Soldato
I have a Sony Ericsson W910i which is, when it gets down to it, a very nice phone indeed. I don't think i prefer it to my old Samsung D500, but what can you do.
I've had my W910i for 7 months now, to the day, and in the last 4 weeks i've begun to notice some problems with it. It seemed that when my phone was in the bottom of my bag, it would lose connection to the network showing me (the now intensely plaguing) message "No Access to Network". The only way to fix this, it turned out, was to turn the phone off, then on again. Now, not such an issue i agree, but the phone is ludicrously slow at powering up (one of it's few flaws). This makes reconnecting to said network a 3 minute job. Not particularly useful in an emergency, not that i've had one. He says touching wood.
Over the last 4 weeks however, i've noticed the problem getting worse. No Access to Network whilst in my drawer at work, for example. No Access to Network in my Inside Pocket. No Access to Network in my regular pocket. No Access to Network on the desk. No Access to Network outside of direct sunlight. No Access to Network if you look at it funny. I figured it was about time i looked into fixing it. So i called Orange.
"No worries!", proclaimed the guy. "This happens a lot. Just head into your settings and set the network reception to GSM Only! It appears there is a 3g mast down in your area!"
"Excellent" said I "And just in case that doesn't work?"
"Sir," said he, "I'd stake stake my house on it"
I wonder if they have call recording and if that statement would hold up in a court of law. I could use a house.
So, it's the following week, and the issues remain. This very morn i decided it was time for another call.
"Hello. You should have a call logged from me from last week describing my inability to use my phone on your network. I'd like to try another fix please as the last didn't work"
"I have no such notes on your account* Sir, but not to worry, i think i know how we can fix it-"
"Careful!" i interrupted "The last guy who said that owes me a house".
*this is DampCat's complete lack of surprise -
He didn't wait for an explanation. Indeed, he powered on, exclaiming that my course of action should be to trundle off down to Carphone Warehouse and buy a Signal Booster. Of course! I need to Boost my Signal! Obviously what has happened is that my Signallation has suffered, for some reason best known to the Gods alone, and it requires more Boostability. So off i trot at lunchtime, with a large portion of Naive and a side of Stupid, rocking up to the stubbly-but-friendly looking guy in the Warehouse for Car related Telecommunications.
"A what?"
"Indeed, but apparently that's what i need,"
"Need? What even is it? It goes between the battery? What?"
"Soooo... no Signal Boosting here then?"
"Indeed not, friend. You've been diddled. Unless, of course, such an item has passed my notice in my 9 years service in this store, and many like it around the country"
So, back at the office, i'm back on the phone to Orange.
"Hello. I do believe you were mistaken. My Signal remains unBoosted, my Network remains unAccessed, and my Patience(tm) is running Thin. I would like you to take my phone and fix it please. It is currently, very Un-Mobile."
"Well, sir, your Warranty is expired"
"It's a 7 month old phone on an 18 month contract."
"With a 6 month Warranty, sir"
"Uh huh. So wait. What you're saying then, if you may be so kind as to correct me where i'm mistaken, is that, perhaps somewhat convieniently, 1 day after my curiously short warranty expired my Access to the Network became very flakey indeed. As a fix, you've requested that i further restrict my Access to said Network by removing 3G and that the only options available to me are to buy a non-existent piece of hardware, or send it back to you at quite the price to have it fixed, with a 28 day turnaround?"
"Have you worked for Orange before sir?"
"Screw you, guy"
*click*
Anger.
"i'll check Sony Ericsson's site for a support number and see what they say about getting my phone repaired. I'd rather give them money than those seenuts at Orange", i told my particularly uninterested co-worker.
"Yes mate" Mr Sony-Ericsson replied, "try a firmware update as it's a regular problem with that series, and if not, give me a call back tomorrow on my direct line and we'll arrange a replacement phone. should be a 7 to 10 day turnaround."
Wait... what?
I've had my W910i for 7 months now, to the day, and in the last 4 weeks i've begun to notice some problems with it. It seemed that when my phone was in the bottom of my bag, it would lose connection to the network showing me (the now intensely plaguing) message "No Access to Network". The only way to fix this, it turned out, was to turn the phone off, then on again. Now, not such an issue i agree, but the phone is ludicrously slow at powering up (one of it's few flaws). This makes reconnecting to said network a 3 minute job. Not particularly useful in an emergency, not that i've had one. He says touching wood.
Over the last 4 weeks however, i've noticed the problem getting worse. No Access to Network whilst in my drawer at work, for example. No Access to Network in my Inside Pocket. No Access to Network in my regular pocket. No Access to Network on the desk. No Access to Network outside of direct sunlight. No Access to Network if you look at it funny. I figured it was about time i looked into fixing it. So i called Orange.
"No worries!", proclaimed the guy. "This happens a lot. Just head into your settings and set the network reception to GSM Only! It appears there is a 3g mast down in your area!"
"Excellent" said I "And just in case that doesn't work?"
"Sir," said he, "I'd stake stake my house on it"
I wonder if they have call recording and if that statement would hold up in a court of law. I could use a house.
So, it's the following week, and the issues remain. This very morn i decided it was time for another call.
"Hello. You should have a call logged from me from last week describing my inability to use my phone on your network. I'd like to try another fix please as the last didn't work"
"I have no such notes on your account* Sir, but not to worry, i think i know how we can fix it-"
"Careful!" i interrupted "The last guy who said that owes me a house".
*this is DampCat's complete lack of surprise -
He didn't wait for an explanation. Indeed, he powered on, exclaiming that my course of action should be to trundle off down to Carphone Warehouse and buy a Signal Booster. Of course! I need to Boost my Signal! Obviously what has happened is that my Signallation has suffered, for some reason best known to the Gods alone, and it requires more Boostability. So off i trot at lunchtime, with a large portion of Naive and a side of Stupid, rocking up to the stubbly-but-friendly looking guy in the Warehouse for Car related Telecommunications.
"A what?"
"Indeed, but apparently that's what i need,"
"Need? What even is it? It goes between the battery? What?"
"Soooo... no Signal Boosting here then?"
"Indeed not, friend. You've been diddled. Unless, of course, such an item has passed my notice in my 9 years service in this store, and many like it around the country"
So, back at the office, i'm back on the phone to Orange.
"Hello. I do believe you were mistaken. My Signal remains unBoosted, my Network remains unAccessed, and my Patience(tm) is running Thin. I would like you to take my phone and fix it please. It is currently, very Un-Mobile."
"Well, sir, your Warranty is expired"
"It's a 7 month old phone on an 18 month contract."
"With a 6 month Warranty, sir"
"Uh huh. So wait. What you're saying then, if you may be so kind as to correct me where i'm mistaken, is that, perhaps somewhat convieniently, 1 day after my curiously short warranty expired my Access to the Network became very flakey indeed. As a fix, you've requested that i further restrict my Access to said Network by removing 3G and that the only options available to me are to buy a non-existent piece of hardware, or send it back to you at quite the price to have it fixed, with a 28 day turnaround?"
"Have you worked for Orange before sir?"
"Screw you, guy"
*click*
Anger.
"i'll check Sony Ericsson's site for a support number and see what they say about getting my phone repaired. I'd rather give them money than those seenuts at Orange", i told my particularly uninterested co-worker.
"Yes mate" Mr Sony-Ericsson replied, "try a firmware update as it's a regular problem with that series, and if not, give me a call back tomorrow on my direct line and we'll arrange a replacement phone. should be a 7 to 10 day turnaround."
Wait... what?
