Villans: Hutchinson Telecom (aka Orange)

[Croc]

Went to pick up my email on the Windows Smartphone I have to find that my GPRS wasn't active.

Strange there I thought - then tried to ring a colleague to see if our server had gone down.

I get a recorded message "Calls cannot be made from this number"

So I log onto the Orange website to access my account to see if any indications as to network problems has been noted.

Instead of my account I get a message "There is a problem with your account - please ring Customer Services from your handset on 150"

So I ring 150 on the mobile - get the bloody recorded voice doing the "Press 1 to speak to a Customer Service Agent, Press 2 to commit suicide, Press 3 to be kept on hold for 5 hours, Press 4 to order some Internet Ham" etc.

So I go through about 6 of these menu choices - get the "We are now putting you through to a Customer Services Representative - please have your details to hand ready to assist us".

I then get the recorded voice cut in stating:

"Calls cannot be made from this number"



So I can't do anything now until I get home when I can try to contact them

[Croc]

Just been onto Orange

They've randomly cut my account off - seems that someone of a similar name (a V Rocke as opposed to myself C Rock) was due to be cut off but the work experience teaboy clicked the wrong entry in their customer database

And the great thing is - they can't reconnect me for a week

Once the contract is up - I'm moving to a half decent network

[malxscfc]

croc said:

Just been onto Orange

They've randomly cut my account off - seems that someone of a similar name (a V Rocke as opposed to myself C Rock) was due to be cut off but the work experience teaboy clicked the wrong entry in their customer database

And the great thing is - they can't reconnect me for a week

Once the contract is up - I'm moving to a half decent network

Hmmm. That sort of problem reminds me of the Ministry of Information mix-up in Terry Gilliam's hugely underrated film, Brazil.
Remember Tuttle/Buttle?

A surprisingly prophetic vision of modern life, that film....


I assume you tried Emailing them about the problem? Not that that ever seems to work. You phone BT with a problem or query and the first thing the recorded message says is that they'd much prefer you used their website to solve your query.

Yeah, right.

The only use their website has is for selling you more overpriced rubbish, or getting the phone number for a BT helpline. And you have to work hard to even get a phone number off the site.

[ojiveojive]

croc said:

Just been onto Orange

They've randomly cut my account off - seems that someone of a similar name (a V Rocke as opposed to myself C Rock) was due to be cut off but the work experience teaboy clicked the wrong entry in their customer database

And the great thing is - they can't reconnect me for a week

Once the contract is up - I'm moving to a half decent network

Surely as they have randomly broken their contract with you, you can therefore demand compensation from them and move to a half decent network forthwith.

[ambersalamander]

I'm not even going to start on my phone problems, or my recent difficulties with technology. I have lost my two favourite gadgets while catching buses and am not happy!

[Col ISIHAC.]

Losing things is what you do darling;
You are spectacularly good at it!

[ambersalamander]

Well, maybe that's why I support a team who are even better at losing...