Orange Home Max package - O2 Switch plan...

ragz_2

I want to switch from my Orange Home Max package (for obvious reasons), probably to O2. But my Orange package includes line rental so where would I get that from (BT?) and how complicated will it be? Would I have to call BT and ask for a line, take out a phone package and then sign up with O2? If so will I be offline for months?

ragz_2

OK I think I have a plan, can someone please tell me if it makes sense!

- Get O2 mobile phone number by switching my 30 day T-mobile contract to 30 day O2 contract (saving £5pm plus possibly Quidco cashback).
- Call Orange and ask for MAC code and to cancel contract (hoping no penalty if within 30 days of letter detailing price rise) Saving £32.50pm
- Call BT and get line rental (cost £11.25)
- Get O2 BB package with discount for customers (cost £7.34) - Possible Quidco cashback

So would be saving almost £20 a month, with possible cashback of over £90.

Am I right?? Will this work??
If someone could tell me the best order to do it in I would be very grateful!

Thanks
Ragz

OldGreyFox

To get O2 broadband you need a BT Line. So you would have to tell BT you want to return your line rental to them from Orange ,choose a call bundle,and agree to a 12 month contract.etc etc

ragz_2

Thanks OldGreyFox. I think I'll just have line rental with BT so won't need contract as I don't really use home phone much.
So is that the first thing I should do? Don't want to be without internet for too long...

penrhyn

You will need a contract with BT otherwise they may charge you £125 for taking the line back off Orange. Ain't LLU fun

ragz_2

penrhyn wrote: »

You will need a contract with BT otherwise they may charge you £125 for taking the line back off Orange. Ain't LLU fun

Thanks for the tip, was considering getting their Anytime package for an extra £5 a month as it includes 0845 which I call a lot! Will do that then. Still saving plenty.
Any more flaws in my master plan? (There usually are!)

OldGreyFox

ragz wrote: »

Thanks OldGreyFox. I think I'll just have line rental with BT so won't need contract as I don't really use home phone much.
So is that the first thing I should do? Don't want to be without internet for too long...

You cant just have line rental with BT you have to take some sort of call bundle.The £11.25 package includes a free call bundle. You have to take out a 12 month contract,their is no way out.

ragz_2

That's fine then, don't really mind.Though on their website it says the Free evening call plan isn't 12 month contract, but as I said I'm not too bothered by that, better than 18 months with Orange!

OldGreyFox

ragz wrote: »

That's fine then, don't really mind.Though on their website it says the Free evening call plan isn't 12 month contract, but as I said I'm not too bothered by that, better than 18 months with Orange!

To get the phone line you have to agree to a 12 month contract, unlimited weekend calls are included automatically if you dont want another call bundle.

If you want free evening and weekend calls or cheaper unlimited 24/7 calls you have to agree to a 12 month rolling/renewable contract,unless you pay a bit more when their is no call contract.

People dont like the rolling contracts.

See: http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayCategory.do?categoryId=CON-HOME-PHN-R1

"Unlimited Weekend Plan. Only £11.25 a month line rental with Direct Debit and paper-free billing, for new and existing residential customers making at least one chargeable call a month with BT. No minimum term, unless you order a new phone line or switch your phone line to BT from another provider, where a 12 month minimum term applies to line rental.

Unlimited Evening & Weekend Plan. Only £11.25 a month line rental with Direct Debit and paper-free billing, for new and existing residential customers signing up to a 12 month renewable contract. This means you have a 12 month minimum renewable period. So, after 12 months, your contract will be automatically renewed for another 12 month minimum renewable period unless you tell us otherwise.

Unlimited Anytime Plan. £4.95 a month (£1 discount compared with same plan without a renewable contract, via bill credit), plus £11.25 a month line rental with Direct Debit and paper-free billing. This plan is for new and existing residential customers on a 12 month renewable contract. This means you have a 12 month minimum renewable period. So, after 12 months, your contract will be automatically renewed for another 12 month minimum renewable period unless you tell us otherwise."

ragz_2

Thanks OldGreyFox for taking the time to explain that so fully! So which would you recommend? I'm not too keen on a 12 months renewing contract, ovbiously. The Anytime plan isn't essential as I'm not sure I'll even use £5 worth of calls.

Update on Plan
- Have cancelled T-mobile sim on 30day contract (lovely lady offered me PAC code without even being asked though not sure if I can use it yet on sim only)
- Have ordered O2 Sim on 30 day contract

Savings so far
£60 a year! (Though do have to find O2 mobile now as mine's locked and is SonyE so can't code it)
Also just discovered ours is an LLU O2 exchange (half mile away) so speed should go up from around 2 to nearly 8mg!

ragz_2

Update -

Have called Orange and requested cancellation. Apart from trying to offer me their equally pricey BB (without homephone) they were really helpful, offered me the MAC code without being asked and told me I would not be charged cancellation fee as I had replied within 30 days of the letter (it doesn't say this on the letter, but someone on another post mentioned it).

However I'm a bit unsure as to the order in which to switch everything. I will get the MAC code in 3-5 days. I need to get a BT line, presumably before I sign up to O2? But I want to lose BB connection for as short a time as possible so don't want to do things the wrong way round.
Can anyone advise?
Thanks
Ragz