h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Unbelievable!

I used to have 2 mobiles - both 3310s. One an ancient one I had in the UK, which is still useful cos I can receive messages from people who still have that number, and it works in foreign countries. The other a Luxembourg one I got just over a year ago (note that "just over" - it's relevant later in the story) which is good for local calls.

I decided to upgrade the old UK one, so I bought a cute lil Samsung clamshell/ camera/ Matrix one. My UK simcard worked in it. So far, so groovy.

Then I reasoned that since I use the Lux number more frequently, I should put the Lux simcard in the new Samsung, and put the UK simcard in the Lux Nokia (the UK Nokia's very old and rickety). The Samsung worked, but the Nokia didn't.

I went to the shop where I'd bought it. They tried different combinations of card+phone before saying that it was a blocking problem on the phone, and I should call CMD, the service provider. Well, I have never spoken to a ruder helpdesk person in my life. Not only did she not speak English (fair enough) she made no attempt to slow down or simplify her French (not so fair enough). She said it must be the phone's fault.

I went back to the shop - they didnt want to know, said they'd done all they could. At this point I started to cry (well, a girl's gotta use what resources she has, n'est-ce pas?). The shop assistant took pity on me and offered to phone CMD on my behalf. Still no joy - needed to go to the manufacturers.

I went down town to CMD headquarters, explained the same problem, watched them try the same solutions, and give the same puzzled looks and "C'est bizarre, ca"s...and then shrug their shoulders as if nothing could be done.

I didnt know whether to play the helpless, tearful female, or the mouthy stubborn b*tch, or smile sweetly and appeal to their better nature. And of course the guarantee had just expired so they couldnt replace it. Eventually they offered to send it off for repairs and lend me a substitute.

I cam back to the office (via the Haagendaaz shop for some chocolate brownie temtation to help me recover from the stress), and thought - that's not customer service.

Well, is it?

Nope - but unfortunately, the Nokia 3310 is cr@p. The only cell phone we used to give to people for business was one of the Sony/Ericsons, it broke down the least, in its price range.

From our standpoint, Craig lets me deal with stuff here. Then I deal with my own stuff in the UK. Craig just gives me some lame excuse about me speaking the language as well as him, and to sort it myself

Pity about the phone - hope something works out!
in case...

cheers ismarah

Actually, this is the first time I've ever had to complain about the 3310, and I've owned 3 of 'em! And they're much easier to txt on than the Samsung, although I spect that'll get easier.

Ah well, such is life!