Just tried to get an Orange UK account

I just popped down to the Orange UK shop to get an account setup there.

The chap said, “Sure sir, no problem, we just need a proof of ID and a proof of address.”

“A what?” I said, momentarily stunned.

“We need a passport, driving license, something like that and a utility bill.”

“Er, you … you what?” I was still stunned.

You can walk into any Vodafone shop in the country and get an account in 10 seconds, more or less. Give’em your address and they do a credit check with that and your Maestro/Switch bank card. Done.

But Orange?

Goodness me. It’s like being back in 1990 again. A PASSPORT? You want a PASSPORT? What?

Turns out I’ve got my passport in the office, and a wayward BT utility bill. But could I be arsed to take it downstairs?

No.

This kind of inefficient bollocks doesn’t deserve my business. No wonder they’re monumentally screwed at the moment. How many opportunities do you want to give your potential customers — your valuable PAY MONTHLY potential customers — to think again and choose another supplier? Crazy!

Yet. I still want to get the ‘Orange’ experience so I can truly discuss it accurately. I need to cool off first though.