topic Re: Apple Watch reference code 08 in Tech Support

Apple Watch reference code 08

Losing_faith — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:14:39 GMT

I have received the error asking to call 202 quoting reference code 08 when trying to add a cellular plan to my watch.

Calling 202 3 times and speaking to 3 different people has resulted in no one being able to fix the issue. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

MI5 — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:41:08 GMT

@Losing_faith

See guide and suggestions here

Reference code 8.

This means you have gone through the process of setting up your Watch airtime and then started a new one before the first was complete. If you have received an SMS, please restart your iPhone and Watch to check if completed. If not please unpair the Apple Watch, request a replacement eSIM, and activate it via QR code. Once activated pair the Apple Watch with the iPhone. If this doesn't work please contact our Social Media team here

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

Losing_faith — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:46:09 GMT

Hi, thanks for that - last time it was escalated to the tech support team, they waited 3 weeks then closed the ticket. I have reached out to them again

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

pgn — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 22:45:00 GMT

@Losing_faith wrote:
Hi, thanks for that - last time it was escalated to the tech support team, they waited 3 weeks then closed the ticket. I have reached out to them again

Was it the Social Media team you contacted, @Losing_faith? The link below covers O2 via Twitter/X, FB messenger and Instagram - they may need a nudge or two now and then.

Good luck!

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

MI5 — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 07:01:43 GMT

@Losing_faith wrote:
Hi, thanks for that - last time it was escalated to the tech support team, they waited 3 weeks then closed the ticket. I have reached out to them again

@Losing_faith

Any luck with the social media teams as I advised above?

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

Peter_L — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 15:56:31 GMT

I have the same issue. Any advise please? I contacted O2 CS but they are useless they advised me to get a new watch! 🫣

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

MI5 — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 16:00:16 GMT

@Peter_L

The advice is to contact the UK based social media teams.

Contact our Social Media team here

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

Peter_L — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 16:06:24 GMT

Thank you! i’ve tried to contact them via X but they reply once in an hour it’s very difficult to communicate with them over X. No responses for hours…

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

MI5 — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 16:14:48 GMT

Keep reminding them @Peter_L

He who shouts loudest..........

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

pgn — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 16:20:47 GMT

This query of mine was resolved with help from the O2 CS team via Twitter - it gives you an idea of the timescales for the interaction:=, @Peter_L:

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Other-Products-and-Services/O2-Web-Top-Up-not-recognising-a-valid-O2-PAYG-number/m-p/1615805/highlight/true#M50726

As mentioned above, be persistent, and expect an answer out of the blue at any time from 8am to about 10pm most days.

Good luck (I think I answered a similar query from you tagged onto another thread just now, same advice 👍)!

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

Peter_L — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 14:56:44 GMT

I’ve managed to get through the support on X and they’ve created a ticket for me and someone should get back to me within 5 working days. At least that’s what they said. But to be honest I am bit worried if it’s not just a waiting game and nothing will be done. I had many issues with O2 before and then I just got texts saying that my tickets were closed without any solution. So I don’t really trust O2 and how they deal with problems.

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

liamb123 — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 10:49:57 GMT

having the same issue myself over a week now and around 9 hrs onto multiple calls to 20202 and tech support without any help at all , non want to listen to any solutions that have been mentioned over the last 2-3 year and i am resulting in moving to ee after 18 year with o2 the have really let me down worse been they still push the apple watch ultra and data plan known its not supported. one of the tech guys did admit its an ongoing issue but after 7 days of back and forth into o2 shop and apple shop i have no choice to return the watch to apple and wait for refund then re order and move to EE as i know they have no issues with apple watches.

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

Losing_faith — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 14:57:05 GMT

So to close this off, I never had it resolved, I would contact the social media team, they would open a ticket, then they would call my child's mobile not mine as they had been instructed. Tickets were opened and closed a number of times and it was never resolved. We moved to EE last month and joined the watch to their network within minutes with zero issues.

It's clearly an O2 issue that they can't/won't/don't care to/can't be bothered to resolve.

Re: Apple Watch reference code 08

Enlli — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:17:51 GMT

@Losing_faith Glad it's sorted even at the expense of a move.

O2 have had these problems with the Apple watch almost since day one. Shame really.