Account moved to Aerial without my knowledge

[JainieS]

Hoping someone on here can offer some advice on this.

I've just been into my local O2 store to get a new phone, to be told they couldn't do anything because I'm halfway through a 2 year business contract. This was news to me. They phoned customer services who said that last July, when my last 2 year O2 refresh contract ended, my account was transferred to Aerial as a business account.

To my knowledge I have never spoken to anyone from Aerial, and I am not a business customer, so does anyone know if it's possible to get an account moved back across to O2? I tried phoning Aerial this afternoon but obviously they were closed, so any advice before Monday would be much appreciated!

[Cleoriff]

I'm afraid you would have to Pay off your contract to do this https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/How-to-Guides/Cancelling-Your-Contract-A-Guide/ba-p/566774

However if this was done without your knowledge you may want to make a complaint

https://www.o2.co.uk/how-to-complain

[MI5]

This forum is full of complaints from this so called trusted partner of O2 who take pride in conning customers into unwanted business contracts.
Good luck In resolving this !

[jonsie]

It would seem you have to continue with Aerial until the end of the 24 month minimum term. Make sure you give a months notice to end the contract before they renew it. Outrageous disgrace of a company.

[Glory1]

I have read this thread twice, and unless I've missed something or misread the op's comments, the conning wasn't done by Aerial but by O2.

If, and I repeat if, the op never had any contact with Aerial then surely it's O2 he needs to speak to for an explanation as to why he was moved to a business contract without his knowledge, after his last Refresh contract ended.

@Martin-O2, @Marjo, @EmilieT can you provide any assistance, please.

[MI5]

What usually happens is that Aerial will call and use words such as "we are calling on behalf of O2" etc.
They have full account access so to the unawares they can be very convincing by quoting your name address, account details etc and then go on to say they can reduce your monthly costs now that your device has been paid off.
The customer thinks they are talking to O2 and just reducing their tariff but in reality, Aerial are signing you up to a new contract.

[Glory1]

That, @MI5 is totally unscrupulous

I seem to recall having a similar phone conversation with, I thought O2, after the Note 7 disaster, just before I decided to go sim only. Fortunately, there wasn't another phone I wanted so said I would stick with my Note 4 until a phone I wanted was released. Then I spoke to O2 to cancel my pre-order of the Note7 and the helpful advisor I spoke to suggested I go sim only as I rarely made any phone calls.

I will always be wary now of any calls, suposedly from O2, offering me a better deal.

[MI5]

They have called me in the past too and were promptly asked to go away

[Cleoriff]

It's the 'on behalf of O2' which catches people out every time.

[jonsie]

That's why we always say never upgrade or buy anything from a cold caller who gets commission from a sale and will tell you anything you want to hear by lying through their teeth. In fact that just about sums up Aerial. The very name has my skin itching if anyone remembers the early washing powder. ..