Can't afford my airtime plan.

[Anonymous]

So basically, I bought an LG G5 last October with a contract in which I have to pay £38.50 every month. £10 for the device plan, £10 for insurance and £18.50 for the airtime plan. The problem is that I recently lost my job and am now getting a meagre £100 every 2 weeks on benefits. I can afford to pay the device plan, I have no problem with that but the airtime and insurance which makes up most of the bill are far too expensive for me right now. Especially when I don't even need them so it feels like a massive waste of what little money I have.

I tried cancelling them but because it's in my contract, I was told I couldn't do so. I don't see why not, I'll still be paying for the actual phone but I just won't have insurance or airtime anymore which I don't want or need, where's the problem with that? It seems like my only option now is to just continue paying the device plan and refusing to pay the other bills until they get the message. What other option do I have?

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous You must pay the airtime as it is part of the tariff you signed. Just cancel the insurance side 

[MI5]

You can cancel the insurance no problem, just call 202 and tell them to cancel it, but you cannot cancel the airtime unless you pay off the device fully first.
Once the device is fully paid you can cancel the airtime for free.

[jonsie]

Although technically the phone as yet doesn't belong to you, the best option is to sell the phone, pay off the device plan then cancel the airtime free. Cancel the insurance immediately but like the airtime you have to give 30 days notice so one more payment to make I'm afraid. 

[madasaf1sh]

Whatever you dont cancel or miss any payments as this will affect your credit, and o2 will send in a Debt Collection agency to collect the funds, they may also bar the handset and sim card..

[Anonymous]

@madasaf1sh There is no maybe, They will do it

[PhoneChanger]

and this will effect your credit rating and any future requests for things like Mortgages, etc

[Anonymous]

I tried contacting them again but it appears that because I have an outstanding bill, they refuse to let me use their services, nice of them. It seems the best thing I can do is take out a small loan and pay off the rest of the device plan then immediately cancel the airtime plan and insurance. Any additional bills they send me for services I haven't used, they can shove them up their hole. Thanks for the help anyway.

[jonsie]

Hope you get this sorted. At least you are doing your best to do things the right way. Good luck in seeking new employment too.

[MI5]

Insurance can be cancelled immediately so no need to wait until the device is paid off for that.
It's just the airtime that requires the device to be paid first.