Saint137 Posted 8 April, 2012 Share Posted 8 April, 2012 Anyone here with Three for their mobile contract? What's the coverage like around Southampton (I work near West Quay/Ikea)? Thinking of moving to them from T-Mobile, coverage map says coverage is good but no point in saving a tenner a month if I get no signal. Fast 3G required as I use my phone for tethering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 8 April, 2012 Share Posted 8 April, 2012 Yup, I'm on them and I'm delighted with the signal. I live in Hedge End and work in Salisbury and have no problems whatsoever. I was apprehensive at how good they were at first but I've been impressed. Great reception and money-wise, far cheaper than what I've experienced on o2 and Vodaphone. In other words, I'd recommend them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1576 Posted 8 April, 2012 Share Posted 8 April, 2012 Work for Three and you will experience no issues in and around Southampton or any other built up areas in the UK. Signal can be more patchy in the countryside but most networks are the same. Three have only been going for 9 years so there have been massive improvements from the start. Things will improve even more if we get a good portion of 4G when it finally kicks off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint137 Posted 9 April, 2012 Author Share Posted 9 April, 2012 Cheers both. Now to play the PAC code game with T-Mob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 9 April, 2012 Share Posted 9 April, 2012 shame their customer services are like virgin media poor at the very best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 9 April, 2012 Share Posted 9 April, 2012 shame their customer services are like virgin media poor at the very best I think you better try Virgin Media again... had a very, very impressive experience with them earlier in the month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 9 April, 2012 Share Posted 9 April, 2012 Go on giffgaff. None of the others are worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Le Taxi Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 GiffGaff for me too, especially with a smartphone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 10 April, 2012 Share Posted 10 April, 2012 Yep, GiffGaff is the way to go. Powered by O2 so no coverage issues unless you're unlucky enough to be in a rare O2 blackspot. No contracts so you can come and go as you please. You just purchase a monthly bundle if you want inclusive calls, texts & data and away you go. As an example, I buy the cheapest bundle with data which is £10 per month, and with that you get 250mins, unltd calls between Giffgaff phones, unltd texts and unltd data. Use the following link if you want to order a sim and we'll both get some extra credit from them - http://giffgaff.com/orders/affiliate/sotonjoe Full details at giffgaff.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LVSaint Posted 19 April, 2012 Share Posted 19 April, 2012 I have a three dongle and used it about three years ago when I came over with my laptop. It was relatively cheap but the results were pretty iffy - used in Oxfordshire countryside and other rural areas. I wasn't expecting miracles. In general, how has 3 been in recent times? Can I expect similar coverage issues? Is there a better alternative - we're talking short term fortnightly contract BTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essruu Posted 18 May, 2012 Share Posted 18 May, 2012 The Three coverage, not just around Southampton, but pretty much anywhere is better than most other networks. Over the years I've been on Orange, Vodafone, O2 (for the longest) and more recently Three on my iPad. I used to think O2 was brilliant compared to when I was on the other two networks, but Three knocks spots off of O2 I have been pleasantly surprised to discover. Around Southampton where I hit the dreaded GPRS signal on my iPhone on O2, I get full 3G on Three. Even in places like Rhinefield Drive, New Forest where I get no O2 data coverage whatsoever, I'm still getting full 3G with Three. I've switched SIMs between iPhone and iPad to make sure it's not the devices making the difference, but it's not. I am super impressed with Three now. Even when I had to phone customer services to get a PUK code after I was a numb nuts, I got answered and dealt with quickly. Don't be put off if you're concerned about local coverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugwash Posted 19 May, 2012 Share Posted 19 May, 2012 Sounds good. I'm currently on Orange, which is not great, but is still better than O2, which was very very patchy for me in Southampton two years ago. Was put off Three some years ago, when their customer services were abysmal. I take it they've improved on that front? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essruu Posted 19 May, 2012 Share Posted 19 May, 2012 My only experience of their customer services was a simple enquiry to obtain a PUK code on the day the SIM was delivered, but the call was answered quickly and I got what I needed immediately. It sounded like it was answered in India though and I don't know what they'd be like for more complicated problems. No grumbles from me though and I'm considering switching my phone service to them too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Jonny Posted 19 May, 2012 Share Posted 19 May, 2012 Got a Galaxy SII from them when it came out last year (on a whim, they had the best price plan, seemed like a good deal). Got it home - no service. Left it a couple of days thinking I hadn't been connected yet - took it with me when I saw a mate in Eastleigh and it woke up. Went home and....dead. I found blackspots (no signal what so ever) all over Bishopstoke and the back end of Fair Oak. Dunno if this affects you but thought it was worth sharing. When I tried to take it back to the three store in Southampton they gave me the run around big time. Had to go in on 3 separate occasions while someone somewhere faffed around. Their excuse was that "there aren't any blackspots on our map in your area, go home and try again". I think they were just trying to push me past the 14 day return policy, eventually I just refused to leave the shop til' they ended the contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 20 May, 2012 Share Posted 20 May, 2012 I had a 3 contract a while ago...the 30 day contract. I emailed them after speaking on the phone with my 30 notice to cancel. after the final bill came out, I stopped the direct debit....they then kept sending me letters saying I owed more and more rental when speaking to them, they had "no knowledge" of the email sent and when I tried to explain I was leaving the country for the next day with work for a couple of months...the guy i spoke to said I should get a job where I am able to be around to sort my "short comings out" never ever again will I go with them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1576 Posted 20 May, 2012 Share Posted 20 May, 2012 We are regularly voted as having the best customer service in-store (most recent was Which) wish the same could be said for the call centers (all in India). They are good people and do try their best but most of the time just don't grasp what you are saying to them. There is a program of mast installations over the next few years to take us from 12,000 to around 18,000 so signal is only going to get better. Some cracking deals about at the moment as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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