It was a normal Tuesday morning. You woke up, yawned, grabbed your phone to doom-scroll before facing the day — and nothing worked. No calls, no texts, and no one answering your “You up?” messages. Was your phone broken? Were you shadow-banned from reality? Nope — it was just Three Mobile having a full-blown network meltdown.
Welcome to the Three UK outage of June 2025, a tech disaster that lasted the better part of the day and left millions of users stranded in the communication dark ages. Here’s everything you need to know about what happened, how badly it messed things up, and — most importantly — how to claim compensation for the headache you didn’t ask for.
What Happened, Exactly?
At around 7:45 a.m. BST on June 25th, users across the UK started reporting issues with their Three Mobile service. It began quietly enough: a few missed calls here, a “why haven’t you replied” WhatsApp message there. But soon, it became clear — the network was broken.
By 9 a.m., the outage had exploded. Users flooded Downdetector with complaints. Calls weren’t going through. Texts were floating somewhere in the void. Panic was in the air. And naturally, we all did what Brits do best in a crisis: complained, refreshed Twitter, and made tea.
Three acknowledged the issue a couple of hours later (because apparently, even their social media team needed to find Wi-Fi first) and confirmed that calls and texts were the main casualties. Strangely, mobile data still worked for most, so you could still stream cat videos and Google “Is it just me or is Three down?”
Spoiler: It wasn’t just you.
A Long Day in Network Limbo
The outage lasted around 14 hours, with Three posting an update that service was “returning to near-normal” around 10 p.m. Now, “near-normal” is a bit like saying a building is “slightly on fire,” but to their credit, services did eventually bounce back.
Still, the damage was done. People missed meetings, calls to doctors, interviews, and maybe even breakups (though for some, that might’ve been a blessing in disguise). Small business owners relying on calls lost money. Others lost patience. And everyone lost trust — at least temporarily.
Who Else Was Affected?
Three’s outage didn’t just impact Three customers. Several MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) that piggyback on Three’s infrastructure also went down, including:
- Smarty
- iD Mobile
- FreedomPop
- Superdrug Mobile
So if you thought you were safe because you don’t technically use Three — surprise! You were still in the dark.
The Inevitable Question: Can You Get Compensation?
Yes — and here’s where things get interesting.
What Three Has Said
As of their latest update, Three has confirmed that they will be handling compensation requests individually. So no, they’re not handing out £5 Amazon vouchers to everyone like it’s Black Friday. But if you were affected (and let’s face it, if you’re reading this, you probably were), you can absolutely file a complaint or claim for disruption.
They haven’t published a blanket compensation package yet, but based on previous outages — including the one earlier this year in January — you may be eligible for:
- A bill credit (especially if you’re on a pay-monthly contract)
- Partial refund for that day’s service loss
- Free data or discounts on your next billing cycle
Prepaid users may receive compensation in the form of top-ups or credit extensions, but it’s handled case by case.
How to Actually Claim
Here’s what you should do to boost your chances of seeing some money back:
1. Document the Outage
Make a quick note of:
- The date and time the outage started and ended for you
- What services were affected (calls, texts, etc.)
- How it impacted you — especially if it caused financial loss or missed opportunities
2. Contact Three Support
You can either:
- Call them (ironically), once services are back up
- Use live chat via their official site
- Or visit a local Three store if you’re feeling bold
3. Be Polite But Firm
Nobody likes a ranting customer, but don’t undersell your experience either. If you missed work, interviews, or any essential communication, say so. Let them know you’re aware of your consumer rights under Ofcom guidelines, and that you expect fair redress.
4. Escalate If Ignored
If Three fobs you off or doesn’t respond within 8 weeks, you can escalate the issue to CISAS, the UK’s official telecoms dispute resolution service.
A Pattern or a Problem?
This isn’t Three’s first rodeo when it comes to outages. There was a similar network blackout in January 2025, and a few scattered blips since then. At what point does it stop being “unexpected downtime” and start becoming a recurring failure to deliver a paid-for service?
Ofcom may already be sniffing around for answers. If these outages continue — or if enough people make noise about it — Three could be facing regulatory scrutiny, fines, or worse: mass cancellations.
Should You Switch Providers?
That depends.
If this is the final straw and you’re ready to rage-quit your contract, check:
- Whether you’re still in a lock-in period
- What your cancellation fee would be
- If you have solid service with an alternative in your area (use signal checker tools)
Providers like EE and Vodafone have also had their fair share of outages, so switching isn’t always a magic fix. But if Three keeps dropping the ball, it might be worth finding a network that at least pretends to care about uptime.
Final Thoughts: Outage or Outrage?
The June 2025 Three Mobile outage was more than just a technical hiccup — it disrupted lives, business, and trust. In a world where we expect 24/7 connectivity, even a few hours of silence can feel like a blackout in the apocalypse.
Three has some damage control to do, and customers have every right to demand answers — and reimbursement.
So if you were affected, don’t just shrug and move on. File that claim, get your bill credit, and maybe enjoy the irony that you now have to contact your mobile network to complain about not being able to contact anyone.
Stay connected. And if not, at least stay compensated.