o2 Switch Up and credit check

[iancarr]

can anyone clarify the process for Switch Up, my credit rating is not great and after 6 months on Sim Only I was able to upgrade to Handset with no need to credit check with plus plan and Switch Up included, spoke to one of my local stores about possibly switching up and they are adamant that the process requires a credit check and if they process a switch up and the credit check fails I will effectively have no handset as my current handset will have been processed and balance cleared before they can then put new handset thru.

this has been so confusing as many people insist there will not be a credit check carried out and others are saying there will be and if it fails I wont get the original handset back.

can someone please clarify just exactly how the Switch Up Process works as I do not want to try and end up without a handset 

[madasaf1sh · Accepted solution]

@iancarr 

As its a regulated agreement it still requires an affordability check, and o2 reserve the right to carry out a full credit check.. My last switch up was just the affordability check, and you will not be left without a handset, as it only completes at the end of the transaction..  So if you pass all the checks and they have the handset in stock.

[iancarr]

ok cheers, staff seem to think once the process starts they clear balance on current handset and therefore can not return it if checks were to fail

[Ogre66]

 off but where did you check your credit rating?

[iancarr]

experian, been bad for a while which was why i had Sim Only 1st

[SerSchnuupi]

Also would like more clear information on this. I've been informed and told by O2 that once switch up process is started you cannot get your device back if you cancel it part way. Failing the credit check would also count for this. It says this on the websites switch up information. Can someone confirm that if the credit check fails we can get our previous device back? Otherwise I'd literally be left with no phone whatsoever. And I don't want to be paying for Switch Up when if I try to use it I just end up phoneless, unable to call anyone, text, call emergency services etc. I literally wouldn't have access to my bank account if I couldn't get my device back.

[gmarkj]

From what I remember @SerSchnuupi they inspect your phone before starting the switch but don't take it until the new deal is all set up. 

So if the credit check or anything fails the old device is still yours.

[madasaf1sh]

@SerSchnuupi 

Having done a couple of switch up's they inspect the phone before starting the process, and only take it at the end, so exactly as @gmarkj says

[iancarr]

ok does it require a fresh credit check, as that is where I would have an issue

[MI5]

@iancarr 

There's no hard check when you switch up. They just check you aren't in arrears with your O2 payments.