Previously free Orange Broadband/ mobile

[IDontDoIroning]

Just came across this.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/phones/2012/08/orange-ends-free-broadband

Very few things are truly "free" but get paid for by way of some other charges.

I can imagine the anger of someone who has just tied themself into a 30/month mobile contract on the basis that their home broadband was "free" and those people should have a way out of the mobile contract since a significant aspect of their contract has been changed detrimentally.

I expect OFCOM (or similar) will receive a number of complaints about this.

www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2196350/Orange-axes-free-broadband-mobile-customers.html says the broadband will remain free, but switching to Orange for landline service will mean customer pays them about 160 in the first year.

Of course, if someone had been using BT might have paid BT 120 (or whatever they now charge) for a year's line rental at a discount, and will lose any unused months (no refund if you switch from BT).

Yes, we signed up on Jan 2012 to a 2 year contract with Orange where "free broadband" was offered as an incentive to sign up to the contract. Other mobile networks offered better deals but we took the Orange deal specifically to continue with our broadband (so, as you say, the monthly cost takes into account the broadband fee REALLY). We're now stuck with an expensive deal and are furious. It seems that Orange are saying that it's 2 separate contracts, your mobile one, and your broadband one and you can get out of the latter at no cost to you. Except one contract doesn't exist without the other?! This may be "legal" but is sharp practice, and watch this space as Orange lose their loyal customers in droves.

My dhs mobile contract comes to an end in december. Tbh we've stayed with orange on a reasonably pricy contract even though the broadband service is crap compared to some of the competitors. But when you take into account the savings from the free broadband it hasnt been too bad value.

I think the new arrangement requires you to have the orange home phone package too and there may be people who have a different home phone provider and can't move.

However luckily for us the timing is good and we plan to cancel the broadband in before December and get a new provider ( I wouldnt say with them now out if principal) and probably cancel the mobile contract and move to a much cheaper plan.