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.

[atp]

Spent an age on the phone to o2, trying to change my name to match Virgin. (this is a simple Andy / Andrew problem)  Eventually the operative found a form to email a link to.
When I look at the link, it seems that I need to prove that my name has _changed_. 

www.o2.co.uk/help/account-and-billing/changing-your-name
Going through the deed-poll process or marrying myself seems like a lot of trouble to go to for some "free" upgrades. 

[madasaf1sh]

@atp 

That is the wrong form, and to be honest it might be worth going through VM direct in this instance as they have got a dedicated team to go through Volt. 

Go to the Help section on VM's website and select Volt

[Angry-Customer]

So just to update this.

My new contract with VM started on Sat 5th Feb, Mrs contract terminated around 2am on the 5th and the new Hub 4 arrived just after 12pm, so was only without internet for a few hours thankfully.

So I got it all setup and running on Sat and messaged O2 on twitter to ask them to sort my volt benefits out as now both account names match but the link for volt in myO2 was still telling me to join VM if I want volt.

They said that VM account needs to be active for 14 days before it can be applied but supply all my details (O2 phone number, digits from passcode and the VM account number and of course the name on the accounts).

They then said they had been passed onto the correct team and would be applied within 14 days and I should look out for an email or text to confirm when it's been done.

Anyway this morning I ran a speed test and noticed that I was getting over 600mb (my broadband was M500), so I checked my VM account and it was still showing M500.

So I logged into the hub and noticed the config had been updated to 1gig.

I then logged out of my VM account and back in and it now shows as Volt 1 gig.

So the BB speed increase has been applied already. Just have to wait the 12 days now for the double data from O2.

So I guess I should change my username to slightly less angry customer now.

[atp]

@madasaf1sh I am grateful that you are trying to help, but the VM "Help" section does not have a "Volt" section. It has Broadband, Your Account, Billing and Payments, Change Your Package, Virgin Mobile, TV, Landline and Moving Home. And none of those contains a Volt sub-section. 

[atp]

So, I telephoned Virgin instead, and explained the situation. 
"No problem" they said, and continued to add my Volt benefits, saving me some money too. 

"Well, that was easy" I thought. 

Then I realised that what they had actually done was add a brand new SIM-only o2 account on top of my existing Virgin Media account. Which wasn't at all what I wanted.

This is becoming increasingly silly. 

[Angry-Customer]

Got the email from O2 this morning to say my Volt benefits have now been applied.

Under my account the data has now doubled, but if I go to volt benefits it still tells me I need to join VM lol.

[asif]

Had a text and email saying Volt benefit has been added today data now say unlimited but what about my virgin broadband speed increase.

Also im eligible for discount through work i added my national insurance number and payslip. What happens next ?

[madasaf1sh]

@asif 

Virgin will uprate you BB Speed within 14 days (after 14days if a new contract)

You need to follow the instructions here and this discount has to be applied within 28 days and only applies to the o2 part of the contract and doesn't apply to the Volt Sim Guide: O2 Open & Friends and Family discounts - How to sign up 

[asif]

I have had virgin broadband for a while now

[madasaf1sh]

Contact VM Customer Services in that case then @asif  and they will be able to help