Three MIFI data slowed to a crawl in a section of Wilmslow (SK9) since last Saturday.

[Anon101]

Three data (via Three's supplied Huawei MIFI device and SIM) has slowed to a crawl in a section of Wilmslow (SK9) since last Saturday. Cannot use Zoom/VPN's etc. in the location as a consequence, not even overnight (i.e. after 1.00am) when the data speed very slightly improves, perhaps due to reduced traffic. Speedtest.net won't even complete its checks at any time. Devices/SIM/equipment etc. are all fine, this double-checked via also trying out other devices/equipment.

Upon speaking with Three's technical dept yesterday, they simply recited the note as currently appearing on Three's network webpage upon typing in the related postcode- i.e.

'We're working on fixing an issue in this area at the moment. We're sorry for any disruption this may be causing. We hope to have things fixed as soon as possible and will add any updates here.'

However, Customer Services said they do not have any record of when this above-quoted message was actually posted... nor of what it actually relates to. Hence, the posted message could be relating to a longstanding signal problem in the same SK9 location - this resulting in poor call connection/poor call sustaining, day and night. Hence, the website message may not relate to the new data issue as arising since last Saturday (i.e. since 14th Sept).

Likewise, downdetector.co.uk keeps on saying there are zero '3 (Three) Wilmslow outages reported in the last 24 hours' - despite the outage having been reported numerous times through downdetector.co.uk.

Any ideas please - re what might be going on/when things will be resolved?

It is pointless paying for a service that is unreliable. Partial refunds of monthly connection fees, although helpful, do not negate the inconveniences repeatedly being encountered with Three. A portable MIFI device is designed to offer flexibility and convenience - not inflexibility and inconvenience... this defeating the objective of the contract.

[KateS · Accepted solution]

Hey there,

Welcome to the Three Community.

I'm sorry to hear you've had issues with the network recently and I'm keen to take a look into the area. I'll pop you over a PM requesting some further information.

To view your private messages on the community, click on your avatar image in the top right of any community page, then "Messages".

Thanks,

Kate

[Anon101]

Unfortunately, as of around 3.00pm on Thurs 26th Sept, and continuing through to right now (Monday) - the problem has resurged and consistently remains, day or night. Even the Three website's Network Status webpage is not now recognising the entered post-code for the identical currently affected area; so - it seems whatever's going on only gave a few days of respite before starting up again.

[Anon101]

NB  I have just been informed by Technical at Three that, for some reason, due to a 3G mast being now fully switched off, that all the traffic it was handling has now been re-routed permanently through the local 4G/5G mast - and thus that the current dismal data speeds (meaning Zoom cannot be used/videos, etc. not watched/connections continually dropping out/webpages loading at a crawl speed, etc.) in a certain area in Wilmslow SK9  is going to last for at least 28 days, possibly many months - until another mast project can be carried out.

I've consequently just been told that I can cancel my Three contract for free over the never 7 days and seek another provider. However, as this traffic issue/reduced data speeds - and the length of time to resolve the newly created issue for customers - could have been foreseen by Three, it is unacceptable that 4G data SIM users in this locale were not pre-warned of the situation in good time. It is also disconcerting that, only last week, the messages on the Network status webpage listed a fault for the related post code; but just now, today, this has since been changed to heavy traffic instead - which to me is an unacceptable excuse.

I have been a loyal customer of Three for many years. However, to now be subjected to this present situation, and to now have to seek another provider as a consequence, defies further comment.  😞