O2 Travel Changes 7/4

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I have been usng the free O2 Travel bolt on since 2016 as I travel to European countries quite often. I use it primarily to browse for when wifi is unattainable. I browse and I get charged £1.99 for the day. In terms of of making phone calls and text messages. If I text a UK number whilst in a European country I get charged 4p. So the overall current setup is:

"While travelling in Europe just pay a 50p connection charge to make and receive calls between European countries then talk for free for up to 60 mins. You'll pay just £1.99 for the days you use data in Europe & there’s no upper limit, but traffic management steps apply. £40 monthly spending limit for data outside Europe."

An email has been sent out from O2 stating changes to how O2 travel works. It now states that:

"From 7 th April 2016, we’ll be adding calls and texts sent back to the UK and within O2 Travel destinations, to the data you already get with our O2 Travel Bolt On. This will give you data, up to 120 minutes and 120 standard texts, per daily charge within selected destinations in Europe. With O2 Travel you’ll only be charged for the days that you use it."

My udnerstanding is that from 7/4 if I am in a European country and I text a UK number, rather than being charged 4p like I used to be, I will be charged £1.99.  Is this correct? I appreciate they are saying you can send up to 120 messages and still get charged £1.99 but I never send 120 messages. I usually send just a couple. By this logic, the £1.99  charged that was activated only when you used data, will now also be activated by sending a text message. If I send one text per day for 3 days I will end up paying £5.99? 

Can someone please verify tell me if I have misunderstood the change?

Thank you.

PS: I am not asking to be told about the different options to circumvent sending a text.. I just want to know that I have understood the changes correctly.

[MI5]

I dunno - I wasn't there?
I guess it depends on how much data was used, network capacity etc......

[jonsie]

I wasn't there either but we can only go off what people post.... 

[MI5]

I'm only quoting the T&C's that O2 post on their site.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I would only use it for browsing and reading articles etc. Also messaging on Skype. Rarely would I bother to watch Youtube. Hopefully the allowance should be sufficient.

I'm disappointed with the new policy. It's confusing for customers. Sending 1 text will incur charges they may not envisage. I much prefered the one call for 1 hour 50p connection charge and would prefer to be given more data for the £1.99.

After over 15 years on 02 I may consider other options soon.

Thanks for your responses.
Pete

[MI5]

Best of luck Pete.
Let us know how you get on with it please.

[Anonymous]

Hello

I only made use of o2 Travel consciously once on 30 July. Sent some texts and made calls. 

My o2 app then showed I had used o2 Travel on 27 July. I have no recollection (or phone records) of sending texts/calls/data on that day without being connected to WIFI and using iMessage. o2 assure me I did send one text. 

So this is where the new o2 Travel doesn't work for me. If had known I had incurred the £1.99 charge by sending a one penny text I would have left my data on and possibly made a call or two. I didn't think I had so end up paying £1.99 for one text. BUT give credit where credit is due. o2 have refunded me for the 27 July. I said I was happy to pay for what I have used but cannot see who I sent a text to. They say they can show the records in a weeks time.

I wish o2 had left o2 Travel as it was. The text rate of last summer was ok by me and I was happy witht the 50 pence for 1 hour call. It was simple. Also if I couldnt get WIFI I knew by switching data on I would get charged the £2 for doing so. 

Ironcially it made me less likely to use my phone abroad. Perhaps next time I will switch off o2 Travel completely. 

P

[MI5]

If you don't intend to use mobile data you are far better off opting out.

[Cleoriff]

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@MI5 wrote:
If you don't intend to use mobile data you are far better off opting out.

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I agree...although I am opted in...and only use it if and when necessary. My bill, when I was last abroad was only £3.98 higher than usual....I can live with that...

[MI5]

Just remember to make the most of the days you use it to get full benefit.

[Cleoriff]

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@MI5 wrote:
Just remember to make the most of the days you use it to get full benefit.

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I do...this time it was at Malaga airport as the Wifi is rubbish...