2 years I have been a customer, and haven't had one phone upgrade.
Been happy paying my £30 a month talk 200. Paid for the few texts and 3g
data I used as I didn't make use of it enough to pay for bolt
on/addon/extras.

So, 6 months out of contract, I think, Hmm, arseache of moving
providers, pac codes and porting and something going wrong somewhere, or
phone upgrade. Then I find that the SPV M700 does actually have GPS
hardware built in, and it is active, it doesn't mention it anywhere and
you need to make a windows mobile registry hack to change any settings,
but it works. Sounds like exactly the phone for me even without a
keyboard.

So, I ring 150, and ask about an upgrade as it isn't listed on the
orange shop website for upgrades.
"Sorry sir, not available to existing customers as we don't care about
you,try back next week when it is old and superceded and new customers
won't want it anymore" or words to that effect.

So I nip into the local Orange shop.
"yes sir we can do you an upgrade but we won't have them till next week"
"Will you have a black one?"
"Do think they make them in black. Will check. Yes they do but we can't
promise you will get one".
"So if I order and get a white one when I want black, I get a white
one?"
"Yes".
"OK, how much?"
"Well, as you are a grade 2 upgrader, you can have it for £149.99"
"So if I was a new customer who signed for a £35 a month tarriff I could
have it free?"
"Yes"
"And if I was a £30 a month new customer I could have it for £49.99?"
"Yes"
"but as I'm an existing £30 I need to pay a £100 penalty and pay
£149.99?"
"Yes"
"Does Orange like to keep it's customers?"
"................................................. "

Nothing but a strong dirty look, and absolute silence.
I guess my future isn't Orange.
--
Carl Robson
Audio stream: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com:8000/samtest
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