PUFFL and annual price rises

[Thouky]

On 9th September my PUFL (Pay Up Front for Life) Alltime 50 contract was automatically transferred to an O2 Unlimited 30D 500MB contract with the description that is costs "costs the same at £.00* per month". At the time it was confirmed that there wouldn't be any monthly charge for the inclusive usage for the life of the contract.

However, I have just received an email that from 9th January 2025 this contract will be moved to new terms, with a £1.80/month price increase from April 2025. This is clearly not consistent with "Pay Up Front for Life" or the previous guarantees.

Is this contract change really being imposed on PUFL contracts?

[MI5]

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@Mr_Alan wrote:

"Quite frankly you have all had a good run for your money" -

Not the point. Life means life.

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Tell that to the judge when convicted killers are let out after 15 years.

[jonsie]

[BazzerHalton]

I have negotiated and had £24 added to my account to cover the first year, and a note added that I will contact in a year when the next rise is announced to get another year's payment.

[Oxonian]

Good outcome @BazzerHalton ; negotiation is often the best course of action. 👍

[Enlli]

So have they added £24 now for something that doesn't start for another 5 months.

Presumably from April your Account will be £1.80 per month. However, from the following April with another £1.80 added it will be £3.60 and you will need £48... Keep it long enough and they will be paying you hundreds.

Always thought O2 were stupid. 

Would have been cheaper to give you your original payment back and close your account

[Path63361]

I have a different problem in that my PUFFL sim has been disconnected, despite doing a sim swap early December 2023. O2 cannot find a record of my number, my account number or my old and new sim numbers. I have been told to send an email to complaintreviewservice@o2.com with documentation for them to look at. 

[Oxonian]

The O2 complaints' team are @Path63361 overwhelmed with work at the moment ; complaints are taking up to eight weeks to investigate and to issue a ruling on.

Hence, you should not expect this to be resolved quickly. 👍

[Petethepete]

I too have a PUFL sim. It will be interesting to see if they start to charge and break a contract with me. I still have the original paperwork so may have to resort to the TV or ombudsman for redress. 

[Enlli]

Easy get out for O2 is use the 3G switch off as an excuse. Just don't upgrade PUFFL to 4G calling and limit 2G access, which appears to be on the cards.

That's what I would do. Not disconnecting the contract but making it unusable on technology grounds.

[Thouky]

I have just received a phone call from the O2 Complaints Review Service. They stated that the account is clearly marked as PUFL, and as such the price rise will NOT be applied. I guess I will discover in April whether their billing system agrees...