| Reviewer Name | Rating out of 10 | Review Details | Review Date / Time |
| Charlene, Wallasey | 1 |
3 told me that my coverage was 'GOOD' and when i got it i could not get ANY service whatsoever! YES they're cheap, but the customer service is awful, and the network coverage is totally diabolical for both their phone network and their dongles!
| 01/07/2009 16:38:34 |
| hussain | 1 |
I have three broadband for about 15 months and waiting for the 18 month to come. terrible service, customer service not helpful instead tells me to show my computer to manufacturer. anyway its new computer. In the middle of doing something goes inactive then I have to disconnect and reconnect again. poor service.
| 30/06/2009 20:05:08 |
| dev | 1 |
i took this contract as for business i need to move alot. Its the worst decision. I bought it week ago and now i have canceled this and they r charging me 20GBP though contract was 15GBP with 14days cooling off period. I have used only 2GB and that too when i was continuouly connected for 92hrs. I am fed with there customer service. They are not helpful at all and don't take pain to sort out the problem. When I said I want to cancel, the customer service was happy to disconnect the connection. I dont know why the customer importance is disappearing slowly and nobody cares about anymore about customers.
| 18/06/2009 00:37:05 |
| Michelle | 1 |
Three is terrible Im nearing the end of a two year contract and I am so glad! It was good for internet without a landline but I think I would be better getting a landline to save the stress of this internet disconnecting at every second. I live in the falkirk area, I had a good signal on vodafone for my mobile but I also signed up for a phone on three and the signal is very poor. I was in Elgin for two weeks and I had to take the sim from the modem and walk around outside to get the internet, same in dingwall and parts of inverness.
Various messages show up "Modem not found", "data modem invalid" "write configury to registration failure" with no guidebook to tell you what this means, when you phone customer services they tell you to restart. Restarting every day is not good enough! Also the "troubleshooting" that is in the menu does no such thing, and there are coloured lights I have no idea what they mean!
The cooling off period should be at least a month, the service is terrible.
Apparently the modem does not work well with vista, I was never advised of this and if I had been I would have tried to solve this problem earlier and save the nonsense that I have had to put up with over the past two years.
The download speeds were sometimes as low as... (Im no tech buff) a reasonable sized file in one hour!!
I thought the service may have improved since late 2007 but it has actually got worse!
AVOID!
| 17/06/2009 00:10:00 |
| Jonathan Ward | 8 |
I really don't know why so many people have complained about 3's mobile broadband. I am using their service with a huawei E169G under Linux and have had no issues. In fact, I have been surpised about how reliable it has been in the past month that I have been using it. I live in Leeds and have only experienced a few network drops so far. This leads me to believe that it could be the useless windows software which comes included with the stick! I tested it earlier and it was much less reliable with 3's software than it was with network manager in Linux.
Solution: Create a new connection in 'Network Connections' for dial-up and select the usb stick as the modem. Then change the dial number to '(ctrl 8)99#' (without quotes) and it will connect. This seems to be a hassle free way of connecting!
| 16/06/2009 21:27:36 |
| Butterfly | 1 |
Wolverhampton, west Midlands:
Took out a 3 mobile contract - one of their laptop deals. I signed up for 1gb per month allowance, with Acer laptop.. with a 25pc discount for all ready being a customer, salesman said that would bring my bill down to 15ish per month (down from 17.50).. I get sent the wrong laptop, calling customer services is no good, get advised to go back to the store I purchased it from.. the store has no clue whats happened, but assures me I am defanitely on correct contract "maybe they have no Acers in stock" - utter rubbish!.
Having been away for 2 weeks, I return and see the bill 17.69!.. wtf? straight on the phone to customer services - "the bill is correct, its 17.50 with the discount - plus a 19p first day usage charge". I keep telling her I am supposed to be charged 15.00 per month, but she's adamant that the 25pc discount is included...
I have a look on their website - they have two 1gb allowance contracts, one at 17.50 (which I signed up for) and a 20 pound per month deal (which I have been been connected to). I keep telling the customer services people that I have been mis-sold my contract and I wish to cancel - "you must go to the store you purchased from, I can only deal with purchases made over the phone or online" - brilliant thanks for nothing!....
Go trudging down to the 3 store, get grilled about why I wish to cancel - I point out that the contract has been mis-sold.. "looks like the person who signed you up has used the wrong codes, I'll have to get my manager to take a look"... over comes the manager, lone behold, the very same man who signed me up to the contract!. He isn't particularly bothered that the contract is wrong - after spending 10 minutes with colleague on computer he wants to know why I hung up on the customer services agent (obviously he hasn't had the misfortune to deal with them) "complete and utter frustration" came my reply. He fills in a cancellation form but warns me "they might not decide to cancel the contract.. we will have to wait for a response from head office, which could take upto a week".. The staff showed a complete lack of understanding, no apologies and tried to make me out to be the bad guy. I will defanitely be writing a letter of complaint and has confirmed to me that I defanitely do not want any more dealings with this company.
Oh yeah and the connection is super slow, continually disconnecting, took ages to load pages..... avoid these money grabbing morons.
| 11/06/2009 02:51:45 |
| Susie | 1 |
Hideous hideous hideous - after 2 hours on the phone to customer service one evening I'm embarassed to say actually cried from sheer frustration. How 3 can still sell their mobile broadband service at all is totally beyond me. All I can say is don't give up if you're trying to leave a contract early - after many stressful hours they eventually put me through to a department who ran speed checks over 3 days with me and what do you know, the connection and service was almost off the scale it was so bad! I was then released from my contract...although needless to say I had to call 3 times to get a bag to send the modem back to them. Oh, and they sent me another bill after that too, which I figure was just because they missed my weekly ranting. Now with O2 and very happy with the service - I wouldn't wish 3 on my worst enemy.
| 08/06/2009 18:30:00 |
| Nathan | 8 |
I am not sure why so many people have had a negative experience with 3 mobile broadband but mine has only been good.
Im on the 15gb for £15 a month deal which is great value and I have just come to the end of my first month (used around 10gb spending an ave of 8-9 hours a day online). I have had no problem what so ever in surfing the net and no sites have given me any problems.
I have only experienced a drop out a few times which has been pretty rare and have had no problem connection wise pretty much everytime. The only thing may be the speed on a few occasions has slowed a bit but even that hasn't happened often.
Maybe it's the area Im in gets good coverage (south east london) I don't know but I have been really impressed.
| 07/06/2009 15:49:01 |
| Phil Pamer | 1 |
If only there was a way of giving this a negative rating!
We've had Three broadband for about 4 months now and it is truly awful.
According to my connection the speed is 3.6 Mbps. However this is a lie. 99 percent of the time it doesn't do anything. Some sites are a waste of time even trying to load ie Amazon, ebay etc. It hangs up for no reason and there are often times when I sit there wondering if the damn thing has emigrated.
I did try ringing the technical support but that was about as useful as a chocolate teapot. They said it was my antivirus, antispyware, bandwidth in the area etc. This is all kack, although they may have had a point with the antivirus as the connection is too darn slow to download any updates.
I've given up trying to email anyone any mails over about 50k as it just sits there and times out after about 10 minutes.
My wife is constantly complaining I spend too much time online. Trouble is it takes 20 times as long to do anything. Even checking emails or the state of the website can take weeks.
Overall.... [Admin edited for langugage] useless. I apologise for swearing but it is utter, utter, utter, utter garbage.
| 28/05/2009 12:50:05 |
| G | 3 |
I'm based in Derby and purchased this about two months ago where previously I'd been on fixed and hassle free cable and then ADSL.
I have the 169 dongle and at first all seemed ok if a little slow. I'm not normally one to be taken in by marketing blurb but in this case I did not do my homework... I somehow imagined I'd get broadband at or around 1-1.5mbits but in reality it's often a tenth of that.
Add the fact that despite a lead virtually hanging the dongle out of the window for best reception (it's right next to it and still disconnects/reconnects at odd times) and that speeds still aren't great, it's a no no. Never again...
My problem is i'm about 2 months into an 18 month contract at around 15 quid a month. A lot of wastage...
I upload a lot of pics to flickr as well as online gaming and the performance is woefully inadequate for either of those. As one reviewer said - it's ridiculous when even google sometimes takes a while to load!
I'll try the customer support with a view to cancel (as others have) and go from there.
| 18/05/2009 21:01:50 |
| Graham | 1 |
Those few people who have taken their time to leave a one line positive review are aboviously 'three' employees. (see up) For anyone who's scrolled back through the pages will see this company are taking the p... out of alot of people.
I've had this dongle for about a year, before that I used my phone connected to my PC, which worked well, but was inconvenient. The dongle seemed like a good solution. That is until after Christmas. Since then constant dis-connection,SLOOOOOOW speeds of around 0.01mbps, totally un-useable most of the time.. I think they are capping the service for around 8hrs a day - they deny this of course. I also think they have over sold the service and their equipment can't handle demand - they deny this too. However when I ask what the problem is, or for help, they refer to their flowchart and ask me.. 'sir, have you tried unplugging the dongle and plugging it back in?', After I explain that I am very IT literate and have tried everything and therefore the problem has to be their end, they say 'Sir, have you tried the dongle in a different postcode?'.. I have two mobile phone contracts with 3 and the dongle.. I will cancel ALL of them if things don't get better very soon. My patience is running out!
| 13/05/2009 23:40:52 |
| Fig | 1 |
3 Mobile broadband.
I can't agree more with previous comments about 3 quality of service in terms of product and customer services. I knew what kind of a boat I was getting into after being tempted by the 15gb 24 month deal on the basis that if it basically worked I would not need to make those painful calls to offshore support. Being based in London (W10) in an area with a "good" coverage it seemed like a good idea at the time. After all you have the 14 day return to fall back on. The problem is when it comes to making the return being given the complete run around. Where in all their documentation and web pages do they publish contact details for customer services? They don't. Go to their site and trace the pages indicating contact 3 and send us an email etc. Those pages lead to FAQs. The product itself is the real problem though. Although I have a connection it is 2 bar strength with insufficient bandwidth for most sites. I have had it for 2 days and am determined to find a way to return and get refund.
| 04/05/2009 00:27:10 |
| Tommy W | 1 |
This is the review I posted on a 3 site, what ever good it will do!
I'm honestly sick of being dis-connected, and especially at the most inopportune moments. I've lost e amils, constantly getting dc'd from messenger and I've eventually worked out to copy anything that I've written before I post.
Since I've written this short review, I've been automatically re-connected 3 times, in the space of a few minutes. And there's simply no point in trying to download anything. And it says I've mostly got a 3 bar signal strength.. What a load of cobblers..
Not a happy customer and will be swapping networks asap. Thank God I bought PAYG, because the thought of being tied to a 12-24 month contract is simply worrying, especially the reviews I've heard of the 'customer service'..
Edit: Make that 5 times I've been re-connected..
| 21/04/2009 09:48:39 |
| Jon N | 1 |
(B61) Well the cover in my area is great - only problem is that three have been charging me for accessing the web when i am not!!!!!!!!!! running up bills in my name for services i am not using and telling me they are investigating my claims rather than believing that i am not of the habit of surfing the web on my phone in the middle of the night. They claim i am using the web when the phone is turned off in the middle of the night!!! Ubelievable. Funny thing is my company was about to take out a contract for one hundred phones with them - we have decided not to. Please do not use the three web service as it appears getting the service is hard enough without being charged again and again for features you are not using. The customer service is also a disgrace.
| 13/04/2009 19:57:30 |
| Roy Morley | 1 |
HP18 9BT
3 mobile = complete joke! Only good thing I did was buy a years pay as you go rather than a contract 'only' down £100. If only I'd read the reviews here! Have had no connection at all anywhere in the uk. When I do get a connection it shuts down as soon as I open outlook or internet explorer. Spent hours mucking around with it thinking it was my fault, numerous phone calls to the 'help line'. sent back for repair and returned with a note saying fully tested and no problems found. Complete waste of time and I'm going to try the county court route as per a feedback on this site. Its like buying a car with no engine!!!
| 08/04/2009 15:40:24 |
| Brummy Hutton | 1 |
BEWARE OF 3 FOR MORE REASONS THAN NO CONNECTION!!!
During the 10 months I was signed up (15 a month), I had 2 illegal monthly fee increases (final amount they were ripping was almost 20 a month) - There is NO detail in the terms where they reserve the right to do this, or on the web pages warning it will happen. I got NO VAT reduction despite the promise I would!
I signed up in April 08; ecstatic to be showing BT the finger (portable and fast enough). I'm 1.4 miles from their nearest mast (they told me). Late last year it got slow in the evenings and I video'd the 12 MINUTES it took to download their home page for evidence, then complained online - no promised reply. In Jan it became impossible to use at any time. I wrote again warning I'd terminate unless they sorted it out (breach on their part: they are not able to meet their broadband obligations) - nothing! I got the Executive Office email from this review page (Executive.Office at three.co.uk) and notified them of intention to cancel on 25 Jan. Their reply said they'd contact me within 10 days... nothing. I got a letter in the post dated 16 March (wtf) saying that if I didn't contact them, they'd disregard the complaint. I called them immediately (0870 733 0295), but Tim Farrell (Thomas Kerrigan is another name to use) was busy with another customer; he'll call back... he didn't! 16:54 next day I called back and got to speak to him. He confirmed they would zero the balance and terminate the contract.
Take Andy UK's advice and CHALLENGE THEM; they know they are in breach!
| 06/04/2009 13:04:28 |
| AS services | 1 |
200 Yards from one of the biggest collection of masts in East London and have never got above 1.1mb, normally get between 60-150mb/s despite software and modem light showing good 3G and HSDPA signal strength.
Add the fact that I spend more time reinstalling the software, inserting/removing the modem and pressing the Disconnect/Connect button than actually typing anything useful, I've decided to invest in a new hardware upgrade in the shape of a sledge hammer, which I shall apply to the cursed dongle as soon as possible.
I'll give O2 or Vodafone a go but if this is the UK's mobile broadband I'll be going back to commuting into the office and never complaining at the copper cable entering a floor box under my feet again.
| 27/03/2009 00:25:52 |
| Les Cullen | 1 |
BEWARE BEFORE BUYING 3 NETWORK BROADBAND!!
I went into the Neath Branch of 3 Mobile network (Tel: 01639 642972) on Friday afternoon (14:30) 20th March and bought a 'Pay as you go' mobile broadband package (HSDPA) for £58.71. I bought this for a young man, a Mr. Jones who tends to my gardens and could not afford the HSDPA device. I had given him a computer and was trying to help him along in life. I was told by the salesman [Admin Edit - Sorry, no names] at 3 Network in Neath there was a 3 working day return policy which meant if we could not get reception we had 3 working days to return the goods (I thought the public had 14 days the cancel/return goods and services). We tried Friday evening, the whole of Saturday without success.
[Admin Edit - Sorry, no names], told us blatant lies about the 3 Network and its coverage in an effort to secure the sale (I suspected otherwise). Despite the 3 network coverage footprints showing that this service was available in Mr. Jones's area there was in reality zero service available there. After speaking at length to the 3 customer help call centre after doing a manual search the only network that showed was Orange.
On Sunday Mr. Jones and I returned to the Neath shop and found it closed. I returned the device to the Neath shop today, Monday to be told that my 3 days had expired. This abrasive individual [Admin Edit - Sorry, no names] was adamant that my 3 days expired and pulled out a company policy dossier to show me. He has zero tact and not the faintest clue about customer relations. I suspect they are desperate for business.
After finding the Neath shop closed I drove all the way into Swansea but sadly Mr. Jones had neglected to include the outer packaging in the 3 packet. It was too late to drive to Pontardawe before their closing time. The entire packing was with me when I returned to Neath today.
Don't believe a word these guys tell you.
| 23/03/2009 22:19:54 |
| Andy UK | 1 |
Initially the speed of the service was acceptable (June-December 2008), but then became so slow it was unusable - the modem went for repair but this made no difference and I was refused a replacement until the modem had been repaired a further two times.
Rather than dealing with Three I spent £30 and completed a County Court N1 form and completed it with details of how the service was not what I had paid for, and within two weeks I had an out of court settlement, including the £30 court fee.
If you are paying for mobile broadband but getting a poor service then I strongly advise you to take the small claims route rather than wasting your time with Three's appalling customer services (and paying mobile phone rates for the calls).
| 13/03/2009 23:42:54 |
| Rob - Harefield UB9 6DT | 3 |
Was quite impressed with the 3G mobile broadband dongle when I first installed it 4 months ago - since then it seems to have slowed right down. Just tried the Speedtest website and got a download result of 19 kb/s - Ho Ho Ho .
Is this popularity congestion or infrastructure problems - I don't know, but I'm not going to waste my time or challenge my sanity by trying to contact 3's customer service Department. I shall just wait and see if it improves over the next 30 days - if not I'm going to try a competitor. Thank God I'm on Pay as You Go.
John - 3G manager - feel free to respond !!
| 05/03/2009 21:27:07 |