Switching to sim only

[Leethevan]

Hi there,

I have been with O2 for a number of years and my contract still has approx 14 months left to run.  I owe £376.47 on my device and my tariff is £27.52 for 4gb, which I've recently changed, making my total payment a month £52.64. 

Unfortunately I can no longer afford this sort of payment due to my wife's redundancy and am looking to reduce my costs.  I can possibly get the money together to pay off my device, so my question is can I do one of the following:-

1) Leave O2 and get a sim only deal with another provider (would I get an early termination fee on the airtime).  I am not happy with O2 and do want to leave as they are no longer competitive.

2) Move my account to sim only with O2 for possibly £15.00 a month to avoid getting charged a fee, as £15.00 a month is better than paying nearly £53.00.

Any thoughts on this please?

Thanks in advance.

[Cleoriff · Accepted solution]

Hi @Leethevan 

You can do either. There is no early termination fee for the airtime with O2

Guide: How does O2 Refresh work? 

If you stayed with O2, you can pay off the device and move to sim only.

If you are unhappy with O2 then option 1 would be your best bet.

You can also keep your number.

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/phones-sims-and-devices/how-to-keep-your-mobile-number 

[bigdavie88]

Once you pay off your device you are then out of contract. So once you have paid it you can leave or upgrade to a sim only.

[Leethevan]

Hi all,  have successfully switched providers and left O2.

A customer services advisor told me I would have to wait for my bill which is due on the 20th (Monday) and they take the direct debit 14 days after.  I didn't want to pay it from my usual, I wanted to get into contact which them to pay it before it was due.

I'm not sure what they told me is right as I got a termination letter from O2 today saying it will get passed to debt collectors if I don't pay.  It was never my intention not to pay.

The amount they are chasing seems to be the same that was on my account as owing on the device.

Can I just ring them and pay over the phone (I think they are a bit funny about taking card details over the phone, as lots of them are still working from home).

I will be so glad to be rid of them and not have a £53 odd pound bill a month!

[Cleoriff]

@Leethevan 

All ways to pay here Guide: How to Pay Your Bill (Airtime & Device Plans) 

You can call O2 to pay. All numbers for O2 here Guide: Coronavirus Community Help and Support 

[Leethevan]

I have tried call numerous numbers to get through to pay this and the automated service won't put us through.

Can the O2 shop deal with it?

We've tried calling them and they don't pick up.

[seewhatyoucando]

Use option 1 fraud/lost phone on the final option, this will put you through to a human

[Leethevan]

Am currently on hold and have been for 35 mins.

Called the O2 shop and they said they can't take payment.  They told us option 1 and then 5 and there isn't an option 5, but we are further than before.

I just hope someone picks up.

It has never been so hard to give them our money - if I was upgrading, I'm pretty sure they would bite my hand off!

When this is sorted I will be glad to be shot of them. 

[seewhatyoucando]

The IVR has its own COVID Bolt On whatever option you pick you end up at the COVID IVR Bolt On - press 1 for fraud/lost/stolen

If you fail to select 1 the call thanks you and drops

[seewhatyoucando]

Yes it is hopeless, like much of Capita O2 Care, o2 retail staff are the only actual o2 staff you ever speak to as a customer