Why should I pay when no signal?

[Anonymous]

For months now O2 reception has been poor to non-existenr. I have had a couple of texts apologising for loss of service 'while we upgrade equipment '. I pay monthly and feel that I should be given a minutes credit for every miniute when I cannot use my phone. Strange how I only received the 'excuse' sms after I phoned to complain?!???
My husband a business O2 customer has had NO such message despite it causing him headaches on a business level.
NOT IMPRESSED...FEEL LIKE CHANGING PROVIDER.

[perksie]

It could be that 4G is coming to your area, check here: http://status.o2.co.uk/

If you call them when the work is done they may well offer you a goodwill payment.

[Anonymous]

As @perksie has said you may get a goodwill gesture but they are not obliged to do so & it won't be anything like you expect it to be

[Anonymous]

4G!!! O2 hardly managed 2G, never really managed to provide a steady 3G to the point where I often get a signal from a Rep Of Ireland provider as there is no O2 nevermind the mythical 4G.

[perksie]

Have you tried sims from other providers to see if they are better in your area?

[cyrillicguy]

I'm trying to think here, but I can't really name any other industry where customers would be obliged to promptly pay their bills for the "we might provide you a service but we might not, we don't have to anyway" service.

I personally think that in this day and age customers should:

1) Avoid signing up for any long term contracts. Escpecially 24 months ones. If you do need a Pay Monthly service that badly (some services like call diverts might not be available for Pay&Go), go for a 30 days sim. 24 months contracts where you can walk away any time by paying off your device, could also be a good option. Therefore...

2) ... do not eye up handsets/tablets that you can't afford to buy outright or (in case of Refresh-style contracts) pay off at any given time. I mean, do you really need that £600 gadget that badly or is it just "nice to have"? Does it have to be the latest and the greatest? There are plethora of fantastically performing smartphones and tablets that fall under the £300 price tag.

3) Given that Pay&Go/30 days sim/Refresh customers can change providers whenever they feel like it and keep the same number, use it to your advantage. Bad signal in your area? PAC code please. Appaling customer service? PAC code, please. Surely, nothing stops you from switching providers then coming back to your old one then switching again and so on...

4) Consider getting sims from all the 4 networks. Does help if you travel a lot, but even if you don't, you're unlikely to find yourself without a connection if one of the providers decides that your area might just as well do with a crappy patchy signal. All you really need for that would be a couple of dual-sim phones (hell, I can remember seeing a very decent specs Acer triple-sim phone being sold for something like £150).

[Anonymous]

Thnx, no more 12 month cpntracts for me as you, you pay for 12 months but get 6 useable ones in terms of reception.

[jonsie]

Great post @cyrillicguy and some sound reasoning.

Unfortunately we are of a generation where it's all about the latest tech and showing off to friends and even strangers by flashing the newest smart phone. If it means taking a contract they can't afford or they haven't checked coverage they are willing to do it.

[Anonymous]

Top marks @cyrillicguy you got it bang on the nose & a good well versed post

[Cleoriff]

As jonsie says, we now live in a must have it today society . Most people will not give considered thought to how they pay for this expensive piece of kit... and will not be thinking of what signal they may or may not get

They just want the latest to impress people.....