AN OFFER by mobile phone company 3 has been slammed by Macclesfield residents who feel the offer is too little, too late.

More than 50 angry customers of the new company, which offer third generation phones, contacted the Macclesfield Express office with complaints of lack of reception and bad customer service. 3 has now accepted there was a problem with their base station in Macclesfield and upgraded the equipment. And it is offering at least three months line rental back in an attempt to pacify annoyed customers.

However, the offer is useless to many people who have either returned their phones or simply stopped using them. Many people still feel the company did not provide the service they paid for and are willing to go to court for non-payment of bills. Trisha Wisson, 40, of Hurdsfield Road, who first approached the Macclesfield Express with her husband, Roger, is still unimpressed by the response. She said: "I was contacted by customer service, who said they would phone me back but didn't.

"I can't actually test the signal because I stopped using the phone months ago. But I did meet someone in Aldi, who said she still couldn't get a signal.

"My husband said he won't settle for anything less than the contract being cancelled.

"We're not paying our bill and are prepared to go to court. Everyone just thinks this is totally laughable."

Anne Shaw, 52, of Ramsdale Way, Macclesfield, said: "I was offered free line rental for three months, but my sim card has been deactivated by 3 so I can't use it anyway.

"The customer care is rubbish and for a young company trying to build a reputation they are awful.

"I have been threatened by letters from a collections agency for non-payment of bills and I don't appreciate letters like this coming through my door.

"As far as I'm concerned, they have broken the trade descriptions act by not providing a service."

The owner of GT Tours Graham Travena, 41, and his partner Rebecca Hilton also said the offer is of no use to them as they have ended their contract. Rebecca, 34, said: "We managed to pay to get out of the contract and even managed to get the mobile phone retailer to refund some of the money it cost to buy out of the contract."

Roy Hall, 58 of Whirley agreed and said: "Why do I want free line rental for a phone I can't use? I have refused their offer."

Ben Strutt, Northern community affairs manager, said the components on the base station on the Macclesfield telephone exchange were replaced and upgraded. He said: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused. The aim is to reimburse these customers at the level of which they are satisfied.

"We will be apologising for some loss of coverage for these customers and offering, as a minimum, a three month return of line rental fee to those customers who report coverage as a problem as well as further remedies if appropriate and some equivalent for customers on pay as you go."

Hutchinson 3G, which runs 3 phones, has put in 12 applications altogether for base stations to Macclesfield Borough Council. So far, five have been approved, four refused and one withdrawn.

There is currently one planning application submitted to the council on the corner of Glastonbury Drive and London Road South, Poynton.

It will be discussed by Poynton Parish Councillors at their next planning meeting next Monday.