Discussions about O2 and age verification

[Anonymous]

Just received a text from TPTB saying I need to confirm I'm over 18 to view adult material. Until then, it'll remain blocked on my phone. I don't have a credit card so I'll need to do this in store. Just wondering, I have no particular desire to view pornographic material or register to flirt websites on my phone but if I don't have this ban lifted, will it affect my general day-to-day browsing in any way? Otherwise, I won't bother.
Secondly, when did this come about? Never needed to confirm my age in the past. And why couldn't they have sorted this in store when I bought the phone?

[perksie]

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@Anonymous wrote:
My Phone has just started blocking me AGAIN after having the block removed at a O2 shop.

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O2 CS can probably sort this out for you.

All UK mobile providers now use this service so you will have this whoever you are with.

[Anonymous]

This is the extract from O2's FAQ on age verification. It says quite clearly the this is a 'one time' procedure. This happens to me at least once a month and, while I can resolve it with a call to CS or going into a store, I dont see why I should have to do this time after time. I have written to O2 (no reply) and asked CS to make sure it doesn't happen again. They assure me it won't....but it does. My monthly contract is due now and I am seriously thinking about going elsewhere. Has anyone manged to get round this or got O2 to commincate something helpful?   

Q: What’s age verification?
A: To ensure that children are protected from inappropriate content when using the internet on their phones, we require customers to prove they are over 18 before they can use these sites. Access to 18+ rated websites is therefore blocked by default. Customers only have to age verify once.

[jonsie]

I only had to do it the once, almost 2 years ago. Once done it should remain on the account so something is wrong with the way the marker has been put on your account.

[Liquid]

Mine reactivated after upgrading.

Other than that its been off for 2 years.

Accidents happen. If its been verified once the chances are there's a tag on the account so call CS and I'm sure they'll remove it for you.

[Anonymous]

Got the problem sorted as soon as I got to my wifi connection. Not as difficult as the first time I had to deal with this problem service from O2 was excellent this time. Just annoying that I lost the use of part of my phone on a long journey home.

[Anonymous]

Just use the O2 guru service they will get it your age setting sorted out in minutes.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I have spoken to CS, written to Telefonica, been to the stores, used Guru and done everything else I can think of but it keeps happening despite everyone's protestations.

[Anonymous]

It's a shame they apply these things in the first place you have to be over 18 to take out the contract so its a stupid thing in my book

[MI5]

I agree, it should be default to off and "opt in" if you're taking a contract on for a minor.

[Liquid]

I agree the majority of kids these days wouldn't find it too difficult to get past the filter if they really wanted to get ahold of the finer websites.