O2 Misleading Offer of 20% Student Discount

[Anonymous]

I am a student of the University of Northampton and renewed my O2 refresh contract in October last year. Despite applying for the discount twice and numerous calls to customer service who are based in Cape Town-South Africa, the company has yet to fix this mess. I went on to chat to the Facebook team and sent them a screen print to support my claim of applying twice and it also lead to no where.
Joining the network was the biggest mistake I have ever made. 24 months sounds like a lifetime but it's not and I will use my position and influence in the student union to campaign vigorously against students joining the network. I will publish the conversations and all evidence on social media to stop students from being duped by O2.

[Anonymous]

Either pay off your device plan & cancel your airtime or you can complain but really o2 haven't actually done anything wrong regards the actual contract 

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

[Curr946]

Maybe I'm missing something, but if OP is entitled to the discount and followed the correct process to apply it, then O2 are at fault. Although the discount is not contractual, it was a key part in OPs buying decision and if the ombudsman were to review this, i'm sure they would agree.

I would register an official complaint, followed up with a recorded letter informing O2 you want the discount applied.

You could cancel but would still need to pay for the handset, as this is a different agreement and not eligible for the student discount.

[Anonymous]

The discount can only be applied within the first month of a new contract so if it falls outside of that then I'm not sure if o2 would waiver that 

[Curr946]

Upgrades also count. Op hasn't said when he first made the request. So I guess this will be the sticking point.

[MI5 · Accepted solution]

The correct claims process is detailed here, only by following this route can you get your discount.
Facebook isn't one of the approved routes I'm afraid http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Other-Products-Services/O2-Open-and-Friends-and-Family-Discount-Schemes...

[jonsie]

The offer isn't misleading in any way. If you qualify, applied within the first 30 days and have proof of the application then O2 should honour it. Good luck...

[MI5]

Attempting to apply via FB was certainly a mistake....

[jonsie]

Applying through Facebook? As far as I know that's a first and doomed to failure from the outset.

[MI5]

No surprise that the discount wasn't applied - if only they'd have asked here first