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.

[madasaf1sh]

@atp 

You will need to speak to which either one does not have your legal name, and ask them to update it.  As otherwise with the 2 different systems and automation , it wont register

[Chris_S51]

I had my name changed on my Virgin Media account to match my O2 one (My O2 account is under Christopher, my Virgin Media one was under Chris - I submitted my name change form with documentation and they updated it) but Volt is still not applied. Should this now happen automatically or will I have to spend 4 hours on the phone to o2 again?

[Angry-Customer]

When is o2 / VM going to sort this mess out, so it doesn’t matter what name is on each account, as long as the addresses match ???

[madasaf1sh]

@Angry-Customer 

It does matter, and in some places the same address can have 20 VM connections and multiple o2 contracts... So there has to be some logic... 

Not sure when it will be fixed, but its not a mess its just unfortunately a side effect of having 2 disparate billing systems and CRM tools. 

It could be sorted by proving your o2 and VM account numbers and the one with the different name provides proof of some sort. 

I would expect this to be fixed by end of Q1 next year.....

@Chris_S51 

Upto 14 days for Volt benefits to apply following the change.   

Im afraid patience is the key. 

[Angry-Customer]

Both o2 and VM say that it's changing soon and it won't matter what name the 2 accounts are in, aslong as the address matches, but neither will say when soon is.

I have the o2 account in my name, but the VM account is in the wife's name, the address is the same.

VM refuse to change the account into my name, and said the only option is to cancel and then start a new account in my name, but in doing so, I will have to pay termination fee as tied in for another 6 months with them and will also loose the loyalty discount.

So yes it is a mess and something they should have thought about and sorted out before launching this.

[MI5]

@Angry-Customer 

Unfortunately no one here can answer you as to when as we are all customers like yourself with no inside knowledge whatsoever.

I'll tag @Chris_K again to see if he has any updates for you.

[Angry-Customer]

Thx

[Mike967angus]

Hi I'm with Virgin media and signed up for an O2 SIM.

O2 seems to think there is no virgin account at my address but both O2 and VM are my name and address?

[pgn]

Scroll up this topic to learn, @Mike967angus - there are a couple of updates from O2 on how things work...  And most of all:

[Saleh]

Its nearly 14 days since ive got my o2 contract. VM already boosted my BB last week with no issue. o2 im still having an issue with them doing their part. I called up today and they said, there is no activation for my benefits. So i could now wait another 14 days for this to be escalated. I don't think ive had to deal with such poor customer service before. Been going in circles everytime I call and ask.