So I get on with cancelling my phone service and talk about making it difficult - dead email address, I send off the web form version of the same message, they rang back in three hours. I think they were surprised that I wasn't demanding freebie after freebie in order for them to get me to stay, the first person said they'd transfer me and I knew it was to Customer retentions, but after asking a couple of times they got the message.
Bit sneaky to say that if you wanted a PUK code to keep your number they'd want extended notice and another month's money if it took longer than your notice period but stuff it, if I'm looking at changing my number over again in six months I don't care about losing this other one.
So there I am thinking it's all done and dusted and then they ring back yet again trying to flog me 3 mobile broadband if I'm not taking their phone anymore and unlike the other two people I spoke to, this person really went for the hard sell, so much so that he was willing to offer £20 and almost cover the first three months of the 18 month contract to get me to sign up to it. It was a brilliant offer at totally the wrong time.
What is it about these bloody companies, I don't know why they think the hard sell approach works because now I can't be arsed to even contemplate 3. At least I'll have a clear six months away from them and it will depend entirely on the deal, but jeez, right now I could happily never use them or their battery-killing handsets ever again.
If you're thinking of mobile broadband though, 3 are doing great deals, and see if you can haggle that credit out of them! 18 month contract at half-price rental (£7.50) - excellent, but just not for me.
and again FFS! What's the matter with these people, why won't they take a hint! I ended up hanging up on the guy when he just wouldn't naff off and as I switched the phone off he was ringing back again!!
In economic times like these don't people get it, good service and a lack of hard sell are like gold dust, especially now when I'm cutting stuff left right and centre. Problem is they think that a hard sell will keep everybody on side when I now find it a total turn-off and a deal-killer.
It's not the point that he was offering a great deal, as well as my previous rant I DON'T WANT ANOTHER 18 MONTH CONTRACT, not even for prices that I'm happy with!!!! It's too damn long.
I often have other phone companies trying to get me to go onto there plans and when i upgraded with te provider i have they tried to "better" my contract! I'm always totally honest and tell them that I pay £12 a month line rental have unlimited off peak calls and 500 free text a month and i use my free work mobile during the day for emergencies if necessary so I have no need for anytime minutes.
They can't compete with that deal and I only have that because I've been with my current provider for 8 years and had that deal when I signed up for the first time!
The hard sell works because some people just can't say no. Also, some people are vulnerable, such as the elderly, and often bite if they're pushed. It's a sad fact that some companies are totally ruthless in pursuit of the dollar.
MBNA called yesterday offering 0% balance transfer and offering a transfer to my account, I asked about the latter, out of interest and I may be something I would consider. I was informed this was a call-only-offer.
I told him I cannot make the decision now, because I do not if I may need the account transfer and secondly, because it was a cold-call. His reply was they could not guarantee it but could try if the account transfer is needed.
I knew he was just trying to sell a balance transfer or account transfer to meet his targets; however, other people do not. It is like with advertising, they have rate-cards and many people do know how much they price could drop.
Something like that. Vodafone didn't give me the code but I didn't care as I was putting a rival SIM into it, I just needed the handset to be formally dumped off their network and they duly obliged.
Next up for me is a cheap Virgin PAYG just to get a newer handset, I'd rather stick with dull Nokia because Samsung phones are just too finnicky.
