O2 Refresh - Getting my head around it...

[Anonymous]

Hi folks,

Can someone in simple terms explain O2 Refresh under the following circumstances.

I have £345 left to pay on the phone part of my plan.

If I were to pay that off tomorrow, what happens to the tariff part? 

Does that slate also get wiped clean?

[MI5 Level 94: Supreme]

The tariff continues as long as you want it, you just stop paying monthly for the phone part.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

If you need clarification then give 02 a call on 202 from your phone.

[Anonymous]

I have called them, and still none the wiser.

What he stated, contradicts what the gubbins online say. 

If I go to upgrades, it says to pick a 1 month or 12 month contract Sim only.

What's to stop me paying off just the phone, taking out a sim only for a month and they going bye bye ?

It also appears to show that if you pay off handset, you have to change tariff ?

[MI5 Level 94: Supreme]

No, you don't have to change tariff if you pay off your handset:
Term 4 states:
You can also pay off your Phone Plan at any time before the end of the 24 month term and choose to continue with just your original Airtime Plan (on the same terms and conditions), or if you want to take a new O2 Refresh deal, move, change or upgrade, we'll waive the remaining whole months of the linked Airtime Plan that you haven't used. For the avoidance of doubt, Charges (including for Additional Services) not included in your monthly Airtime Plan, or Charges arising prior to full repayment of the balance of your Phone Plan, will not be waived and will be billed as normal. You will not be entitled to a refund of Charges already paid when paying off a Phone Plan.
My belief has always been that you "may" choose another tariff once the phone has been paid off but if CS don't know we have no chance, lol..

[davethorp Level 21: Regular]

Once the phone plan is paid off you are effectively out of contract. You could continue your airtime plan in which case your monthly bills would only be for the airtime, you could upgrade to a new phone and start another phone plan or you could leave

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Yes you are free to leave without penalty once the phone plan is paid off see here

What if I want to leave O2 and end my O2 Refresh plan?
You just need to pay off whatever's left on your Phone Plan. Then you can either sign up to a new plan, or leave O2. If you'd like to leave O2, after you pay off your Phone Plan, ask us for your PAC code or give us notice to cancel your account.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for that.

It was the part about leaving I wasn't sure about. Guy on 202 thought you were commited for the 2 years to the tariff.

That's pretty awesome, have to say. 

More inclined to stick with O2 because of this, so it works for them as far as i'm concerned.

[Toby]

Hi Arthur,
Let us know how you get on with this and if you choose to use Refresh. Are any new devices catching your eye?

[Anonymous]

It does seem like a great deal I think that's why most go for it now