SIM only deals with O2, cancellation rip off

Streaky

Hi, 2 months ago I signed up for a SIM only 12 month deal with O2, following redundancy and the loss of the works mobile. I have now (Hurrah !) got another job and wish to transfer my mobile number from O2 to Vodaphone, my new employer's mobile provider. Rang up to get the PAC code and have been told that I will have to pay an early termination charge that equals the remaining monthly payments that I would have paid over the 12 months. It's there in the small print but no-one mentioned it to me (no suprises there...) and it's a complete shocker. I'm on an all whistles and bells 'Simplicity' deal which costs £30 per month, so O2 want another £300 for nothing :mad:!

Anybody got any idea as to how I might be able to avoid paying this exorbitant fee?

Thanks in advance.

*Vikki*

No I idea, sorry I am sure there will be people along soon who do though. I never knew this though, and thanks for sharing. Glad I took out the one month sim deal now.

iwanttosave_2

Welcome to the site.

Sorry, but you entered into a legal contract saying you will pay £x for X months, you need to honour that agreement.

DaveLy

You signed a 12 month contract. You had the option of a 30-day rolling contract with less minutes/texts, but the advantage of committing to 12 months is that o2 give you more.

Same deal applies to land line telephones, virgin, sky etc.

There is no way out. I own 3 o2 contracts like this for family members. Perhaps give it your Mother or someone very trustworthy for £15/month and get her to pay any extra call costs, this way you both get a great deal and it costs you £5/month lesson learnt

Jon_01

As above and has been covered here many times. You're in a legal contract there are no loopholes. If you want out you have to pay what you agreed to when you began the contract.

dreamypuma

Is this thread a wind up? If not I wish the OP's new employer the best of luck.

ukbill69

Legal binding there, you signed up, its your fault. Sorry to say.

eljmayes

They may let you out of the contract as technically you don't have anything of theirs aka a phone, however I can't see why they would unless you could present a very compelling case.

This brings up the question of 12 month SIM only deals which I feel should be named differently to avoid confusion as the majority of adverts for them in the media are for a 30 day deal.

I_luv_cats

o2 say they give you 33% more for agreeing to a 12mth sim only contract.

Signing on the dotted line there is normally no way out unless you could get some compassion from them in downgrading you.

reehsetin

eljmayes wrote: »

They may let you out of the contract as technically you don't have anything of theirs aka a phone

errr.? what about a sim...and a service? as others have mentioned you tie yourself in to get extra benefits if you wanted to cancel in the near future don't tie yourself in

eljmayes

reehsetin wrote: »

errr.? what about a sim...and a service? as others have mentioned you tie yourself in to get extra benefits if you wanted to cancel in the near future don't tie yourself in

Should have said " something tangible". What I am saying is that the term "SIM Only" is associated with a 30 day rolling contract and perhaps these extended deals should be renamed to avoid confusion.