10-08-2022 09:41 - edited 03-08-2023 10:01
10-08-2022 09:41 - edited 03-08-2023 10:01
Hello everyone. As previously announced, we're making some changes to O2 Switch Up from 3 August 2023 and I've done a complete overhaul of this thread to bring it up-to-date. We're making this change so we can continue to offer a market leading proposition where customers can continue to get the latest and greatest phone, or one they’ve been eyeing up for a while, every 90 days.
What is O2 Switch Up?
With O2 Switch Up, you can swap your current phone for a new one every 90 days, as long as it meets our grading criteria. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve got left on your current contract – we’ll pay it off for you. Each time you use O2 Switch Up, the 90 days restart and you can then Switch Up again at the end of that period.
How can I get Switch Up?
You can get Switch Up by heading in store, online or by calling us on 0808 002 0202. You’ll need to take out or upgrade to a new Plus Plan, which includes Switch Up at no extra cost.
When you're ready to Switch Up, find out what condition your device needs to be in.
ℹ️ We no longer offer the O2 Switch Up Bolt On for Custom Plans. O2 Switch Up is only available on our Plus Plans
How does O2 Switch Up work?
Once you’ve got Switch Up, you’ll need to head to an O2 store and hand back your current phone, which we’ll check over to make sure it’s in good enough nick. If it is, you won’t have to pay off any outstanding costs on your current contract – we’ll settle things for you. We’ll then start you on a new Plus Plan or custom plan for whichever new phone you pick.
This sounds different to what I’m used to. What’s changing?
From 3 August 2023 we’re changing the O2 Switch Up T&Cs, so customers will be able to swap their current phone for a new one every 90 days. Customers will still get O2 Switch Up at no extra cost when they take out or upgrade to a Plus Plan.
If you got O2 Switch Up before 3 August 2023 as part of a Plus Plan tariff you can continue to swap your phone whenever you like.
We have also removed the O2 Switch Up Bolt On for Custom Plans. Customers who already have the O2 Switch Up Bolt On via a Custom Plan will still be able to swap to a new phone whenever they like, one last time. However, when redeeming, you'll need to upgrade to a Plus Plan if you want to keep O2 Switch Up. You'll be put on our new 90 day Switch Up T&Cs.
Unsure which customer scenario you fit into?
No problem, we'll help clear this up for you:
Switch Up Q&A’s
I've included below some of our top Q&A’s, but we have even more details, info, questions and answers for O2 Switch Up here on our website, so please check it out.
Q. What’s O2 Switch Up?
A. With O2 Switch Up, you can swap your current phone for a new one every 90 days (as long as it’s in good condition).
Q. What do I have to buy to get Switch Up?
A. To get Switch Up, you need to take out a Plus Plan with whichever phone you want. It’s not compatible with laptops, tablets, smartwatches or any other connected devices.
Q. Where can I swap my phone?
A. Head to any O2 store to swap your current phone for a new one. You can find your nearest store by heading to o2.co.uk/storelocator.
Q. Are there any restrictions?
A. You need to be on a Plus Plan. Your current phone also needs to be in good enough nick – meeting our grading criteria – and your O2 account can’t be in arrears. Upgrades may be subject to passing a credit/fraud check.
Q. What happens to my old phone?
A. To do our bit for the planet, we take back your old phone and refurbish it, wiping any data before we sell it on to someone as one of our Like New phones.
Q. When I use Switch Up, can I take advantage of the Enhanced O2 Recycle Payment as well?
A. No. You have two options to choose from once you’re ready to upgrade:
A. There’s no need - you’ll automatically get O2 Switch Up as part of a Plus Plan when you first take it out. If you’re not on a Plus Plan but want O2 Switch Up as a benefit, you can upgrade early by paying off your remaining balance and starting a new Plus Plan.
Q. Where can I find Terms and Conditions for O2 Switch Up?
A. If you started a Plus Plan tariff from 3 August 2023:
O2 Switch Up terms and conditions (from 3 August 2023 onwards)
If you got O2 Switch Up before 3 August 2023 as part of a Plus Plan tariff or as a chargeable Bolt On:
O2 Switch Up terms and conditions (11 August 2022 to 2 August 2023)
Q. How many times can I use Switch Up?
A. Once you’ve got Switch Up as part of your Plus Plan, you can swap your phone for any of the latest and greatest, or for one you’ve been eyeing up for a while, every 90 days. It doesn't matter how long you've got left on your current contract – we'll pay it off for you. You just need to make sure your current phone meets our grading criteria.
Q. What if I change my mind and want my old phone back?
A. We can’t give your old phone back once you’ve swapped it for a new one, as we’ll have already started to refurbish it as one of our Like New phones. The good news is, as long as you’re still on a Plus Plan, you're free to swap to a new phone every 90 days.
Q. What happens if I want to keep my phone but change my plan?
A. If you move from a Plus Plan to any other custom plan, without swapping your phone for a new one, you’ll lose O2 Switch Up as a benefit. If you move from your existing Plus Plan to another Plus Plan, you’ll keep O2 Switch Up as normal.
Q. What happens if my phone doesn’t meet the grading criteria?
A. We can’t accept and take back any phones that don’t meet our grading criteria. You do, however, have four alternative options:
Got any other questions?
If you’ve got any other questions please check the above Q&A's out first as there’s a good chance your question is already answered there. We've also got loads more Q&A's here.
If you’ve got a question about something else relating to Switch Up, let us know in the comments and myself or one of our knowledgeable members will do our best to help.
INFO: This thread has been updated from its original announcement. To see the original thread, click below. More info
So, you saw the title and you’re thinking “that’s too good to be true… gotta be clickbait, right?”. Well, you’re right. It is too good to be true, and yet somehow, it is!
First of all, a quick recap of O2 Custom Plans. A Custom Plan gives you the ability to choose your own contract length from 3 to 36 months, and also lets you fine-tune how much data you need each month. With a Custom Plan, you can already upgrade at any point by simply paying off the remainder of your device plan.
Gareth Turpin, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2 said: Switch Up Q&A’s
More info
How does Switch Up work?
What happens to my old phone? Got any other questions? |
on 13-09-2023 20:58
on 13-09-2023 20:58
This practice is very cognitive and I wouldn't personally let O2 get away with this one. I was advised to refer this practice to the trading standards authority, presently gathering all evidences to support my claim. My background is in the banking industry and I still got some old contacts who can help me pushing this cover up T&C to lawful ears.
on 13-09-2023 21:34
The T&C's are quite clear.
What's lacking is sufficient training of store staff.
From 3 August 2023 we’re changing the O2 Switch Up T&Cs, so customers will be able to swap their current phone for a new one every 90 days. Customers will still get O2 Switch Up at no extra cost when they take out or upgrade to a Plus Plan.
If you got O2 Switch Up before 3 August 2023 as part of a Plus Plan tariff you can continue to swap your phone whenever you like.
on 14-09-2023 05:40
on 14-09-2023 05:40
It starts to be malicious when the complaint team, online/phone customer service do not come in agreement when presented side to side with their own T&C.
14-09-2023 13:17 - edited 14-09-2023 13:17
14-09-2023 13:17 - edited 14-09-2023 13:17
Seems I may have a result. Went back to the shop and explained it all again and shown them the info etc, posted by Chris. And they still insisted it was 90 days and even showed me some terms they had received by email on one of their personal/work phones but after more debate with them they did some more research themselves and found that I am on the old anytime terms because I’ve been on a plus plan before the 3rd of august and the switch up terms change to 90 days only applies to the custom plans with the old switch up bolt on. So they said I should be fine to pre-order the new iPhone tomorrow and then switch up to it next week on release.
It seems still many of the stores don't fully understand the actual terms or haven't been trained properly. I'm sure this will change in time hopefully as this will cause others the same issues.
on 14-09-2023 13:57
on 14-09-2023 13:57
Finally @Rog22
I did say some stores have interpreted it differently and my experience with my local store is at odds to what you and others have experienced... maybe I am lucky or my local store are on the ball...
Good luck tomorrow with your pre-order of the new iPhone
on 14-09-2023 14:11
on 14-09-2023 14:11
Yeh I think you are lucky lol I tried a few different stores yesterday all with the same answer until I went back to one of them today and finally got somewhere with persistence lol.
Thanks hopefully I get the manager/staff who were in today or I could face the same issue again lol.
on 15-09-2023 13:11
So I’ve just been to the store now and pre-ordered the 15 pro max without incident. They told the advisor that I was on the legacy account as they were going to check it again so fortunately someone was in there from yesterday that remembered me lol. Happy days. That’s me done for the year now. Just shows persistence does pay off
on 20-09-2023 08:29
on 20-09-2023 08:29
Well done for sticking to your guns. Over here the fight continue.
on 21-09-2023 19:21
on 21-09-2023 19:21
on 21-09-2023 19:45
on 21-09-2023 19:45
Sure! Will keep you posted.