Introducing Volt – the new supercharged service from Virgin Media O2

[Chris_K]

UPDATE: We've seem some repeat questions and common issues being raised. We've added an update here so if you're experiencing issues, please read this first and see our post-weekend update here too.

Good morning all. What a week this is going to be! This morning we have introduced Volt to the world, the new supercharged service from Virgin Media O2. Our press release was published here this morning with notes and sources, but I've copied the juicy bits below.

Whether you're an O2 customer, a VM customer, both, or none, you can check out our handy website here which will show you how you can get supercharged.

Can I get Volt benefits for everyone in my household who’s on O2?

If you have Virgin Media broadband in your name, you’ll be able to get Volt benefits for all O2 Pay Monthly plans in your name, in your household. But we’re expanding this. Soon, anyone in your household with their own O2 Pay Monthly plan will be able to get Volt benefits through the household’s Virgin Media broadband account. Keep an eye on My O2 and you’ll see the option to activate Volt benefits when it becomes available to you, and you can also stay up to date by visiting https://www.o2.co.uk/virgin-media-o2

First joint product gives customers the best of both brands, with even greater value on UK’s fastest major broadband provider and award winning mobile network

• Volt marks the first major launch since Virgin Media and O2’s £31bn merger earlier this year
• Gig 1 broadband available for the first time in a bundle, combined with an unlimited data O2 SIM and TV favourites
• Existing customers simply need to register to get their services supercharged – for free
• Volt brings faster broadband speeds, double mobile data and discounts

London, UK: Virgin Media O2 is today lifting the lid on its first ever joint product, Volt, bringing together award winning connectivity and amazing entertainment from both Virgin Media and O2, to give customers even more from their services – more speed, more data and more value.

Virgin Media and O2 customers can now supercharge their services and reap extra rewards simply by being customers of both brands. Volt offers double the broadband speed, double the mobile data and discounts on connected devices when customers have or choose to take a broadband service from Virgin Media and a Pay Monthly plan from O2. What’s more, customers with an O2 plan can access exclusive rewards, perks and experiences from Priority – one of the UK’s best loyalty initiatives.

The new joint offering comes less than 150 days since Virgin Media O2 launched, building on the company’s momentum of almost 13 million gigabit premises passed and 5G coverage from O2 expanded to 210 locations. Volt highlights Virgin Media O2’s commitment to offer more choice, convenience and innovation with seamless broadband, entertainment and mobile services all available under one roof.

Exclusive Virgin Media O2 Volt benefits include:

• A broadband speed boost to the next tier available (e.g. 100Mbps boosted to 200Mbps)
• Double mobile data on all eligible O2 Pay Monthly plans (e.g. 10GB boosted to 20GB)
• Up to £150 off a connected device such as a tablet or smartwatch when taking a new O2 Pay Monthly Custom plan
• WiFi Pods available to bolster connectivity around the home
• Roaming in 75 countries including USA, Australia and Spain with O2 Travel

Volt is available to both new and existing customers, offering exclusive benefits to account holders no matter what broadband package or eligible Pay Monthly plan they take. Those new to either Virgin Media or O2 will be able to upgrade to Volt when they add relevant services to their connectivity line-up, while existing customers of both Virgin Media and O2 simply need to enrol via MyO2 to get their services supercharged – at no additional cost.

Jeff Dodds, Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Media O2 said,

“With Volt, we’re combining the speed and reliability of Virgin Media’s broadband and O2’s mobile networks alongside a variety of incredible perks to give our customers more.

“The launch of converged services in less than 150 days as a business is a huge milestone moment and demonstrates the momentum we have behind our commitment to supercharge connectivity across the UK. This is just the start.”

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This exciting milestone for Virgin Media O2 means that consumers who do not currently take services from either brand can supercharge their package with Volt from the get-go, with new bundles containing an O2 SIM and Virgin Media broadband available on 18 month contracts. The new packages include the ‘Big Volt’ bundle, ‘Bigger Volt’ bundle and ‘Ultimate Volt’ bundle, all of which come with the exclusive Volt benefits and boosts to offer customers more. Pricing for Volt bundles start from £40 per month for 200Mbps Broadband (boosted from 100Mbps), Talk More Weekends and a 10GB O2 SIM (boosted from 5GB). The top Volt bundle (Ultimate Volt bundle) includes Gig1 broadband, an unlimited data O2 SIM, tonnes of TV favourites and two TV 360 boxes, available for £99 per month.

Supercharging small businesses

Small businesses and start-ups who take a Voom broadband service from Virgin Media Business and an eligible O2 Small Biz tariff can also supercharge their services, with 4G start-up and back-up, double mobile data and exclusive perks from Priority.

Virgin Media O2 is the leading converged challenger in the market, pairing O2’s award winning mobile network and the UK’s fastest major broadband provider to enhance connectivity for customers at home and on the go. With Virgin Media’s rapid gigabit broadband rollout and O2’s commitment to deliver 5G to half the UK population in 2023, Virgin Media O2 is just getting started.

[pgn]

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@GoosePlays20 wrote:

Why is it only for pay monthly, what do us on pay as you go get out of this?? UNFAIR

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Especially as you have to pay a tenner monthly to keep your benefits - it is more Pay Monthly than you might think...

[madasaf1sh]

@GoosePlays20 

It will be down to logistics, as pay monthly customers are tied in, and PAYG can just stop topping up, and then have no more to do with o2... 

[jonsie]

They would be less likely to leave O2 if they were being given double data though

[lojelo5]

It's all just been a facade from the beginning, when you think about it what benefits do VM customers get when they are already on the highest tier!! When everyone else is getting free upgrades surely they should have some kind of bill reduction.

I also agree PAYG customers should be included.

[madasaf1sh]

@lojelo5 

I agree it has been one mess after another, and a few of us have lodged formal complaints.

I have already raised this to the executive relations team at VM after complaining to them about the whole process, from a VM Point of View, as I had upgraded to Gig1 a week earlier, and got told basically tough... 

I have mentioned maybe we get the Hub 5(when it is released), a bill reduction or something else. 

With current mess, as I said I could see PAYG customers been stung with charges from VM, and they would need to somehow see a payment each month. or they will set the minimum top up at >£30 per month (just an arbitrary figure)

[Johan1]

Hi, I'm a PAYG customer and I'm trying to get a pay monthly contract but it's been impossible to contact O2 for this matter. I have already activated the Volt package on the VM side and they told me I should contact O2 to finish the process but as I said, there's no number I could call for this, and on the chat they told me that service was only for pay monthly customers. What can I do?

[MI5]

@Johan1 

Looks like you should contact the sales team as they can help with that – message them on Social Media if that works best for you -on Facebook (https://o2uk.co/O2CFB) , Twitter (https://o2uk.co/O2CTW) or Instagram (https://o2uk.co/O2CIG)

Or you can call them on 0800 081 0255

Thanks

[Chromedo]

It is now over 3 weeks since my initial O2 contact (1st Nov, 8th Nov) and still no speed/data upgrade but... Vermin Media has started calling to "discuss my package" - at least 5 calls on mobile and similar on landline. Coincidence? Why do I get the feeling they want me to upgrade instead of getting this "free upgrade"?

I guess I will also have to make an official complaint as this is going nowhere...

[Chromedo]

Oh - in case anyone is wondering - I don't answer unknown numbers but I was waiting for an unrelated call and I made a mistake answering. I told them I was busy and to call later. That's how I know it was VM and what they wanted - looking at the number they have been calling for a week. I have blocked them now as I don't see why I need to "discuss my package". What is there to discuss O2?

I am not sure what to think - while VM is notorious for such "tactics", AFAIK O2 has never done this, are they really "condoning" such behaviour from their "partner"? Really disappointing if true.

[jonsie]

A complaint worked for me

Three days and all sorted

O2 no problem but took an online complaint to VM