Expiry date on data allowance for new mobile broadband

[Anonymous]

Hey guys. So I've just bought a new pay monthly mobile broadband plan. It's the 29-pound per month for 40gb one. (with the first 6 months free airtime)

Anyway, I've noticed that the 40gb which I got today (29/7/17) seems to be expiring on 1/8/17. I thought it was supposed to last for 30 days and hence expire on 29/8/17. And I also know I'm being billed on the 15th of every month

So, is this 40gb that's expiring on 1 Aug essentially free? Or am I paying for it somehow? Or is it a mistaken and it should be expiring on 29 Aug? Thanks

[Cleoriff]

Not sure why this should be showing as expiring on the 1st. Maybe you would be better giving customer services a call to check it out ? We have no access to your account as we are all customers like yourself

https://www.o2.co.uk/contactus

PS unless it's your old tariff which is expiring on the 1st?...Even so, it would be better to check with CS..

[Anonymous]

Customer support wasn't too helpful though. The guy said that the data is renewed on the 1st of each month, and from what I understand, it seems to be independent of my bills. 

But I'm not too convinced, because it sounded like he didn't quite get my question. And on top of that, wouldn't that mean that someone who buys a new plan on say, the 16th of any month essentially get a free half-month of data since his next bill is on the 15th of the next month, whereas he gets to use his data from the 16th to the 30th??

Maybe I'll trying visiting the store again later and see what the salesperson says

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

It's pro rata until the start of your normal billing cycle but data is never averaged out so you have 40gb to use by the 1st when it will reset to 40gb to use in the following month.

[Anonymous]

Okay, so you think I'm not being charged any extra for this 40gb that's expiring on 1 Aug then?

[MI5]

Your first bill will be one full month plus 2 days for 30 and 31 July. The more data you use in the next 2 days will work out cheaper per mb as you get the 2 days added to your bill regardless.

[MI5]

First bill explained here
https://www.o2.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/first-bill

[Anonymous]

Oh, so you think these 2 days will be charged at (2/30) * (my monthly charge). So basically 2/30 * 29 pounds. So that'll be around 2 pounds, regardless of how much of the 40gb of data I use.

That sounds like it could be it, thanks! Maybe I'll call customer support again and hopefully get a better person who can confirm this.

[MI5]

Yes that is correct.

[jonsie]

Explained perfectly by @MI5. Good luck in getting that confirmed by customer service, you need to get someone on the phone who actually understands what you are asking.