Transfer to O2

[Peter480]

I'm currently with Vodafone Pay as you go and would like to transfer to O2 Pay as you go. The local store in Horsham tells me that they cannot do it in-store. How do I go about it?

Peter

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

@Peter480 

You need to get your PAC from Voda then contact O2 with it to port in your number once you have your O2 sim card.

Guide: How to get your PAC [June 2021 Update] 

Guide: Migration & porting into O2  

[Peter480]

This is not a solution. I went into my local O2 store to get an O2 Pay-as-you-go SIM and found that what O2 call Pay-as-you-go is actually a monthly contract, with the added disadvantage that there is no carry-over of allowances. That's no use to anyone. I want an actual Pay-as-you-go, but I was told that O2 don't do those any more.

[gmarkj]

Both the "solution" and your issue are true @Peter480 

o2's "Pay as you go" offering is not strictly pay as you go, where your credit reduces each time you call/send a text or use data. Instead they have moved to a monthly bundle, much like almost all of the mobile networks.

If you want a proper pay as you go experience then you would need to shop around to check who still offers that option.

[MI5]

@Peter480 

giffgaff, Tesco and 1pMobile are the only true payg offerings available now, but that wasn't the question you asked originally.

[jonsie]

Even those are differing in usage conditions

Tesco seem to only now offer bundles (called Rockets!)

1p mobile has the better calls/mins/data costs but you must top up every 120 days

giffgaff, even though higher costs, only require a call, text or data usage every 180 days and credit remains on the phone as long as the usage terms are met. No mention of a top up necessary

[Peter480]

Thanks MI5. It may not be the question I asked originally but, as you guessed, it's actually the answer I need. I'm off to Tesco.

I do wonder whether O2 - and others - should be reported somewhere for mis-description, because their payg simply is not what is generally understood by the term.

[Enlli]

Old time PAYG is dying. It's not profitable and networks are struggling as revenue is outstripped by have to invest in new technology. Hence Vodafone and 3 looking to merge.

[MI5]

Yep, it's all about maximum profit.