T-Mobile UK's hamster powered network

I’m sat on the phone to Chris from The Dogs Trust earlier today, right? We’re debating the finer points of charity funding when all of a sudden I don’t hear anything from Chris. I’m chatting away and I hear silence.

I check the screen of my Nokia E61i and I see the dreaded message:

CONNECTION ERROR

I phoned back and spoke to a confused colleague (“Chris is on the phone?”)

“No, he was on the phone to me, just a second ago, seriously…”

I get connected back to Chris and apologise. He queries what happened.

I have to explain that I’m a T-Mobile user — we then continue our conversation.

How stupidly embarrassing is that?

My handset just disconnected. This isn’t a handset feature. It happens whatever I’m using, whether it’s a Sony Z7, iPhone, any Nokia or whatever. I just get disconnected now and again, randomly.

I have to phone back and it makes me feel like a total numskull.

Why am I using T-Mobile? Well, I think the Flext plan is a good deal. I like it. I don’t like Vodafone’s idiot call charges once you use up your minutes. I think it’s ridiculous to pay 35p a minute to talk to someone on another network. It is, afterall, 2007.

I’m also rather impressed at the 55p/min interational rates. Yes it’s expensive to make a call from Los Angeles to London, but I like the fact I’m paying rates nearby what a Vodafone customer is paying to talk to me on T-Mobile when we’re both in the UK.

By contrast, Three’s US rate is £1.20/min to make a call and £0.80/min to receive.

Every time I get near dumping T-Mobile, I take a close look at the prices and……… arse. I don’t know.

What’s your opinion?

Should I stay or should I go?