Gets equipment, plugs in (under guidance from me, although she is relatively savvy anyway.)
ADSL light continues flashing.....
Checks everything..... waits a couple of days...
Rings Orange.... they just go through usual procedures and promises to check line.
1 week later.... light still flashing.... I take all my equipment to their house as I am also an Orange customer (ie; computer, filters, leads, modem, the lot) ...no change
Ring Orange.... they now blame Dell for making a faulty computer!!... also promise to check (purge?) line.
1 week later (mother-in-law is quite patient)... light still flashing.... Orange blame her for setting up equipment wrong, but promise to check line.
3 weeks later (mother-in-law went to Egypt for holiday)... still no connection.... ring Orange and give them ultimatum of 2 weeks to provide a connection.
2 weeks later.... ring Orange tell them to stuff their connection, told them she is cancelling direct debit and sent back equipment.
2 months later... decide to try BT Broadband instead... Equipment arrived, set up and connects first time (with damn fast connection speed too)
2 months later... Orange send letter demanding money as they say she is not paying for their service.
She sent letter back saying she wasn't paying due to above.
1 month later.... Orange send letter demanding money as they say she is not paying for their service.... etc etc
NOW... the main point I have is ... Orange NEVER sent a MAC code, but she was able to connect with a different provider with no problems two months later.
From what I gather, would she have needed a MAC code to transfer between providers, or, if Orange had never connected her in the first place, would she therefore not need one.
Well logically, it looks like she was never an Orange customer otherwise there would have been a line marker (tag) making it impossible for BT to connect her.
_________________ An ex-Orange guinea pig
"The first third of our lives is ruined by our parents, the second third by 0range then along comes 02 and you die happy."
Joined: 13 Aug 2006Posts: 1689Location: Marylebone Central London
I agree no way did Orange ever connect you how Orange dont even know that is unbelievable, once again its one department not communicating with another, its funny how they never forget to bill people but do forget to connect people in the first place.
_________________ ex Freeserve/Wanadoo/Orange Blog
Site AdminJoined: 07 Apr 2006Posts: 784Location: United Kingdom
Hello bributch and welcome to OrangeProblems.co.uk
I completely agree with nhyder
To confirm this, I would advise you to phone BT and check with them (explaining that you are completely happy with your BT connection at the same time).
If BT are able to confirm this, I would then speak to Trading Standards, the ISPA and Ofcom.
I would also urge you to write a letter to Orange explaining your conversation with BT and mention that you will contact the above-mentioned organisations for their comments.
It sounds that Orange did not fulfill their contract with you and are now demanding money... This is potentially (possibly) fraud! You may need to seek further legal advice (professional) as Orange will hound you for the money!
All of the above mentioned websites are keen on Orange-related broadband stories.
Good luck and let us know how you get on. Feel free to mention OrangeProblems.co.uk - Orange are fully aware of this website and the support we get from other media organisations. In fact, it will certainly do you no harm (and may help) to mention us.
Well it took a long time, but my mother -in-law got home today to pick up a message on the answerphone.
After reading the replies in the thread, she wrote to Orange to ask why she was able to change without a MAC code, amongst other things, and also asked to see a copy of the contract which she was supposed to have signed (which she cannot EVER remember doing).
Orange finally replied to apologise for the inconvenience caused and have said they will not be persuing any further payments.
Although she is now awaiting written confirmation, which she will file for many years 'just-in-case', it is a great weight off her mind after many months.
She does not know yet whether to pursue the repayment of all the cash she had given Orange for the first few months of the supposed 'service', as first of all she is just glad to get rid of the threats and letters which have consistently been at the back of her mind for a long time now.
Thanks for all those who took the time to read the thread, and to those who offered their advice.
That is absolutely astonishing!
I cannot believe how bad Orange are and they just to continue to get worse all the time.
How they are allowed to continue trading bafles me too - they should be closed down for many reasons including fraud. They are always taking people's money and not providing services.
She does not know yet whether to pursue the repayment of all the cash she had given Orange for the first few months of the supposed 'service', as first of all she is just glad to get rid of the threats and letters which have consistently been at the back of her mind for a long time now.
Tell her it will be painless to pursue a monetary claim.
Just write a polite letter stating that as Orange have admitted their error would they return all monies paid to them by her. If possible state the total amount of the debt. Don't threaten anything at this stage, but "just in case" read this :-
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