to invest heavily in their infrastructure is if a mass exodus of customers was on the horizon. But inertia, cost, fear of the unknown and the fact that the other MNOs might be no better in some locations means that is not going to happen.

Of course, it is more complicated that that because of variations from town to town and area to area. I have just done a speedtest and O2 is giving me a download speed of 152Mbps ; but I do appreciate that is far from being everyone's experience. 👍

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Oxonian — Sun, 03 Nov 2024 17:26:22 GMT

@Peter_L wrote:
Hi @Oxonian yes, you might be right, contracts are definitely cheaper than in a past. I just don't understand why do we need 4G/5G networks really for if we can't even open a simple website and speeds are terrible

One reason is that 5g is good for publicity purposes @Peter_L.

Let's face it, no network that is hoping to remain credible can say we are not bothering with 5G ! 👍

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Pipstop78 — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:31:46 GMT

Where I live I'm getting 4g but then when I go to my other work place I get 5g really wish it could just be one or the other

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Oxonian — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 21:02:43 GMT

How does that cause you a problem @Pipstop78 ?

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

Pipstop78 — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 14:28:58 GMT

Doesn't really but it should be either 4g or stay at 5g should it not

Re: I am ot telling you something new but it makes me feel better to vent!

MI5 — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 14:29:58 GMT

Depends on the mast you are connected to @Pipstop78

Some are not 5g capable.