misleading o2 advert for Iphone upgrade?

davesafc

On the 1st april I got a text saying I was due an upgrade from my current 2G Iphone and I could have the Iphone 3G on the £35 tariff but would have to pay £99 for the Iphone. I never took this up but the other day I was on the o2 website and came across this page

o2.co.uk/iphone/paymonthly (with www in front it wouldnt let me post a link?)

now if you look under the tab "o2 customers" and look at the paragraph under the system requirements it states that you can have the 3G for free on the £35, £45 and £75 tariffs on a minimun term contract then goes on to say the minimum term is 18 month.

I rang o2 to be told the upgrade text I recieved was sent out in error and I cant get an upgrade until the 14th may (1 month before my contract ends) and when I asked about the free iphone on the £35 tariff they said I had to take out a 24 month contract not an 18 month one! the lady on the other end of the phone also loaded this page up when I gave her the link but denied that it had £35 in that paragraph even though I was staring at the same page!

am I reading this page wrong are is this false advertising??? and what would you do about it?

loftus

I can see where the confusion and it is poorly phrased but I think it's because you are reading it as a complete paragraph rather than three separate sentences.

iPhone 3G 8GB provided at no additional cost on £34,26, £44.05 and £73.41 per month tariffs when you connect to a new minimum term contract. - It is free on these price plans dependent on contract length.

Subject to availability. - Obviously!

Connection subject to status, 18-month minimum term contract, credit check & direct debit. Excessive usage policy and terms apply. - The minimum "minimum term contract" for the Iphone is 18 months, free or not.

That's how I read it.

davesafc

so you dont think theres anyway I can get them to give me it for free on the 18 month £35 tariff?

sporedude

You can get it for £35...........Just for a 24 month contract.

hotkee

Two possible ways to get it on 18 months.

1. Hopeful - wait till the 30 days to end approach, when you are offered upgrades by o2, insist on 18 months, they might budge as you are existing customer - and have some "loyality credit" on your account.

2. If you go to carphonewarehouse site, you can get it on 18 months BUT have to pay a minimum of £96.89 for the phone itself, £34.26 a month tariff. This is an upgrade deal (not new customers).

Given the option of upgrade being offered by carphonewarehouse, I would wait till the 30 days and possibly get o2 to waive the phone cost and give you 18 months tariff.

iwanttosave_2

You have no chance of haggling with an Iphone. You wont get any "loyalty credit" on an Iphone upgrade.

Why go to CPW? Its the same price through o2 on an 18m term.

davesafc

I really want the 3G asap so I can sell my 2G on ebay for a decent amount so it looks like im going to have to take the 24month contract out

what about the text that was sent saying im eligable now for an upgrade, do they have to honour that or can they refuse me by saying its been sent out in error?

Money_Grabber13579

davesafc wrote: »

I really want the 3G asap so I can sell my 2G on ebay for a decent amount so it looks like im going to have to take the 24month contract out

what about the text that was sent saying im eligable now for an upgrade, do they have to honour that or can they refuse me by saying its been sent out in error?

It's worth calculating when your contract actually ends. With mine, they kept insisting that my contract ended in May 09, however I had received my 18th bill in March! So I had to insist that my contract was ended, and they backed down saying it was a computer fault! But they didn't change the record, and everytime I rang up, it was the same story!

parallax_20

Call them back on the 14th May, as you'll be in a better position to bargain with them to keep your business. Its only 2 weeks away. Alternative you could ask about refurbish iPhones...I read a few people managed to get these for a little over £100 on any contract upgrade. If you manage to grab one, sell the 2G version to pay for it.

davesafc

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

It's worth calculating when your contract actually ends. With mine, they kept insisting that my contract ended in May 09, however I had received my 18th bill in March! So I had to insist that my contract was ended, and they backed down saying it was a computer fault! But they didn't change the record, and everytime I rang up, it was the same story!

now that you mention it im almost certain that I took out my contract on 18 month in november 2007 so it should actually finish in may not june like they are saying. im going to look into that one thank you.

paperclip4201

Why don't you get a different phone on an O2 retentions deal, like a blackberry (600 minutes, 1000 texts, unlimited internet, £20pm), then sell it on ebay for around £250. Then buy an iphone 3G.

Should work out cheaper, because you've made a saving on the contract, and it won't be 24 months!