How to get refund after leaving PAYG

[buran]

I won't be leaving just yet, but I am a study abroad student leaving next month to go home. After I pay my tariff one last time next month I won't be using O2 anymore.

The website states I can get a refund on my balance if I leave. Should I be doing that after I pay my last tariff? Do I need to wait until the next billing period (in June) to do so? I will be home in the USA at that point and likely will have discarded the sim card.

If I can get a refund, will O2 accept non-UK banking information, or something like PayPal or Venmo?

[MI5]

@buran 

There are no refunds on PAYG.

If on contract, you will need to cancel your account Guide: Cancelling Your Contract 

Any refunds due will be returned to the bank account you are currently paying from.

[buran]

Hi MI5, thanks for your quick response.

I do not believe this is correct. The 'Leaving O2' page has a section about getting PAYG refunds on your credit: https://www.o2.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/leaving-o2

Should I call them on my US phone? Or how would this work?

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

@buran 

That is only if you are switching to an O2 contract.

Otherwise, my statement above is correct.

[buran]

Are you sure? I can't find where it states this, but perhaps I just missed it.

[MI5]

@buran 

There are only provisions for refunds when switching to an O2 monthly contract or in certain circumstances, when switching to another provider. 

I'm 100% sure that you cannot just get any unused credit returned to any bank account at all.

https://www.o2.co.uk/termsandconditions/mobile/on-pay-and-go-our-service-terms-are-worth-a-read#:~:t....

[buran]

Ok! I'll trust you on this one, it makes sense and is disappointing but oh well.

[Bambino]

@buran Use up as much of your balance as you can and then either get someone to buy what's left from you, or give the sim to a friend to use the rest. No point in letting it go to waste and essentially put that money back into O2's pocket.

[MI5]

Sorry it's not what you wanted to hear @buran