Mystery Caller: Mobile phone radiation

Mystery Caller has been reading scary stories about the dangers of mobile phone radiation, and with his tinfoil hat on, asked the operators which handset will cook his brain the least, and how he can reduce his radiation exposure.

6: Orange

I failed to see what eggs had to do with my worries

Manner – 1/5
Understanding – 1/5
Knowledge – 0/5
Helpfulness – 1/5
Clarity – 2/5
Overall – 1/5
Total – 6/30

5: Virgin Mobile

My worries were met with a determined attempt to convince me I was talking nonsense

Manner – 2/5
Understanding – 1/5
Knowledge – 1/5
Helpfulness – 1/5
Clarity – 2/5
Overall – 2/5
Total – 9/30

4: T-Mobile

A poor call, but I appreciated the ring back

Manner – 1/5
Understanding – 2/5
Knowledge – 2/5
Helpfulness – 2/5
Clarity – 2/5
Overall – 2/5
Total – 11/30

=2: Three

Honest, but I left more scared than when I started

Manner –3/5
Understanding – 2/5
Knowledge – 1/5
Helpfulness – 1/5
Clarity – 3/5
Overall – 2/5
Total – 12/30

=2: Vodafone

They had no information, except what Ian had seen on the telly

Manner – 3/5
Understanding – 2/5
Knowledge – 1/5
Helpfulness – 2/5
Clarity – 2/5
Overall – 2/5
Total – 12/30

1: O2

He did his very best to help, but was let down by his manager

Manner – 4/5
Understanding – 2/5
Knowledge – 2/5
Helpfulness – 3/5
Clarity – 2/5
Overall – 3/5
Total – 16/30

Summary

None of the CSAs could give me accurate information on radiation, and only two followed WHO guidelines by recommending a headset.

Pamela at Orange was neither polite nor helpful, and treated me like a halfwit. John at Virgin was little better. Carl at T-Mobile wasn’t the friendliest CSA, and the operator was only saved by its call back. Three and Vodafone both dismissed my concerns, but were at least prepared to engage with me and direct me to manufacturers’ websites for further details.

O2’s Mohammed was the only CSA who did his best to help, and was friendly throughout. His manager let him down with poor advice on how to pick a handset, but at least Mohammed bothered to go through some options patiently.

Full review in Mobile News issue 497 (September 12, 2011).