GRRRRRRRRRRRR .... Orange rip off

[1blonde]

Well alright, I am angry...You buy a i phone and expect that you will be able to use it across the wi fi network that (Iam already paying for at home and that my work provide at work and these rude little useless customer service iindian call centre people told me that it would be free and that they dont block or charge for using any of my phones new functions Skype, facebook, twitter etc etc over wi fi and yet today I have no credit left because this is exactly what they have done.

 

MESSAGE TO ANYONE ON HERE THAT WORKS WITH ORANGE

 

You are messing with the wrong lady...

[rebel11]

Hi 1Law

 

Welcome to CAG

 

The guys will advise as soon as they are available.

[1blonde]

Hi 1Law

 

Welcome to CAG

 

The guys will advise as soon as they are available.

 

Thanks...

 

I am already on their case and all that...but just ANGRY GRRRRRR letting off some steam lol... I been with this company for years and now I might have to unblock phone to another network or something just to use my own wi-fi.

 

Ridiculous.

 

Hi and thank-you for the welcome by the way....angela

[jacktheband]

Ridiculous. :

 

Ridiculous would certainly be the right word if what you are saying was right. But rest assured, no service carrier will (or can) charge you for use of the internet via your own access point.

 

If you connect to the internet via the network's own GPRS/UMTS access point (i.e. 'mobile internet') then this will certain be deducted from whatever allowance or credit you have. But access via your personal broadband via wi-fi does not utilise the sim card in any way and therefore is completely seperate to the network (i.e. they couldn't tell you if you've even been on the internet, never mind charging you for it!).

 

So there are only two explanations, either you thought you were accessing the internet via Wifi but you were actually accessing it over the mobile network by mistake, or your credit was used by something else completely separate.

[1blonde]

I dont know if I was charged at home but its free wi-fi at work and in the bar I went to tonight and my orange network does charge me. Which I think is shocking. I have complained and will keep the forum informed but I have been on this network 15 years. I am not under any contract and they have told me that they do charge for wi-fi. Although I have asked for them to clarify this and told them just what you say really. Namely they cant charge me for using someone else's wi-fi network because I am not using the 3G network.

 

Trust me I know how to connect my phone as it automatically logs on to wi-fi...

 

Orange customer service told me when I first rang that they dont charge but they have when I rang them the second time they said they do charge...they make it up as they go along if you ask me.

 

I have complained to OFCOM and have written to Orange (They have not responded and did not ring back as they promised) so this is why I made a complaint.

 

Poor really poor service.

 

Sooner I unblock jailbreak they phone the better...can anyone on here recommend the best network to go to (sim only or pay as you go) when you have an i phone 4 please?

[MARTIN3030]

Theres some good deals to be had,and good plans,but they change so fast its a nightmare to keep up with.

I think its a case of looking at them all to see what fits your requirements.

PAYG has traditionally been easy to compare and work out but even this now is head scratching.

No doubt our members here will be telling you about that.

 

edit

 

Actually theres a good point.

If anyone is interested in doing a project on this then let me know-and I am not expecting you to do it for nothing-maybe can offer something for your efforts.Send me a pm if interested.or send report to team.

[dx100uk]

me thinks you did it through their network not the wi-fi

 

you have to turn off 3g data to ensure it doesn't goes via their phone sysetm if using wi-fi

 

dx

[1blonde]

me thinks you did it through their network not the wi-fi

 

you have to turn off 3g data to ensure it doesn't goes via their phone sysetm if using wi-fi

 

dx

 

Yes you are right ....bought 20 pound of credit and got a call that came through to me via skype....(They called me and it charged me) 6 mins for 20 quid!!!

 

-----------The great orange rip off----------I have turned off the 3 G pile of poo signal on the phone.

 

I think all these phone companies are runing scared because of skype and VOIP call companies like fring that provide their services free via wi-fi etc.,

 

Altered the settings on the I Phone and I will switch networks if anyone can tell me the best plan either sim free or PAY AS U GO ....it will be much apprieciated. And it appears profitable as someone just offered to pay you for doing this comparrision. (What a good site this is)

 

 

Thanks for the advice all xxx

 

Angie

[Alastrum]

Actually, this has just happened to me too: I got a new iPhone 4 days ago, I'm on PAYG with Orange. I have WiFi access at home and at work. Already aware of, and concerned about, costs I turned the 3G off as soon as I got the phone. I have never turned it on, and I just checked it again now: it's still off.

 

My work is only a 5-minute bus ride from my home, so it's likely to be only very rare occasions when I'll need to turn 3G on at all.

 

Once I got the phone, I did what everyone does: went straight to the App Store, and downloaded as many Apps as I could find that would be useful. 95% of them were free, but a couple I paid for.

 

So, I'm downloading free apps across a free wifi network, with 3G turned off. Yet, when I logged into my orange account, I see I've somehow used up over £12.00 of my credit.

 

Now, I have made 2 calls, and sent 8 texts, no more than I usually do. Bear in mind that for the last 4 years, before I got the iPhone, my costs have been around £10 a month. I don't actually use a mobile that much, and £10 a month top up is usually plenty for my needs. Sometimes £10 can last me 6 weeks. So that should give you some idea of my average usage.

 

I have received a few texts, and had one call too. I also checked my VoiceMail once (listened to 1 message). So I would have expected to have used up a little of my credit, but not £12.00 in 4 days: that's £3.00 a day, which would work out to £90 a month!!!

 

The only explanation is that Orange are charging me for data usage! But it's data usage that actually has nothing to do with them.

 

Looking at my usage history on Orange's website indicates that they've charged me £6.72 since 3rd Feb (the day I got the iPhone). There is no indication of where the rest of the money has gone from my credit.

 

I intend to take this up with Orange later today, and will report back on what they say.

 

In the meantime, I have discovered a useful snippet of info which might help others in the same situation:

Thinking about it logically, what is the only way Orange could know about what I'm doing on the web, when I'm not using their network? What is the only component of the iPhone that has anything at all to do with Orange (or any other carrier for that matter)?

 

Yes, the Sim card. Did you know that you can still surf the web, send and receive emails etc, without the Sim card in? Since I discovered that, what I now do is just take the Sim card out when I want to surf. Sure, I can't receive calls or texts without the card, but I'm not going to be surfing all day, just an hour or so. Then pop the card back in when I'm done.

[1blonde]

Phewww, thought it was just me...

 

I complained to Orange about them charging for network usage (data sent and recieved over wi-fi which is not theirs to charge for) and they sent me 20 pound of free credit, however this went in one six minute skype call I (recieved)

 

The Orange network is a rip off and they should inform their customers of these hidden charges on data use when they send you a sim.

 

I am changing to another network as soon as I can like O2 or 3 who provide some good sim only deals I am told...but I think I will just wait and see what the people on this forum reccomend first.

[jacktheband]

This strange issue raises it's head again. I've said it before and i'll say it again: you cannot be charged for data usage via wifi. It quite simply is impossible.

 

For all the issues and experiences detailed above, there will be some other explanation as to where credit has gone / how a bill has ben run up /etc. I am not for one minute saying i can say what the underlying cause was in each instance (it could be that they thought they were using wifi when they were actually using 3G, or reverse-charged shortcode text companies ate into the credit, there's many possible causes). But i can certainly say what was not the cause, as using wifi does not utilise the sim card, therefore the network operator has absolutely no sight/involvement with the data usage. They couldn't tell you if you've ever connected via wifi or how many MBs you've used even if they really really wanted to.

 

An analogy i'll use to further drill the point home: imagine taking parcels to the post office every day to send them to people. Then one day you decide to not go to the post office but instead drive a parcel to someone's house to deliver it yourself. Then the post office contact you to charge you for that parcel's delivery. The post office obviously would have no business wanting to charge you, nor know anything about what you've done in your own time with you own car.

 

I know it's a bit of an strange analogy, but hope i've outlined my point: the network operator cannot keep tabs or any knowledge of your phone's direct data communication with your wifi.

[1blonde]

Why is it ALL these phone companies offer sim only deals with free minutes, texts and internet usage then..they usually specify 1, 2, 3 meg usage etc., ?

 

If you are right Jack then I should just go for the lowest meg usage as they cant tell anyway...

 

I dont know if you read my post properly but I have had an apology from Orange and they have refunded me 20 pounds, or do you think I am lying?

 

Also just my opinion but If someone calls me then I should not be charged at home or abroad because I feel this is unfair...

It is also fair to mention not all these phone companies do have these hidden charges for internet use either...Skype is free on 3 for example so Jack here is an analogy for you

 

When in hole stop digging. 8-)

 

Angela..

[greigster]

Also just my opinion but If someone calls me then I should not be charged at home or abroad because I feel this is unfair...

It is also fair to mention not all these phone companies do have these hidden charges for internet use either...Skype is free on 3 for example so Jack here is an analogy for you

 

When in hole stop digging. 8-)

 

Angela..

 

I am sure you will get loads of good advice and help from other Cagers with that attitude

[1blonde]

All meant in the nicest possible way of course...

[jacktheband]

If you are right Jack then I should just go for the lowest meg usage as they cant tell anyway...

Spot on. If you switch off mobile data and then restrict your data usage to only wifi then you will have no data charge from your mobile network (as they haven't been the source of any data, nor been involved in the connection between your device and your personal wireless router). Then there is the occasional issue of iPhones reactivating their mobile data connections on their own (due to receiving a photo message apparently) but that's another story altogether...!

 

I dont know if you read my post properly but I have had an apology from Orange and they have refunded me 20 pounds, or do you think I am lying?

I do not think you are lying at all. It could be possible that the person who dealt with you didn't quite have a grasp of the situation and has given a goodwill refund to settle the matter rather than continue an argument that if there's a data charge on the bill then the data must have come through their mobile network.

 

Jack here is an analogy for you

 

When in hole stop digging. 8-)

 

Angela..

Lovely. Many thanks. Has made my day!

[sir_gilmour]

Hi

Welcome to The Consumer Action Group.

 

 

I am just letting you know that as you haven't had any replies to your post yet, it might be better if you post your message again in an appropriate sub-forum. You will get lots of help there.

 

Also take some time to read around the forum and get used to the layout. It is a big forum and takes a lot of getting used to.

 

 

Once you start to find your way, you will soon realise that it is fairly easy to get round and to get the help you need.

 

It can be bit confusing at first.