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.

[Angry-Customer]

Well as VM have now emailed me to say they are putting the price up again (2nd time within the current 18 months contract and I should never have had a price increase the 1st time but it was applied anyway and took 11 months for them to finally give me a correct bill), this time I have decided rather than agree to let them apply a further discount until the end of the current contract (as I have no faith it will get applied correctly and I will end up being over charged again each month), that I will cancel the contract early with no termination fee.

Then I can sign up as a new customer in my name instead of the wifes and then I should get the volt benefits too finally (will cost me a little more per month for the same package, but still less than it would if I went for the next bb speed than I currently have without volt).

Except that VM now say I can do that, but need to give 30 days notice (already done now) and then wait 60 days with no VM services before I can sign up at the same address in my name.

So ball is now in their court (waiting on a call back from the CEO team), they either let me sign up as a new customer to start the day my wifes current contract ends, or i'll go elsewhere and they will loose me for life.

22+ years as a VM customer, there choice.

[madasaf1sh]

@Angry-Customer 

You would be best having this conversation on the Virgin Media Community, as unfortunately I have heard the same you have to wait 60 days for a new connection after a cease, unless you are newly moved into the property.

The CEO team will do absolutely nothing, im afraid, as all the are, are a team of apologists with no real power.

The whole VOLT things is a pile of steaming dog mess, and one of the business guys we deal with was saying the same. 

VM and o2 have both annoyed a lot of customers with Volt especially those on Gig1 and Unlimited data packages, who basically got shafted, and still have to pay more than the equivalent new customer charges... 

Unfortunately for the likes of me  VM are the only ones where I live who offer more than 30Mbps Internet Access, so I went for the whole Gig1 package and pay stupid money for it. 

Good Luck, I think you will need it. 

[Angry-Customer]

No point saying anything on the VM community it's full of the idiots that regurgitate the incorrect info that the "customer service team" give out although I did read a few posts on there that proves the info given out is not true as customers have cancelled and then resigned up in there partners name there and then.

As said the ball is in their court, they either let me sign up as a new customer to start the day after the wifes contract ends, or they don't.

I really couldn't care less either way right now tbh, had enough of the lies and bullsh*t that both VM and O2 fed me/us about volt.

[madasaf1sh]

@Angry-Customer 

100% agree with you on that, and seems like a lot of "staff" post as normal people and talk down to everyone.. 

We are much friendlier

I think the biggest problem VM have is the useless and incompetent Manila Call Centre, who just spout any BS to get you off the phone or more Peso's in their pockets... 

As I said Good Luck, and hope you get it sorted 🙂

[Angry-Customer]

All sorted it seems.

CEO office from VM called me back, said that what I was told was true (although he did know of cases where there was no need to wait the 30days cancellation + 60 days with no services) so said he would contact sales and find out more.

Then called me back and said he will get sales to call me and see what they can do.

10 mins later I got a call from sales and he set it up no problem, current contract in wifes name ends 5th Feb, new contract starts in my name on 5th Feb.

I said I had seen an offer online, which included a £50 amazon voucher, he said he couldn't do the voucher but could give me a £50 bill credit on the new account instead.

Also confirmed that I will now be eligible for Volt as the name and address matches on both accounts now, and also confirmed no more price increases during the term on the contract (although i've heard that before).

So all in all, it seems there are some people at VM with some common sense, they are just few and very far between.

[leeroy221]

Hi, I took out a Virgin package in November and that had a O2 5gb sim card in the package which should be doubled to 10 gb. Unfortunately  since I have been to and thro from Virgin and O2 as my account still says 5gb, when i call to check my allowance it still says 5gb. The last call to O2 said i can go and add a bolt on, which costs more money. They then said it should show on my volt (i think it was) but nothing was showing there. I am at my wits end here with all the calls etc and the 30+ min waits each time. Has anyone else had this? is there an email address i can contact O2 on to sort this out?

Many thanks,

Lee

[madasaf1sh]

@leeroy221 

No there is not an email address, you need to call o2 or VIrgin Media. Has your BB been upgraded by any chance? and do the details match exactly?

You can also message of o2, If you message O2 on Facebook (https://o2uk.co/O2CFB) , Twitter (https://o2uk.co/O2CTW) or Instagram (https://o2uk.co/O2CIG) , they should be able to help you with this

[leeroy221]

Thanks for the reply @madasaf1sh 

i took out one Virgin package and then upgraded it a couple days later. Everything is correct apart from the O2 sim contract and my account allowance. I have called both and they keep saying to contact the other, O2 to Virgin and Virgin to O2. Very frustrating for me! again, especially with the over 30 min wait for an answer and to then keep being told to call the other one.

[madasaf1sh]

You can always try messaging them on Social Media. 

But as you are finding its a complete mess.

[JohnHyde]

Biggest con ever……..!!!!!!!!!!!!!

we were happy with being with Virgin for our BB to and home phone.. wife already has a mobile with Virgin already and I wanted one so came to o2 from three… WORST DECISION EVER!!!!! O2 refuses to let me now have a phone or sim number in my own name????? W t f…??? Also o2 don’t give you the Volt boost as promised… ABSOLUTE CON SND NOW IMPRISONED BY THEM FOR 18 months??? BEWARE… BE VERY AFRAID OF JOINING O2???