Orange and roaming charges Forums

mike800966

Having had our fingers burnt by stupidly using Orange Data to connect to the internet, I wrote to them asking that as a longstanding customer they might like to reconsider the bill ( around £360)ouch!
The answer was basically, tough luck, go away.
Yesterday I rang them to see just when our phone come out of contract (you can guess why) and I asked the question, "What can I do to reduce these roaming charges?" The answer was " pay an extra £5 per month and the roaming cost is reduced by 50% from 38p/m to 17p/m plus the usual monthly contract cost of course. I then asked how long this option had ben available and I was told October 2007, isnt that when the EU told them they had to reduce these charges or else?

Since we will be in Portugal for at least the next 6 weeks, I took that option, we shall see when the billl comes in what the diference is.
Surely the roaming charge is a cost to Orange from the distant system, how then can they afford to reduce it by 50% unless it was just hyped up in the first place?
MIke & Ann

Waleem

I think you just answered your own question Mike and Ann! The reason the EU ordered them to reduce roaming charges was because there was no justifiable reason for their high level.
As an Orange user, I was aware that a Roaming tarrif was available, but they dont exactly publicise it well, do they ? My understanding is that it is also possible to switch to this tarrif for a short period of time and then switch back-useful for holidays etc.

mike800966

Yes, they really cannot justify the level of charge, thats the point!
The other thing that surprised me is that by accepting that option in the phone call, it was applicable, so I was told, from the next call.

None of this rubbish about waiting for the next billing date.

I also think that you can turn it on and off just by ringing them.

But, as soon as we are out of contract in March, then we can really do something to reduce the call costs, One Roam seemed like a good idea, but it seems to depend on the country that you are in,call cost is similar to reduced Orange, albeit high, and there is virtually no standing charge.

Mike & Ann