O2 Identity Crisis

babyontheway

I have a mobile phone with O2 that my dad first got for me when I was in Uni back in 1999. At the time it was a business phone as he added it to his existing account.
I transferred the account to my own name and started paying the bills soon afterwards (he lost patience with my calling charges!) and have had the phone ever since.

I now have a phone through work so my partner took over the phone for his use. I tried to get the phone transferred into his name but they said that they don't do transfers anymore and that we would have to wait until the end of a contract period, cancel the phone and then start a new account with a new number in his name.

Because we wanted to keep the number we just left it. We are now married and I have changed my name. I called them to change the name to my married name and they said exactly the same thing - that I can't change the name on the account unless I cancel and then start again with a new number. I've been allowed to change the billing address and the bank account from where the bills are paid but not the name on the account.

Because my husband is self-employed and needs the phone bills for his expenses, it's complicated by the fact that the bills are not only in a woman's name but also with a different surname.

They have now started sending us bills with just a total on and no itemised billing. This causes problems for my husband in terms of his accounts and also means we can't see which calls we are paying for on top of our inclusive minutes.

I went on the website today and logged in to my account, but when I tried to get my billing information it told that I'm on a different billing platform whatever that is so I can't get any information through my web account.

I know it may sound silly, but we've moved around a lot over the last few years and that number is pretty important for keeping in touch with people. In addition, we've signed a new contract for 18 months. I have no problem with the tarriff and don't think we're being ripped off - but it's unnerving when you can't find out what's going on!

I fear this may be a lost cause but any ideas?

iwanttosave_2

There is no problem changing the surname, you need to send in a marriage certificate.

You can do a transfer of ownership into a business name but not into another consumer name. Your husband could always take out a business contract and migrate the account across.

babyontheway

I tried changing the surname on the basis of getting married with a copy of the certificate but they said that because my account is on the old billing platform, they can't do it.

I'll talk to them about doing a business contract for my husband.