2025 price increases - clarifications

[phonek]

Yet again, confusing info whenever I phone Customer Services (FIVE times now!) about this. 

I have an iPhone 16PM and Apple Watch Ultra (these are both owned outright; bought from Apple directly). 

I have sim-only on the phone (£8/mth) and the watch as a sync device (£7/mth). 

Q: How much is each part of my plan going up by? 

One CS agent says increase is 1.80+0.75 (phone+watch), another contradicts insisting its 1.80+1.80 (phone+watch). So which is it?!

[Enlli · Accepted solution]

It's £1.80 for the phone airtime and 75p for the watch

From the email I received 

With this in mind, we want to let you know that from your April 2025 bill, the monthly cost of airtime plans will increase by £1.80 and any data only or watch plans by 75p.

[phonek]

Yes I got that on my billing email:

"...from April you will see an increase to your bill of £1.80 for airtime plans or 75p for data or watch plans..."

But also another email that said: 

"New sim only tariff, for £7.00* a month
Airtime Plan initial cost:
£7.00* a month

Total monthly cost £7.00 a month
Increasing to £8.80 in Apr-2025 bill
Increasing to £10.60 in Apr-2026 bill
Airtime Plan will increase every year thereafter by £1.80 from April bill.
2024 Sim Only Smart Watch 30 day 1001 Airtime Plan
0 Minutes
0 Texts
1GB Data
Volt O2 Travel Inclusive Zone"

Contradictory? 

[phonek]

Should also add that these price increases are WAAAAY higher than under the old system, as well! 

Whoever at Ofcomm thought pounds+pence increases would be better than percentage increases, must have been smoking something! 

phone: 1.80 / 8 = 22.5% increase

watch: 0.75 / 7 = 10.7% increase

both: 2.55 / 15 = 17% increase

Under the previous system, even if you got high inflation RPI rate (say 5%) + 3.9% extra = just 8.9% increase.  (so 8.9% on £15 = £1.34 total increase, vs. £2.55 on new system!)

Or am I missing something? 

[madasaf1sh]

@phonek 

I wouldn't say anything at o2 is straight forward.. and think they have confused themselves, the way I have read it is for exisiting watch contracts then it is 75p, for new watch contracts its £1.80 a year... (for a service that doesn't work)...

[phonek]

@madasaf1sh

Thanks, Yeah as usual, c0ck-eyed info that confuses staff as much as customers. 🙄

What do you mean by this, out of interest: "...(for a service that doesn't work)..."? 

Do watch plans not work for you? 

[phonek]

Another thing about these increases, is the percentage increase is now higher for those on cheap deals, yet lower for those on expensive ones. Very very sneaky! 

eg. 

cheap deal 

1.80 / 8.00 = 22.5% increase 

expensive deal

1.80 / 30.00 = 6% increase 

So in effect, people who shopped around to get new deals via comparison sites are being forced into higher prices quicker over time, whereas legacy customers are getting slower increases over time. 

No doubt very deliberately to counteract the (often sim-only) cheap deals marketplace, we're now in. 

[Enlli]

Don't forget £3.50 on Virgin Media if you signed up this year. So a simple Volt Package of Broadband and Phone goes up by £5.30

Mind you my Water rates have gone up over £200. Apparently the CEO and shareholders need a rise

[phonek]

@Enlli 

Yeah, my Virgin Media broadband is on the older percentage thing of +7.5% (3.6 RPI+3.9), thus 'only' £3.26/m more. So £0.24/m or £2.88/y saved. Wow lucky me! 🙄

I'm dreading my Thames Water bill this year. If they're bankrupt (or near to), then the previous two years of 12% increases each year are likely to be nothing compared to this year's one! 

[madasaf1sh]

I gave up and have gone back to a Pixel 9 Pro Fold with a Pixel watch as my personal phone, and it stopped working near enough then some things would work, then stop again..
Too much faffing...

Blame OFCOM for these price increases across all networks as those on cheap tariffs are all been screwed over