About 3

• Reviews (15)

  Review Summary

  Based on 15 review(s)

  • Cost
    Bad
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal
    Bad
  • Recommended?
    Yes

  Agree? Disagree? Tell us what you think? Write a review

  Individual Reviews (15)

  • Cost:
    Good
  • Support
    Bad
  • Signal:
    Average
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  Nick, 29th April 2010

  Been with 3 for a while. Their coverage is OKish. One thing I will say is if I do have 3g coverage from them the data rate is fine. The fact that Skype is free is great. Would I recommend 3? Yes I think I would but, and this is a big but, watch out as they will not allow you to downgrade the package until you are out of contract.

  • Cost:
    Terrible
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal:
    Terrible
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  mick wallworth, 31st March 2010

  I've been with 3 mobile for 3 years and to say they are helpful is a joke. Customer service is rubbish. If you're not happy they will just cancel the contract. Can't get hold of any English staff either.

  • Cost:
    Terrible
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal:
    Terrible
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  Michael, 27th March 2010

  I have been with 3 now for about 4 years. They are difficult to deal with and unless they get in to iPhones i will move on.

  • Cost:
    Terrible
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal:
    Terrible
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  jane, 21st March 2010

  Dreadful customer service. You never get to talk to anyone who speaks English. They are sooo unhelpful and have no interest in keeping their customers.

  • Cost:
    Terrible
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal:
    Terrible
  • Recommeded:
    No

  tania duarte, 27th February 2010

  I've been with 3 for 4 years, and before it was much better. Now the coverage is a bit patchy and the calls keep cutting out. And if I'm late on payments they put restrictions on calls.

  They have no respect for the fact that I have four accounts with them and never fail a payment. Regarding the broadband, before it was very nice, but now I'm paying for an 18 months contract without using it because there is no coverage in my house.

  • Cost:
    Good
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal:
    Good
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  derek, 21st February 2010

  Been on 3 over 4 years. Handset choice has been poor, which I think is part of the the problem with a lot of the complaints.

  Main problem is with their call centres. They are hopeless. I've found the best thing to do is call into a store and they will normally sort out the problem at the first or second time of asking at least.

  Regarding coverage, I have found this to be one of the better networks. This is based on traveling all around the UK.

  • Cost:
    Terrible
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal:
    Terrible
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  tony mounsey, 3rd February 2010

  Been with 3 for a number of years now and am happy with the service. But the urge for an iPhone is getting stronger by the day!

  Come on 3! Get the iPhone added to your phones list, or I'll have to say bye-bye.

  • Cost:
    Terrible
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal:
    Terrible
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  Julie, 28th January 2010

  My 75yro father has been totally miss-sold his handset. He can't an get easier to use phone for this network and can't get out of contract without costing a fortune. I wouldnt recommend 3 to anyone.

  • Cost:
    Terrible
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal:
    Terrible
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  lee, 24th January 2010

  Complete and utter rubbish. Not a single decent phone to choose from and the customer suport is ridiculous as no one speaks english.

  Ive since gone with O2 who are much much better.

  • Cost:
    Bad
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal:
    Terrible
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  David,Oxford, 29th December 2009

  Very poor and missleading customer service, no help what so ever. Poor choice of phones + you can't upgrade till 15 months are over on 18 month contract.

  • Cost:
    Terrible
  • Support
    Bad
  • Signal:
    Terrible
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  WEGGO, 26th November 2009

  I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND 3 TO ANY ONE, IT IS THE ONLY PHONE COMPANY THAT YOU CANNOT USE ANOTHER PHONE WITH. I HAD A NOKIA 6300 THAT WAS WORKING WITH MY 3 CONTRACT SIM.

  3 NETWORK THEN LOCKED THE SIM AS THE NOKIA 6300 IS NOT A 3G PHONE, I EXPLAINED THAT ALL MY SERVICES WERE WORKING FINE BUT THEY STILL BLOCKED IT OFF,ITS JUST SO THEY CAN GET MONEY OUT OF YOU

  • Cost:
    Bad
  • Support
    Terrible
  • Signal:
    Terrible
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  sylvia ireland, 25th November 2009

  When I returned my mobile it was lost adn now 3 denies recieving it so am using my very old mobile. I am not happy with their service at all as I either have to continue with my old one or pay £200 + to get out of my contract which is only £15/month.

  • Cost:
    Bad
  • Support
    Bad
  • Signal:
    Bad
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  darren lindsey, 8th November 2009

  I have found 3 to be very poor lately with plenty of dropped calls, after talking to somone who i could just about make out what he was saying ,told me to change my handset, which i did and still im dropping calls.So now i think its time to switch to a better provider.

  • Cost:
    Excellent
  • Support
    Average
  • Signal:
    Average
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  celia b, 30th October 2009

  Been with 3 from the start always nice and helpful I also have dongle and it has been the best thing I did as I am house bound for 6 weeks after an op, but would like to upgrade my phone but without a contract as I love the one I already have, any suggestions

  • Cost:
    Good
  • Support
    Excellent
  • Signal:
    Good
  • Recommeded:
    Yes

  Jayne B, 8th October 2009

  with 3 for some time now and always found them courteous and helpful, could do with better handsets to choose from.

• About 3

  About 3

  3 is one of the largest UK networks and offers among the best rates for national and international calls and texting.

  The company operates a series of tariffs, with payment plans that can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

  3 is a huge global network that is available across eight countries, allowing customers to benefit from excellent priced international and national calls. It offers both pay monthly and pay as you payment plans, with brilliant Mix and Match deals to tailor their contract and services.

  3 offers a fantastic range of handsets and specialises in the very latest 3G mobile phones. This was proved by 3 being the first UK mobile telephony provide to launch a phone specifically for VoIP in the form of the 3 Skypephone

  The company’s 3Gs coverage is superb and is the most extensive in the UK, allowing customers to make the most of mobile phone internet access.

• Company History

  History

  3 is a subsidiary of the Hong Kong company Hutchison Whampoa and was launched in the UK in 2003. It is renowned for enacting one of the fastest roll-outs in history of its 3G network.

  Among the services it has launched is SeeMeTV, whereby customers can submit video content which can be watched by other consumers. This is the most popular user-generated mobile service created. The company has also spearheaded the launch of 3 mobile TV.

• Customer Service

  Customer Service

  3 customers on pay monthly plans can get in touch with the company’s customer service division by calling 333 from their mobile. The call is free when made from their handset.

  Alternatively, they can call 08707 330 333 from any other phone and will be charged at their standard rate.

  Pay as you go customers call 444 from their handset for free, or 08707 330 333 from any other phone.

  3’s website is home to a extensive range of guides to help you to deal with everything from getting the most out of O2 services, setting up your mobile phone, billing and procedures for when your mobile phone is lost or stolen.

• Tariffs

  Tariffs

  3 operates both pay as you go and pay monthly plans. Pay monthly customers can take advantage of the Mix and Match plans which offer flexibility and convenience.

  The Mix and Match deals allow users to choose handsets and choose an offer that suits them rather than being tied into fixed price plans. The plans work by allocating units to customers, who are then free to use them either for texts or calls, with one text equalling one call to make it as simple as possible to keep track of your usage.

  All deals offer 300 3 to 3 minutes as well as free voicemail, free instant messaging and free Skype. The Mix & Match plans also allow customers to keep in touch with friends through online services such as Skype, Live Windows Messenger or Yahoo Messenger. All these services are offered to 3 customers free of charge.

  Alternatively, also 3 offers Texter plans, which are heavily weighted towards customers who communicate heavily with SMS messages and run over 12 or 18 months.

• Coverage

  Coverage

  3 customers benefit from a roaming arrangement with Orange which allows them to use their handsets on the 2G network when they move out of 3G coverage.

  3 boasts the most extensive 3G coverage in the UK and as of September 2007 launched its HSDPA network. This is available in London, Northern Ireland and north of Manchester.

  With the 3 Like Home service UK customers can use their handsets on 3 networks worldwide for no extra charge.