O2 broadband charge - sneaky workaround?

MATH

We're considering leaving Orange broadband as it looks like we can get a better deal - currently paying £17.99 per month. O2 standard package looks good @ £12.23 and even better if we're O2 customers @ £7.34. We are not O2 customer BUT to get the discount the site says : "

• make sure your mobile works and that it can make and receive calls
• top up at least £10 in the three months before your broadband bill date. Your broadband bill date is three days before you get your bill. So if your bill comes on the 4th, your bill date's the 1st. We'll send you a reminder a few days before if you haven't topped up enough.

So, doing some maths, I reckon if we get an O2 payg phone (spare phone in desk, get an O2 sim) and top up every 3 months £10 we're still better off: top up plus £7.34 is £128pa; paying non O2 rate @ £12.34 is £147pa both compared to Orange which is £216pa.

So, O2 payg phone topping up £10 every 3 months and getting the reduced broadband rate of £7.34 saves us £88pa.

Am I missing something? Have I missed the catch?

Thanks!

PS We're on Vodafone family so my kids & Mrs math call each other for free (all for £5 per month!) so we don't want to move as no other provider can match it so a permanent move to O2 is not a solution (but I'm open to suggestions!)

ohreally

MATH wrote: »

We're considering leaving Orange broadband as it looks like we can get a better deal - currently paying £17.99 per month. )

Re-negotiate your package with orange. I got 6 months free, then 8.99 a month at 8meg - all i had to do was ask (they threw in a new router as well but i already had one).

MATH

That was my next move! I wanted to work out a new provider first so I had something to compare a new offer to.
Thanks

456789

MATH wrote: »

Am I missing something? Have I missed the catch?

No - that can work fine

BUT they might change it in the future so you would have to top-up more/more often - maybe check if the terms and conditions will stay the same after you have signed up even if they do change it for new customers?

PhilCo_2

I'm in the process of moving over to O2 (well as soon as virgin send me my MAC code). Have moved my mobile over to their PAYG to get the discounted rate and you do just need to put £10 on every 3 months. Even managed to get 3 months free broadband as ordered before 31st Jan.

aj2703

I have just moved to O2 from BT Buisness (paying £35 a month) because i liked the unlimited 24/7 option. BT used to throttle my connection in the evenings 6PM-Midnight which made playing on-line games difficult with rubbish pings. O2's unlimited, no throttling ad's seemed like a good deal, along with the fact i had an O2 mobile so i could get it for £17 a month. Trouble is that because Entanet have had problems most of the "Uber" downloaders who download the internet 24/7 most have moved to O2 and clogged up their network. Gaming for me is twice as bad as it was on BT with pings averaging 60 - 800:eek:. They have announced major investment to upgrade their network to cope with the infulx but i think this only refers to the customers on their LLU network and not people on the Access ADSL1 product. My advice is if your main use is just for general surfing and the odd bit of downloading then go for it. If it's for gaming then as it stands at the moment forget it.

This is a very good site to use when changing providors www.thinkbroadband.co.uk click on the forums and you have sections on just about every providor. This link should take you straight to the O2 forums.
http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/postlist.php?Board=o2

You might want to try this site out too www.samknows.com and do and Exchange search. This will tell you the type of broadband avaliable at your local telephone exchange. You maybe lucky enough to have a few of the major LLU providers like sky, where you could bundle everything togther (sky tv, broadband and phone etc) and get a good deal that way.

steveo3002

they often offer cash back via quidco too

MATH

Thanks for all your help and advice everyone. I'm off to speak with Orange to see if I can better my deal then I'll check out the cashback sites.

macman

I recommend you go with your original plan, buy o2 SIM (I think they will give you £10 free top up usually), then sign up for o2 via Quidco. So it'll be £7.34 pm for the 8 meg service minus your Quidco saving, as long as you do your top ups. I am told that they text you to remind you to do this, so it's a no-brainer really.
Customer service is also so much better than Orange (I am on Orange mobile but wouldn't go near them for broadband).

thesim

Dont forget, look out for the ads on the internet for the 4 free o2 sims!! then you wont have to buy one :beer:

DCFC79

Just a thought OP but the phone you were thinking of putting on 02 it might need unlocking if it previously wasnt an 02 phone