[chippyteaforme]

Hi all,

This is an incredibly frustrating issue, and I thought I'd see if any of you have (or have had) this problem - and if you got any resolution?

When we started using Three for all our phones a few years back, they were excellent - great signals even in places we'd normally struggle with - the main reason we went with them.

However, the signal is now so poor it's pathetic. None of us can stay in contact effectively - and it affects all our handsets (W595i, N95, N80, and a 6280 or similar). It's gone from being crystal clear everywhere, to being unusable in 90% of the places that previously had coverage.

Basically, if we call each-other (either between mobiles, or mobile <> landline), the line breaks up to the point where you just get silence. Doesn't matter which phones the call is between. It does get *slightly* better depending on location - but it's completely useless if someone calls you, and you have to leave the house and walk to the field in front just to be able to communicate.

Three haven't admitted anything yet, but with 4 handsets affected, it's clearly not a problem with the phones (despite their customer services telling me on one occasion it was a known issue with my phone (6280) - at which point I told them the phone they had for me wasn't the phone I was on - so that can't be the problem).

I'm at the point where I'd like to walk away from my contract - I'd gladly return my phone and walk away from the contract, but I doubt this is possible. Then again - what is the point in phones that can't be used?!

[Fandangio]

It could be due to a number of things, a site near you may have had it's coverage profile changed. This coud be due to something Three have done specifically or could be due to environmental factors such as new buildings between you and serving cell or even tree growth.

You have not said whether you were receiving 3G or 2G service which may be an important factor. Three uses Orange to provide 2G service in areas where 3G coverage is poor and in some areas this is being turned off.

A call to Three customer support may shed some light onto the problem and you could also check OFCOM to see where the nearest site is to your location.

'Sitefinder' Mobile Phone Base Station Database
when you are fully zoomed in you can see the site details...

hope this helps

[/////AMG]

I left 3 because of this. I used to get GREAT coverage in Nottingham town centre, then about 14 months into my contract, I wouldn't ge tnothing in most places within the city centre. Called 3 up and they claimed they were doing upgrades in that area and expected this to happen, a week goes by after the expected complete date and still no signal. Called them up and they said it should be ok now.

I learned a long time ago 3 mess about with everyone WAY too much, so decided to leave them.

[chippyteaforme]

Originally Posted by Fandangio

It could be due to a number of things, a site near you may have had it's coverage profile changed. This coud be due to something Three have done specifically or could be due to environmental factors such as new buildings between you and serving cell or even tree growth.

You have not said whether you were receiving 3G or 2G service which may be an important factor. Three uses Orange to provide 2G service in areas where 3G coverage is poor and in some areas this is being turned off.

At the moment, on my handset, the aerial just shows 'G', not '3G' (it's a Sony Ericsson W595i) - so I presume that's 2G? I've got an [H] next to that which is for the HSDPA signal.

Originally Posted by Fandangio

A call to Three customer support may shed some light onto the problem and you could also check OFCOM to see where the nearest site is to your location.

The last times we called 3, on both occasions they said it was the handsets to blame, they obviously looked at their screen, saw the handsets we *should* have, and then fobbed us off. For example, last time dad called them, they said 'oh yes, you are using a 6280 sir, there is a known issue with that handset which we are investigating' - but he's using an N95 which he picked up from their reconditioned store instead. Similarly they thought I was on a K770i, when I'm actually on a W595i.

I'll have another chat with them later I think.

Originally Posted by Fandangio

'Sitefinder' Mobile Phone Base Station Database
when you are fully zoomed in you can see the site details...

hope this helps

Ta for that, I've checked my area and about 700m away (as the crow flies!), and we've got the following (apologies for a HUGE paste)

Originally Posted by OFCOM

5 radio transmitters found at this map location.

Name of Operator
3
Operator Site Ref.
PE0100
Station Type
Macrocell
Height of Antenna
17.9 Metres
Frequency Range
2100 MHz
Transmitter Power
26.6 dBW
Maximum licensed power
32 dBW
Type of Transmission
UMTS

Name of Operator
3
Operator Site Ref.
PE0400
Station Type
Macrocell
Height of Antenna
21 Metres
Frequency Range
2100 MHz
Transmitter Power
26.6 dBW
Maximum licensed power
32 dBW
Type of Transmission
UMTS

Name of Operator
O2
Operator Site Ref.
710
Station Type
Macrocell
Height of Antenna
25 Metres
Frequency Range
900 MHz
Transmitter Power
23 dBW
Maximum licensed power
32 dBW
Type of Transmission
GSM

Name of Operator
O2
Operator Site Ref.
710
Station Type
Macrocell
Height of Antenna
25 Metres
Frequency Range
1800 MHz
Transmitter Power
25.5 dBW
Maximum licensed power
32 dBW
Type of Transmission
GSM

Name of Operator
O2
Operator Site Ref.
710
Station Type
Macrocell
Height of Antenna
25 Metres
Frequency Range
2100 MHz
Transmitter Power
27 dBW
Maximum licensed power
32 dBW
Type of Transmission
UMTS

Name of Operator
T-MOBILE
Operator Site Ref.
96282
Station Type
Macrocell
Height of Antenna
27.5 Metres
Frequency Range
1800 MHz
Transmitter Power
26 dBW
Maximum licensed power
32 dBW
Type of Transmission
GSM

Orange is about another 200m away from them, on top of the water tower from the look of it!

Originally Posted by OFCOM

2 radio transmitters found at this map location.

Name of Operator
Orange
Operator Site Ref.
LIN0010
Station Type
Macrocell
Height of Antenna
35 Metres
Frequency Range
1800 MHz
Transmitter Power
29.6 dBW
Maximum licensed power
32 dBW
Type of Transmission
GSM

Name of Operator
Orange
Operator Site Ref.
LIN0010
Station Type
Macrocell
Height of Antenna
35 Metres
Frequency Range
2100 MHz
Transmitter Power
29.4 dBW
Maximum licensed power
32 dBW
Type of Transmission
UMTS

... so there are both O2 and Orange 'cells' nearby - but I am surprised to see that there is no GSM transmission from 3 - does that mean that indeed we probably were using Orange / O2 for our GSM signal, and that's now possibly been stopped?

Originally Posted by /////AMG

I left 3 because of this. I used to get GREAT coverage in Nottingham town centre, then about 14 months into my contract, I wouldn't ge tnothing in most places within the city centre. Called 3 up and they claimed they were doing upgrades in that area and expected this to happen, a week goes by after the expected complete date and still no signal. Called them up and they said it should be ok now.

I learned a long time ago 3 mess about with everyone WAY too much, so decided to leave them.

Cheers for that, seems to back up the problems I'm having. I've 8 months left on an 18 month contract. Did you manage to cancel the contract with 3, or did you have to wait until the contract termination date (say 12 or 18 months) in order to leave?

I'm quite happy to go into town today and get another contract with another provider (perhaps even an iPhone, I'm sorely tempted even if I know it's overpriced for what it is!) if I stood a chance at getting Three to cancel it.

Surely if when I sign up, the signal is fine, then the signal is now completely unusable, that means that they are not performing their half of the bargain (the 'consideration' in the contract) and I should be able to rescind it - more than happy to return the phone and pay the CURRENT balance, just don't want to pay another 8 x £17 to them for nothing.

[sammy657]

I have also had problems lately and i live in north london. I used to get a great signal when i took my contract out in april and now i barely get anything and when i do the quality of the calls is dreadful. Sometimes i get a loud whirring sound and have to hang up and other times i get that the network isnt active but is still showing on my screen 3 at the top of the screen yet no coverage and cannot make/recieve calls or texts. Even today im down at the south coast at the moment near portsmouth i cant get a 3g signal its just totally dreadful. I need a 3g signal to use skpye which im worried about loosing and if i do loose it cos the 3g signal i will go in and ask them straight to cancel the contract. Im happy with what i get for 20 quid a month but its becoming a joke now with 3 and their services

Would love to cancel if i had the chance

[itsamac]

Originally Posted by /////AMG

I left 3 because of this. I used to get GREAT coverage in Nottingham town centre, then about 14 months into my contract, I wouldn't ge tnothing in most places within the city centre. Called 3 up and they claimed they were doing upgrades in that area and expected this to happen, a week goes by after the expected complete date and still no signal. Called them up and they said it should be ok now.

I learned a long time ago 3 mess about with everyone WAY too much, so decided to leave them.

At least they admitted to upgrades. My phone kept roaming (onto 2G) despite being closer to the 3 mast then all three other providers. I complained a number of times to 3 but they refused to help unless I plugged in my SIM card to my 3 mobile, despite me informing them numerous times that I had already tried that. Anyways when I left, they made two offers

- A free C902 on another 18 month plan plus £200 cash up front
- A free £15 tariff for life

After the crap network performance that I experienced at home and in the office, I got my final bill and left. For me, 3 are not competitive as they used to be. You can get better value tariffs elsewhere

[sammy657]

I either have to sit in 1 exact spot in the front room or by the window in the kitchen to get a 3g signal to use skype at home. Otherwise i dont get a 3g signal at all which basically makes my unlimited internet useless to use while at home which defeats the object of having it. Im really fustrated but after my past experiance of going into a 3 shop asking for help im scared to go back to even contomplate asking for a cancelation

[chippyteaforme]

Originally Posted by itsamac

At least they admitted to upgrades.

The issue is though, that 3 have a tendency to say anything on the phone. As I mentioned in my post, they told my dad, on one occasion 'oh yes sir, you are using a Nokia 6280, there is a known problem with this handset that we are working on'. At the time he was using an N95, after giving the 6280 to myself when my K770i (also on 3) broke. Their website shows no upgrades or maintenance in our postcode area, so I doubt it's that.

I've written them an email (in the hope that it's read by someone who understands what I am saying) and will see if I get a reply - nothing yet.

I'll be sending letters out, it is far too easy for them to fob me off over the phone, so keeping a record of their written correspondence will come in handy if I decide to challenge the contract at all.

Originally Posted by sammy657

I either have to sit in 1 exact spot in the front room or by the window in the kitchen to get a 3g signal to use skype at home. Otherwise i dont get a 3g signal at all which basically makes my unlimited internet useless to use while at home which defeats the object of having it.

If I'm in the house and the signal is poor, then sometimes leaving the house, crossing the road and standing in the field opposite helps, but only sometimes. It also seems to happen pretty much randomly across the local area, in areas that previously had excellent coverage.

Originally Posted by sammy657

Im really fustrated but after my past experiance of going into a 3 shop asking for help im scared to go back to even contomplate asking for a cancelation

Last time I went to a 3 shop for help, I forgot to send a letter of complaint off. I've never been treated so shoddily in a phone shop. Basically the 3 HSDPA modem I was using died on me while I was away on business - I'd assumed I could go to the 3 store (I had the original box, receipt e.t.c. on me as it was kept in my laptop case) and ideally get a replacement - or at least *start* the repair process.

Instead I am handled by a snappy and rude person, who after wasting my time for 40 minutes (keeps calling the wrong department, I end up being passed from pillar to post), tells me to go home and call them from there as their computer system isn't working so they can't do a repair or replacement.

[Fandangio]

Sorry this will be a short reply but Three have no GSM coverage and "piggy back" on Orange. You should have good service from a site 600m away. I'd give customer services the site reference and ask them to check performance.

Karl

[chippyteaforme]

Originally Posted by Fandangio

Sorry this will be a short reply but Three have no GSM coverage and "piggy back" on Orange. You should have good service from a site 600m away. I'd give customer services the site reference and ask them to check performance.

Karl

Thanks, will give them a call tomorrow, and then perhaps go for a letter if I don't get anywhere with that. As long as they don't keep telling me it's my phone again! :D

[sammy657]

When i took out the contract in april tho i could get coverage basically anywhere in the house. Now its just terrible and i basically live in the centre of london. Even walking down near euston and kings cross yesterday i only had 2g signal not even 3g was terrible and this was central london.

Im really disappointed with the service. Last time i went into 3 to get my phone repaired i had to buy a new one as they wudnt give me a replacement phone and then when i bought a new one and that didnt come with a memory card as described i took it back and before i started arguing quite a bit was told in front of everyone to get out of the shop asap (manager said to his assistant) but everyone could hear. So basically i called that a threat never went back in since. Might go to another store tho and ask about canceling because i really am not happy now

[/////AMG]

Originally Posted by Bencrest

Cheers for that, seems to back up the problems I'm having. I've 8 months left on an 18 month contract. Did you manage to cancel the contract with 3, or did you have to wait until the contract termination date (say 12 or 18 months) in order to leave?

I'm quite happy to go into town today and get another contract with another provider (perhaps even an iPhone, I'm sorely tempted even if I know it's overpriced for what it is!) if I stood a chance at getting Three to cancel it.

Surely if when I sign up, the signal is fine, then the signal is now completely unusable, that means that they are not performing their half of the bargain (the 'consideration' in the contract) and I should be able to rescind it - more than happy to return the phone and pay the CURRENT balance, just don't want to pay another 8 x £17 to them for nothing.

The only reason I got to cancel was because of that big thread about the '3 Like Gome' Service being change and allowing people to cancel due to the major chane in the T&C's. Even with that I am still getting hassle from 3 saying I owe them 2 months line renatal for cancelling early even though 2 different people on 3 told me I would be fine to cancel.

Thats a seperate issue but when you call 3 from now on make sure you RECORD the conversation, the amount of lies they tell is crazy. The person on the phone will say anything and everything to please you and make sure you are happy, then they won't note it down on the notes and when it comes back to you there is no evidence of that phone call. Even more so because not all calls are recoded they are "random".

Oh this whole signal fiasco was also a problem for my sister in London (Kingston), luckily she only had a month left and has now left 3.

3 - what a load of ********.