I've been with Orange a very long time and didn't have any problems for the first few years. But recently I have been scammed three times.

On the first occasion I upgraded my phone in an Orange shop and ticked a box for a few months free trial of a service. I asked very specifically whether or not I'd need to do anything to prevent extra money being debited from my bank account at the end of the trial period and I was assured that I wouldn't. Needless to say, a few months later I found myself calling Orange to ask why I was being charged for something I hadn't signed up for. They refused to refund any charges but they did cancel the subscription.

On the second occasion I was again upgrading in an Orange shop and was offered freebies. I gave a flat "no" but on my next bill there were mysterious charges. This time when I called customer services I had a piece of paper in my hand clearly showing that I'd asked for NOTHING extra. They put it right without question.

The third time Orange called me on my mobile. Because I'd been such a good customer I qualified for a year's free insurance. "No thank you," I said. However, they categorically guaranteed me that at the end of the free period the insurance would end automatically without any action on my part. Because I had was speaking to someone at Orange who sounded like he knew what he was doing, and who probably had the ability and authority to set this up via his computer terminal as we spoke, I accepted what seemed like a good offer. Of course, I ended up being charged £6 a month for insurance.

Altogether these "mistakes" don't amount to much. But if I hadn't noticed them, or had been too lazy or timid to argue with Orange, I'd have had a couple of hundred pounds lifted out of my pocket over the past decade. Multiply that by the number of subscribers Orange has and I think you'll agree that making mistakes with customers' bills is a nice little earner. Just inadvertent incompetence? Maybe...

This is a little different to your guys problems but is with ornage, I had to pay 127.00 gbp for a phone on an upgrade as my contract is rather cheap,
I tried to do this onn 22-08 but as the account holder was not present (my dad) we couldn't do it...
On the 27th I then upgraded paying the 127.00

A few days later I went to the bank and noticed a large sum of money missing so I phoned the bank immediatley and orange had taken 3x127.00 from my account on the 22nd!!!!
So I have been in dispute with them for nearly a month now and they have said that it will take another ten working days to be in my account!
This is ridiculous for the last few weeks I have been without food or money and I am losing weight and can't do a thing about it

Is there anything I should do legally you think as I think this is very inhumane and very dispicable

Thanks 4 reading

James

I used Orange many years ago and realised that I'd selected a real 'lemon' of a mobile phone company.

They're fine, if you have no issues. They're hell if you do. Customer Services are hopeless, they use delaying tactics, they're rude and, quite frankly, I wouldn't go back to them if they paid me. It took god knows how many phone calls, personal visits to the mobile phone seller and .....eventually.... I did get my situation resolved. But the damage had been done, as far as I was concerned.

I've used O2 since then, with no problems, although my contract is with Carphone Warehouse.

I wouldn't touch Orange again with the proverbial barge pole. I took out a contract with them last October as I was working away from home and their free call minutes offer would nicely cover the calls I made to stay in contact with home. In April I returned home and no longer require a mobile at all, just the odd call when necessary. In Orange's own statement on their website they state they will 'review your package after six months to ensure you get one appropriate to your needs." Ha! ha! ha! Don't make me laugh. For a start I can't even manage to contact them as their 'customer service' line is always busy and the only email's I've managed to send to them, they have completely ignored. I'm now finding myself paying the equivalent of £7 per call as my contract is for 18 months so I'm stuck with them.

So all I can say is, I'm sorry that you, too, have been caught by the nasty tactics of this horrible company. Any potential Orange customers BEWARE - there are much better providers around so go and have a look elsewhere.

I took up an Orange contract a few months back but I signed it in one of their retail outlets after choosing a phone. Hasn't been a problem. Conducting a transaction by mail or over the net is risky. Why not send back the phone with an explanatory letter stating that they're in breach, etc. then check out the deals available on the high street?