First Bill Question

[Alexbailo]

Hi,

Might be a stupid question but I took out a new sim only contract on 2nd January and my number was switched over on the 5th. I then had a monthly charge taken from my account on 19th January. I've just received my bill this morning for the payment for the bill period of 5th January to 3rd February.

Could anyone please explain what that first charge was for please? Are payments taken in advance? I just don't understand why I've paid for a month when I wasn't even using the sim.

Thank you!

[jonsie · Accepted solution]

ll explained here

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/your-bill

You’ll get your first bill within four days of joining O2, and you’ll be charged 14 days after you receive it. Your official billing date is usually the date you joined us, and it will be the same every month.

If you joined us on the 29th, 30th or 31st of the month, your official billing date will be the 1st of the following month. Your first bill will be pro rata, which means that we’ll charge you for one full month’s airtime, as well as any airtime you use in those first few days before your billing cycle starts.

If you’ve upgraded your device, your billing date will stay the same.

Your next bill will be pro rata and might include a charge from your old tariff or Airtime Plan. If you're on O2 Refresh we split your bill in two, so you’ll see two payments each month:

1. Device Plan - the cost of your phone or tablet
2. Airtime Plan - the monthly cost of your data, minutes and texts

[Eddie_Baby]

I just signed up for O2 and have been sent a bill for the full amount of the tariff even though the SIM hasn't even arrived. 

That's theft. 

[gmarkj]

o2 bill in advance, so they will generate a bill as soon as the sim is sent out @Eddie_Baby 

Once it arrives, call customer services and they will refund the days that the sim was in the post.

[Eddie_Baby]

So unless the customer calls to complain O2 steal money for a service not provided. Seems a little unethical.

Why don't they wait until the SIM connects to the network for the first time?

[gmarkj]

Not a clue.
Not sure if the other networks do the same thing either as I don't use them (or visit their community message boards).