Boost box - Hang your heads in shame O2

[Anonymous]

Hi Guys - first post and its gonna be a moan

I have been a loyal O2 customer (15ish years, initially on pay monthly then later simplicity - only ever had one year with Vodafone previous to that and some work phones on Orange) but the way O2 has treated their customers regarding the roll out of Boost boxes has appalled me

I had heard about these first via Vodafone who not only made them available much sooner (and I know of many people who switched purely on the strength of this product so that shows the gravity of their appeal), they more importantly made them available to EVERYONE (not just business custmers), and, at a fraction of the price (around a third of the cost I believe for what it appears is essentially the same product)

I should also point out that people are only having to purchase these products to get the service (reception) that they are already paying O2 to supply but not receiving so charging for such a product (which is essentially to fill in the gaps in your network) at all should be frowned upon

I have also spoken to various O2 staff regarding this, most agree it is wrong but they don't make the rules.

I am also amazed as to how many people work at O2 and don't know that this item is available - I even had one guy who told me during a live web chat that O2 definitely did not sell such a product, so, I sent him the link to it from the O2 website. I spoke with one tonight and he suggested that I did not need this unit as the TUGO app would be simpler/easier, except that I cannot find it in the app store and a quick Google suggests it hasnt been launched yet (although he clearly was under the impression it was)

In conclusion I am very disappointed with the way O2 has handled this - it very much seems that despite years of loyal service to the O2 brand not to mention the several thousand pounds it cost for the privelidge I cannot recieve the same products/sevices as a new O2 business customer that signed up today

I would very much like to hear why O2 believe this was the correct course of action in this instance, and more importantly taking in to consideration the points above, how they could ever consider this as "Fair"?

[Anonymous]

You haven't pointed out what or how the issue is causing you problems. Have you moved since you took out the contract? Have you always had reception problems. 

I suspect that O2 have not pushed the boost boxes as they will become redundant at the (hopefully) end of this month with TUGO which from what i have read will be free.

[Anonymous]

Hi Steersy,

To elaborate - my O2 service is fine as my locality has good reception - it is simply the principle that has annoyed me

My friend owns a business that manufacturers large mining machines which are sold globally. Because he does business in various time zones he needs a reliable phone signal 24/7 but he lives in a reception blackspot.

Recently he was given a Boost box by a colleague that moved and no longer required it but as he doesnt have an O2 business contract (he has some unusual arrangement where he uses the same number with various providers depending on where he is in the world) he cannot register it (despite being an O2 customer)

This has got me thinking "What if I were in this position" and even though I am not it still disappoints me that any company would put an obsticle like this in the way to stop you using a device which effectively covers up their shortcomings

Definitely not O2s finest hour in my eyes.......

[perksie]

The Boostbox would be unlikely to work outside of the UK anyway and I'll be surprised if the Vodafone one does either.

TuGo will be far superior and will be much easier to use.

[Anonymous]

Right, so you are talking about a hypothetical situation for yourself. 

Blackspots happen to every phone company and it is the resposability of the user to make sure that you are not taking out a contract with a company that will cause you reception problems. 

As he has a company he is surely claiming his phone under expenses so why has he not registered as a business user which would aloow him to claim back VAT.

If you chose to take out a contract without checking the signal in your area via the provided Post code seach then you would only have yourself to blame. 

O2 (telefonica) have invested in TUgo which will be free so not sure why they should 'hang your heads in shame'


I really do not understand the logic of your post.

[Anonymous]

Hi Perksie,

You misunderstand - he spends the vast majority of his time at home (in the UK) and thats where his reception issues are

A Boostbox would cure his problems now and whilst the TUGO app may be another solution I wont hold my breath for its launch if its anything like the drawn out saga that the boostbox was (delays, broken promises etc etc despite other providers already offering them to EVERYONE)

Is it only me that thinks that the way O2 have arrogantly chose to supply this product to a select group is wrong? What makes it more wrong is that its only required to fill gaps in network reception (which O2 have already been paid to provide) and if you are fortunate enough to qualify for one (ie a business customer) then you are gonna be overcharged for what is essentially the same device as other providers supply for around a third of the cost

Doesnt matter how you size it up - its very disappointing by such a large company

[Anonymous]

So you think all phone companies should have a 100% signal coverage?

Have you asked yourself why Vodafone have had to make the boost boxes available to everyone?

[Anonymous]

And just to add. Do some research on the vodafone Sure signal boxes and you will find out that most people have said they are close to being useless. 

The booster boxes for O2 and Vodafone are made by the same company and they will dictate the cost of the boxes.

[Anonymous]

Hi Steersy,

The logic of my post is simple - at this moment in time TUGO is not available so the only solution to reception issues from O2 is a Boostbox, which, despite being essentially the same product as Vodafone offer to everyone, O2 choose to discriminate against all non business users and make everyone else pay through the nose for a product that masks their networks inadequencies

As I mentioned earlier - I`m lucky - my phone reception is fine. My involvement in this was trying to set the Boostbox up for my friend (opening ports etc) but it hasnt stopped me from seeing how wrong O2 are with the way they have dealt with this

I know from being at his place that there are no better providers - it really is a reception blackspot, so he uses O2 as it works best for this area beyond that (I would agree)

I know that Blackspots are not unique to O2 but the offering of solutions to them (ie Boostboxes) appears to be selective - you are only going to be able to source/use a solution from O2 if you are on a business deal - are O2 somehow suggesting that only business users suffer from blackspots? Or that non business are somehow less important? Because thats the message theyre sending out

I have already explained that hes on a strange deal that allows him to use the same number but with different providers in each country (which suits his needs perfectly) which is why he cant use a bog standard O2 business deal

I find it interesting that no one has tried to justify why O2 selected business customers only for Boostboxes - realistically it was only ever going to annoy everyone not on a business deal and why would any company want to do that? Particulary on a product that theyre selling at a vastly inflated price?

[Anonymous]

I`ve already stated that for the location in question there is no decent reception by any provider

Fair play to Vodafone for making them available to everyone - was that not the correct thing to do? The fact they did so much earlier and for a fraction of the cost was another bonus

Have you asked yourself why O2 didnt want to/couldnt make them available to everyone?