kevin.tomlinson@gmail.com declared for all the world to hear...
> How binding is an Orange contract?

About as binding as they come!

> after my last renewal I didn't sign anything

Not always necessary.

> - Orange couldn't change it as mobiles.co.uk initiated the contract
> (?) and told me to speak to them

Correct. They have failed to request your tariff change and it's down to
them to fix it.

> - Had a couple of back and forths with mobiles who said that instead
> of dolphin Orange were giving me a =A32 line rental discount every
> month.

mobiles.co.uk would have selected that from a drop down list on the web-
based upgrade system. It is them who have cocked it up, not Orange.

> After looking at my bill more closely, this was indeed the case
> - although I was never informed nor agreed to it. They also suggested
> that orange didn't offer the dolphin upgrade for everyday 50.

That is a lie.

> - Mobiles.co.uk promised to get it fixed but - surprise - never did
> and I gave up chasing them.

Trading standards? It's easily fixed. Hassle them to call their dealer
manager, dealer manager calls Orange, query goes to the RMA team who can
pretty much connect anything to anything.

> I've put up with it for a few months but my monthly bills are now
> double what they would be if I were on the dolphin plan as I'd
> originally 'purchased' so I'm a bit tired.
>
> I'm basically wondering where I stand with Orange?

Orange have done nothing wrong. Your beef is with mobiles.co.uk. Get
shitty with them.

> I didn't sign a bit of paper for this new contract

You don't need to. Acceptance and use of the phone is enough. The fact
that mobiles.co.uk have cocked up your tariff change is for them to sort
out.

> I don't understand why Orange are refusing to
> help as all contact I have is with orange, not mobiles.co.uk.

But mobiles.co.uk are the dealer, and at the point of connection/upgrade
the dealer is able to instruct Orange in certain things that are only
do-able at the point of connection/upgrade.

> So..I either want to -
>
> - hit orange with a stick and get them to switch me to dolphin for no
> kindof fee or contract extension (if there was a moderate fee involved
> I would also consider this but that's not the ideal solution)

mobile.co.uk need to do the beating for you. It's their error, not
Orange's, but for Orange to fix it mobile.co.uk will have to admit their
mistake.

> - Bin them and go elsewhere

You will not be allowed to cancel your contract over this.

> I'm no legal or phone industry expert so...what are my chances /
> options in this situation?

mobiles.co.uk are 100% responsible. Persue them.

> Thanks for any help...even if it's just to confirm how stupid I am.

You are not stupid. mobiles.co.uk have clicked the wrong radio button on
a website, and because they have about as much regard for customer
satisfaction as many other distance sellers they don't take as much care
when doing stuff.
--
Regards
Jon