T-Mobile

Fox · May 24, 2010, 17:08:14

In March I got an Android phone on T-Mobile, a Samsung Galaxy Portal. The reason I got it on T-Mobile is that I was assured by one of their customer service assistants that the 2.1 update would be rolled out by mid April (3 offer the same phone with 2.1 already installed). I need 2.1 as 1.5 doesn't support bluetooth file transfers. After waiting patiently for a few weeks there was no sign of the update, although it is available from T-Mobile in several other European counties. To cut a long story short, after many emails and phone calls to them they told me to go to my nearest T-Mobile store and they would sort it out for me.

So off I trot to my nearest store, only to be told there is nothing they can do and they dont know why I was asked to come to the a store. They rang customer services for me (at my insistance) and the lady there talked to technical support who said that there were no plans to roll out the 2.1 update to the Galaxy at this time. I then told them that i had been mis-sold the phone by them as I had made it clear at the time that I needed 2.1 on my phone, that the phone wasnt fit for purpose and what did they propose to do about it. The initial answer was there was nothing they could do. I then said I intended to commence legal proceedings against them and asked for an address for my solicitor to serve papers on them. I was then transfered to a senior manager, I explained the situation and that I proposed to take legal action and suddenly, as if by magic, they were falling over themselves to help. He asked if there was any other phone they could supply, I said any phone of similar specs that has 2.1 on it and that I believed the HTC Desire was suitable.

Anyway, my new HTC Desire is coming tomorrow....but why do you have to threaten legal action just to get some action and to get what is yours by right

Rik · May 24, 2010, 17:12:29

Because every company is trying to squeeze their margins, sadly. Glad you got there, they were relying on you not knowing your legal rights, I'm sure.

Simon · May 24, 2010, 17:13:06

Well done for standing your ground, but could you not have upgraded the phone yourself, or does the Andriod OS not allow upgrades?

Fox · May 24, 2010, 17:21:46

Yes I could have upgraded myself using Odin and the 2.1 firmware but T-Mobile informed me that this would invalidate my warranty as the update wasn't approved by them and if I bricked the phone they would not help and I would still have to pay the rest of my contract.

I cant really complain as the Desire on my price plan is over £300 to buy and I am getting for free.

Glenn · May 24, 2010, 17:24:09

You'll be pleased with the Desire, I'm sure.

Fox · May 24, 2010, 17:30:45

Well the desire is phone I would have got to start with if it wasnt so expensive. Its only free with contracts over £35 per month and I wasnt willing to pay that much for a mobile contract.

Glenn · May 24, 2010, 17:34:40

T-Mobile messed up my account. My contract was 100 mins/texts for £15/month + £95 for the phone, 2 months later, my account is £65 in credit and I haven't made a payment.

Rik · May 24, 2010, 17:38:14

That's at least a good way to mess up, Glenn.

Fox · May 24, 2010, 17:51:20

I pay £15 per month but I get 300 minutes, unlimited texts, and unlimited internet for that. There is a fair use policy for internet access of 3Gb per month.

Rik · May 24, 2010, 18:12:06

I love the way they're allowed to say unlimited and, in the next breath, put a 3GB limit on.

Simon · May 24, 2010, 18:14:57

They all do it.

Rik · May 24, 2010, 18:16:17

I know. The ASA seems to use a different dictionary to me.

pctech · May 24, 2010, 21:32:10

No matter what phone you have all of the UK networks are notoriously slow at releasing firmware upgrades, often they are 6 to 12 months behind and the manufacturer has pushed out several versions by then.

Chances are they having some problems with the branding that is applied to the firmware which maybe destabilising it.

Unfortunately this is the price you pay for a 'free' or subsidised phone which isn't really as part of your rental goes toward the hardware cost anyway so you'll end up paying the full hardware cost over the term plus a margin for the operator.

Might be better buying one SIM free with vanilla (unbranded) firmware only downside might be that you may not have access to the operator's app store.