Moving house - no mobile signal.

placeholder · 7 Sep 2016 at 13:07

Quick question for those in the know. I am moving house Dec/Jan time but I am due an upgrade on my mobile now. I suspect that where I am moving to does not have coverage (or good coverage at least) for my network.

If I upgrade and find I don't have coverage when I move is there anything I can do or am I just stuck with a non-working contract? Obviously if this is the case then I wont upgrade and will look at my options but I'm in no hurry to go through the hassle of switching network unless I have to.

Anyone else had this issue?

lmfy2k · 7 Sep 2016 at 13:11

EE do Wifi Calling, uses any wifi to make calls from your allowance

its what i use at home as my signal is rubbish in my house, ok outside though!

for this you will need a wifi calling compatible phone though

3 do a home signal box which your phone connects to at home, but ranges isnt mega but works ok

Minstadave · 7 Sep 2016 at 13:11

Depending on which network you're on there is either an app that routes your calls through wifi or you can get a femtocell type box which you connect to your router.

I'm on O2 and use their TU app, pretty effective.

placeholder · 7 Sep 2016 at 13:30

I'm on O2 and have that app as well and it does work ok when I don't have signal I'm just not so sure about having to rely on it all the time that I'm in the house.

If I upgraded now and found I had no signal in my new place would O2 just say "tough luck" or would they provide any release from the contract on the basis that they don't service the area?

On Holiday · 7 Sep 2016 at 13:35

I'm pretty sure you can be released from the contract if you have no signal after moving? At least that's how I got out of my o2 contract a couple years ago.

spudbynight · 7 Sep 2016 at 13:50

Plenty O'Toole said:
I'm pretty sure you can be released from the contract if you have no signal after moving? At least that's how I got out of my o2 contract a couple years ago.

Providers now are very keen to offer "30 day trials" and the like to test out the service. I think the OP would be on a hiding to nothing trying to extricate himself from a contract after 3/4 months.

I'd be wary of upgrading at this point if you are just about to move. It might be worth considering moving to a 30day simonly tariff and upgrading properly, or moving network, in Jan.

lmfy2k · 7 Sep 2016 at 13:50

are you able to take some sims to your new home area and see what the coverage is like?

snips86x · 7 Sep 2016 at 13:52

Minstadave said:
Depending on which network you're on there is either an app that routes your calls through wifi or you can get a femtocell type box which you connect to your router.

I'm on O2 and use their TU app, pretty effective.

That's interesting...I have no phone signal at work, will have a look at this, thanks

placeholder · 7 Sep 2016 at 15:49

spudbynight said:
Providers now are very keen to offer "30 day trials" and the like to test out the service. I think the OP would be on a hiding to nothing trying to extricate himself from a contract after 3/4 months.

I'd be wary of upgrading at this point if you are just about to move. It might be worth considering moving to a 30day simonly tariff and upgrading properly, or moving network, in Jan.

That's what I thought. It would be a very easy out for people if you could do this, although at the same time many people must move house mid contract totally unaware that there is no coverage at their new place.

lmfy2k said:
are you able to take some sims to your new home area and see what the coverage is like?

Yeah possibly. I know there is no coverage in an area close by as I have family there but maybe I can check a bit closer. I guess I should just leave off upgrading for now. It will be a pain to switch providers.

chanjy · 7 Sep 2016 at 16:01

There's usually coverage checker on the provider website too, which is quite accurate.

Just type in the postcode of the new place and see, although if you aren't sure exactly where you are moving to yet that isn't quite as helpful!

On Holiday · 7 Sep 2016 at 16:01

I'd be asking the neighbours myself, good excuse to get acquainted and less faff trying different providers etc

mattyg · 7 Sep 2016 at 16:06

Why would O2 let you out of the contract. Your knowingly moving to an area with no signal. Hardly O2's fault.

However there are ways around it as already discussed TuGo or the EE one etc. Or even whatsapp

tom_e · 7 Sep 2016 at 16:14

placeholder said:
Yeah possibly. I know there is no coverage in an area close by as I have family there but maybe I can check a bit closer. I guess I should just leave off upgrading for now. It will be a pain to switch providers.

Switching providers is about as painless as it gets, I can't remember the last time I stayed with the same one when my contract was up.

Most networks have an app that will work on WiFi these days 3's is pretty good means I can get texts and phone calls at work as the signal is shocking.

peige · 7 Sep 2016 at 16:35

Minstadave said:
Depending on which network you're on there is either an app that routes your calls through wifi or you can get a femtocell type box which you connect to your router.

I'm on O2 and use their TU app, pretty effective.

Never heard of the TU app, just installed it. Will be handy when I'm next in wales, the hotel hardly ever has mobile signal

placeholder · 8 Sep 2016 at 10:53

mattyg said:
Why would O2 let you out of the contract. Your knowingly moving to an area with no signal. Hardly O2's fault.

However there are ways around it as already discussed TuGo or the EE one etc. Or even whatsapp

Hardly my fault that O2 don't have coverage in the area either. That's my entire point though, there must be people who move mid contract and THEN discover that they have no signal. Networks must have some sort of policy for this type of thing I would have thought hence the question. I'm just slightly ahead of the game by identifying it as a potential problem before I move and being able to act appropriately.

Having a phone contract for £x a month and being forced to use whatsapp isn't a solution at all, and using wifi based solution is better but still not as good as having a working phone which would be the optimum solution for the money being spent. Ideally I don't want to pay for a phone contract without the actual phone element being available.

I think I will just leave off upgrading and see how I get on, I did just wonder what the providers stance would be in such a situation.

stoofa · 8 Sep 2016 at 12:38

"Back in the day" I had a 1mb connection with NTL. I was called and said I could have a free upgrade to 2mb, however I'd need to sign-up for another year.
I told them that there was a good chance I'd be moving home within the next 3-4 months and asked would they hold me to the contract in that case. They told me no - if I moved to a non-NTL area they would not.
3 months later I moved and I was sent a bill for early termination. I sent them their bill back with a copy of the chat conversation - never heard from them again.

I guess it isn't quite the same - I can see both sides of the agument.

mattyg · 8 Sep 2016 at 13:57

placeholder said:
Hardly my fault that O2 don't have coverage in the area either. That's my entire point though, there must be people who move mid contract and THEN discover that they have no signal. Networks must have some sort of policy for this type of thing I would have thought hence the question. I'm just slightly ahead of the game by identifying it as a potential problem before I move and being able to act appropriately.

Having a phone contract for £x a month and being forced to use whatsapp isn't a solution at all, and using wifi based solution is better but still not as good as having a working phone which would be the optimum solution for the money being spent. Ideally I don't want to pay for a phone contract without the actual phone element being available.

I think I will just leave off upgrading and see how I get on, I did just wonder what the providers stance would be in such a situation.

Don't ALL the mobile phone providers provide a detailed map of their coverage. Which would be available at the time you take out your contract.
I'm also NOT aware of anything in my contract that guarantees I'll have coverage.

I know people who have had their contracts cancelled because the provider has turned off and mast.

This signal thing is annoying anyhow. Surely if ALL the providers shared ALL the masts then they'd have money to spare to put up more of them.

There are dead spots on the M25 and the M6 that I regularly pass through and drop calls. in this day, signal shouldn't be an issue

tom_e · 8 Sep 2016 at 14:12

mattyg said:
Don't ALL the mobile phone providers provide a detailed map of their coverage. Which would be available at the time you take out your contract.

Both Three and EE maps say I should be able to get a good 3G signal in the office and 4G outdoors.

As soon as I park up and walk over to the side of the building my office is in I get basic 2G if it manages to connect at all.

They're not infallible, it's also not like we're in the middle of no where 30 seconds either way are housing estates.

killsta · 8 Sep 2016 at 14:18

Indeed, same for EE at my parents' house. Map shows good coverage, which it is outside, but as soon as I walk indoors I get no service.

wedrum · 8 Sep 2016 at 14:30

i am too in a shady area, just outside of town so my phone signal is poor.