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jillann
102 posts

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  #512897 27-Aug-2011 16:00
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I've been with 2Degrees right from the start and had nothing but excellent customer service from them. I called them last week with a slight problem which was resolved immediately and they even followed up with a phone call a few days later to check that all was still well :) So I'm definitely staying.



CruciasNZ
879 posts

Ultimate Geek

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  #512904 27-Aug-2011 16:55
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I've had such foul experiences with the CSR of both VF and XT so i will not be considering them again. Im happy with the service i get and the delay times (though i hate the hold music!) on 2degrees.

My only real issue is the minuscule amounts of data available at low cost, but that will change over time.





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GH33
65 posts

Master Geek


  #512956 27-Aug-2011 20:45
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As long as their network is reliable, my prepay number will stay with them. Customer support depends on the person on the other end most of the time.



codyc1515
1598 posts

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Inactive user


  #512987 28-Aug-2011 00:31
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GH33: Customer support depends on the person on the other end most of the time.

So true, and I don't think a lot of people realize that. Also, if they have a sudden influx in the number of clients ringing into the call centre, they can't just magically train up the Support Reps straight away. People don't seem to realize that this training takes time. 2degrees have acknowledged (according to freitasm) that this is an issue and they appear to be taking steps to resolve this (e.g. probably training more people).

xarqi
727 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #513049 28-Aug-2011 12:09
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I'm leaving 2 degrees.

The short version is that on two occasions my credit has been "evaporated".

Once was an odd quirk. I transferred from Vodafone and got a $20 credit for doing so that expired within a week. Despite their best efforts they couldn't or wouldn't address this.

Once, the recent deal-breaker, arguably it was my fault, but 2 degrees could have prevented or remedied it.

I'm a very very light user, seldom using more than the $20 per year minimum "top up" amount. I got a txt a couple of weeks ago saying that my account was going to expire in a month unless I topped up. At this stage my credit was still about $33 (some of it over a year old!). I called to see what my options might be, particularly if receiving credit transferred from someone else would keep the account alive. It wouldn't, but I was given a fairly good idea of on-selling the credit I didn't need instead.

All of which was irrelevant as it happened, because by that stage, a week or so after receiving the warning txt, and with at least two weeks to run until the account expiry, my $33 credit had already evaporated.

Reason? The txt message was about account expiry, not credit expiry. It seems that no warning message of credit expiry is sent and it is entirely my responsibility to keep track of this. No accommodation was possible. They just took my money.

Vodafone are already in my bad books, so I'm off to XT as soon as I can sort out which phone to get - I'm thinking 'Android'. That's another story. It seems that nobody will state categorically whether some features will work; nobody has live demonstration phones to try; nobody allows for a return if it doesn't work as hoped.

For example:
Me: "I want a phone that gives me GPS functionality without incurring data charges: what should I buy?"

Them: "The [brand][model] may do that but I can't be sure. We can't know everything about every model we sell, c'mon! No, sorry, we don't have one you can try, and anyway, GPS won't work in the shop. No, you can't buy one, try it yourself, and bring it back if it doesn't do what you want. No, you can't return it under the CGA because we have not said it is 'fit for purpose'. It's your call."

Contenders are the Huawei X1 (small low res screen; 802.11n; inexpensive so least to lose when some features just don't work); and the LG P500 (better screen; lousy support from LG; twice the price).

danielm8
109 posts

Master Geek


  #513052 28-Aug-2011 12:23
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@xarqi: Since Android is Google powered, GPS seems to only run using Google Maps for the visual display - I've had Google Maps running offline with the cache but I don't know how long it'd keep that up. You could get XT's $1/day internet on days you use it (10MB will do nicely for GPS I think...) 

keewee01
1737 posts

Uber Geek

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  #513054 28-Aug-2011 12:26
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xarqi: I'm leaving 2 degrees.

The short version is that on two occasions my credit has been "evaporated".

Once was an odd quirk. I transferred from Vodafone and got a $20 credit for doing so that expired within a week. Despite their best efforts they couldn't or wouldn't address this.

Once, the recent deal-breaker, arguably it was my fault, but 2 degrees could have prevented or remedied it.

I'm a very very light user, seldom using more than the $20 per year minimum "top up" amount. I got a txt a couple of weeks ago saying that my account was going to expire in a month unless I topped up. At this stage my credit was still about $33 (some of it over a year old!). I called to see what my options might be, particularly if receiving credit transferred from someone else would keep the account alive. It wouldn't, but I was given a fairly good idea of on-selling the credit I didn't need instead.

All of which was irrelevant as it happened, because by that stage, a week or so after receiving the warning txt, and with at least two weeks to run until the account expiry, my $33 credit had already evaporated.

Reason? The txt message was about account expiry, not credit expiry. It seems that no warning message of credit expiry is sent and it is entirely my responsibility to keep track of this. No accommodation was possible. They just took my money.

Vodafone are already in my bad books, so I'm off to XT as soon as I can sort out which phone to get - I'm thinking 'Android'. That's another story. It seems that nobody will state categorically whether some features will work; nobody has live demonstration phones to try; nobody allows for a return if it doesn't work as hoped.

For example:
Me: "I want a phone that gives me GPS functionality without incurring data charges: what should I buy?"

Them: "The [brand][model] may do that but I can't be sure. We can't know everything about every model we sell, c'mon! No, sorry, we don't have one you can try, and anyway, GPS won't work in the shop. No, you can't buy one, try it yourself, and bring it back if it doesn't do what you want. No, you can't return it under the CGA because we have not said it is 'fit for purpose'. It's your call."

Contenders are the Huawei X1 (small low res screen; 802.11n; inexpensive so least to lose when some features just don't work); and the LG P500 (better screen; lousy support from LG; twice the price).


Wow - that is low usage! Not exactly a customer that any mobile company is going to get rich off. ;)

Phone stores (my experience is with Orb) won't let you take away a new phone to try out anymore because under the law, if you then do return it they can't sell it as new, and to sell as second hand they now must have a second hand dealers license - which they do not. That is why phone stores have toughened up on being able take a new phone away, try it and then return it.



 
 
 

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).
xarqi
727 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #513056 28-Aug-2011 12:32
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@danielm8
Thanks for that - that was just one example though. I have several more.

As for GPS, I need it in the bush where there is no signal cover. Offline maps could perhaps be made to work and that'd be great. What threw me though was that I was told by Telecom that without network coverage a GPS phone would not even give me my current co-ordinates so I could look on a paper map. Staggering!

Also, I'm very low on the food-chain, and even $1 a day (and the risk of another $1/MB over 10MB) is more than I want to pay. I'm going with XT as I have a Telecom landline and can add it to my account with no monthly fee and no "top ups" to expire on me. Except in emergencies, any internet traffic from the phone will be via wifi.

keewee01
1737 posts

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  #513060 28-Aug-2011 12:49
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xarqi: @danielm8
Thanks for that - that was just one example though. I have several more.

As for GPS, I need it in the bush where there is no signal cover. Offline maps could perhaps be made to work and that'd be great. What threw me though was that I was told by Telecom that without network coverage a GPS phone would not even give me my current co-ordinates so I could look on a paper map. Staggering!

Also, I'm very low on the food-chain, and even $1 a day (and the risk of another $1/MB over 10MB) is more than I want to pay. I'm going with XT as I have a Telecom landline and can add it to my account with no monthly fee and no "top ups" to expire on me. Except in emergencies, any internet traffic from the phone will be via wifi.


It would be a mistake trying to use a mobile phone as a GPS in any real situations where you need to rely on it. It's more about how to find a street. Think of it as more of a gimmick. Maps (Google) is not going to give you reliable and precise traces of tracks - if any at all.

IMO - In the high country and bush you should only use the real thing - buy a handheld GPS.



xarqi
727 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #513062 28-Aug-2011 13:01
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Well - if a GPS phone can give me my co-ordinates, that's all I need; if it can't, it has no basis being sold as a GPS device, I say!

I take your point though, but with funds being so tight, I'm looking to get the best "bang for the buck". GPS in a phone would be one less thing to buy and carry. If a phone can't do it, or some of the other things I'd like, even the $50ish extra for the Huawei isn't justified for me and I'd be better off with a phone that just does "hello" and "goodbye".

Also, I've read (and seen examples online), of topographic maps being available that can be downloaded and accessed by android apps. For example, http://www.openstreetmap.org/
Display the "Cycle Map layer" under the blue "+" menu and search for example for "Chateau Mosquito". Job done.

Speaking of navigation, I apologise for taking this thread off course!

blakamin
4431 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user


  #513090 28-Aug-2011 15:31
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xarqi:
Contenders are the Huawei X1 (small low res screen; 802.11n; inexpensive so least to lose when some features just don't work); and the LG P500 (better screen; lousy support from LG; twice the price).


http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=77&topicid=88995

Has ndrive too


xarqi
727 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #513092 28-Aug-2011 15:40
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blakamin:
xarqi:
Contenders are the Huawei X1 (small low res screen; 802.11n; inexpensive so least to lose when some features just don't work); and the LG P500 (better screen; lousy support from LG; twice the price).


http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=77&topicid=88995

Has ndrive too


Thanks.  The ndrive thing looks like it gives me the offline GPS/maps I need, but...
If it is for 2 degrees or Vodafone, it's probably 900/2100 and no use for Telecom XT. Also LG support sucks and I can't get any information about interoperability with OS X or access to SMB shares via Wifi (which is only 802.11g on the P500), and it's about 35% more than a new X1.

blakamin
4431 posts

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Inactive user


  #513097 28-Aug-2011 15:53
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I ran the IMEI on telecom website and it says it works.
ES File explorer is the app for playing with lans

xarqi
727 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #513102 28-Aug-2011 16:12
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blakamin: I ran the IMEI on telecom website and it says it works.
ES File explorer is the app for playing with lans


Thanks for the tip on ES File Explorer - it seems to be a partial solution, but since the files I want to access are about 10 TB of .TS video files, I'm not quite there yet.

But enough about me.  I'm thinking of starting a "What phone for me?" thread, but it seems a bit lame!

So, everyone, thanks, but back to the main topic, 2 degrees support quality, please.  

xarqi
727 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #513125 28-Aug-2011 17:55
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Sorry to bump this again, but my editing time window had expired. I've set up my lame "what phone" thread, so if anyone wants to post about that, here's the thread. Warning - it's long!
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=39&topicid=89213

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