What has happened to o2?

captainhaggis

I've been with o2 for many, many years. I spend about £90.00 a month with them and, until about a year ago, I thought they were the bee's knees.

Recently though, the customer service has become terrible. They seem to have black and white rules written down from which there can be absolutely no deviation.

I've been trying to change tariff but have been told that, if I do so, I'd go to unlimited texts which would remove the 4-for-1 overseas texting (send one text while abroad and they take four from your allowance) AND remove my unlimited Blackberry roaming bolt-on.

So because of that, I want to leave them. They don't offer the benefits they used to so it puts other operators on an even level with them.

But to leave them I have to drop my tariff one month at a time, meaning it'll take me six months to get to £10.00 a month at which point I could cancel. And within those six months I'd be on a reduced tariff and would be subject to the above changes anyway.

I almost feel like I'm being held to ransom.

My credit file is already shot to bits so I'm seriously considering just stopping my payments to o2 until they play ball with me.

I also wonder whether they have anything that a court would see as a contract relating to my current term with them. The last time I signed anything with o2 was about four years ago.

I'm throwing my toys out of my pram a little bit, but I'm just astonished at how restrictive o2 are making things.

bengalknights

Its not just O2 now that all networks have access to both the iphone and desire they can pretty much not give deals out knowing well that people will keep signing up on expensive tariffs to just get the new phone.

lozzaman

Not all operators allow you to even move tarrif down until your last month anyway. o2 is also one of the few operators who seem to 'ring fence' tarrifs that existing users are on, rather than forcing the change upon them.
I would state o2 is that the monthly tarrifs are very expensive compared to other operators now. The simplicity plans however are competitive especially when using a cashback website, such as topcashback or quidco.

Is the tarrif you are on too high for you? Was it always the case or has your usage dropped? Work out what is the cheapest and best for you, change to that (if applicable) and then review your options when the contract expires.

Rev

O2 are shockingly bad these days. My entire family is on o2, on my recommendation, so I'm over a barrel a bit because I need the free o2 to o2 bolt on. But I'm currently paying £10 more than I was last contract for less.

A friend tried to take out a sim only contract a few months back, the £10 a month one, but wanted to add the internet bolt on. Was told it wasn't possible. She's have to go for a higher contract that offered unlimited web. But then she's lose the o2 to o2. I fail to see why you can't add a bolt on to any contract at all.

lozzaman

Do you just need the free o2-o2 calls for your family or is this for calling other people? Most networks do a family type same network deal.
I think part of it is the fact they are the biggest (if you ignore 'everything everywhere') so feel they can charge more. It's all to do with how the brand is perceived.

DarkConvict

Yeah, all operators have taken a bashing. Three customer services is worse, but i do hear 02 has dropped alot. Vodafone as an operator was rather poor with dealing with a mis-sold contract but the customer services were at least sympathetic.
T-Mobile only allow you to drop tariff in the last month which is pointless, and changed the drop-down rules mid contract for many people.

I do agree 02 was expensive, and now with no IPhone exclusive just does not justify it. The loyalty system at 02 is also none existent nowadays. 4 texts for 1 roam/pic message was a really good idea but i guess it makes them so much more profit to charge for it now which is a shame. I did almost consider 02 for the pic message system but luckly that i didn't

lozzaman

I really try my hardest to avoid Vodafone and Orange at renewal time. I consider o2 as I've always had positive experience of them, except for their totally lacklustre 3G coverage. Their restrictive data would now put me off too, but then I'd still consider giffgaff.

As for the not allowing a change down, you could take out a lower price plan and change up if you need to. I do agree that circumstances change and 24 months is a long time to hold you to the number of minutes and texts etc that were appropriate at the time of signup.

Rev

lozzaman wrote: »

Do you just need the free o2-o2 calls for your family or is this for calling other people? Most networks do a family type same network deal.
I think part of it is the fact they are the biggest (if you ignore 'everything everywhere') so feel they can charge more. It's all to do with how the brand is perceived.

I think they do some family thing, but I doubt it would cover my family. My mother has 6 brothers and sisters, they all have at least 2 kids, their kids have kids etc lol. They'd need to do a family package that included 50+ people as literally everyone I know is on o2. I used over 1000 minutes last month, 900 of those were o2 to o2.

Aspiring_Writer

Hmmm. I was with 02 for years until late 2009. I cant remember exactly why but they werent playing ball with me, despite the fact I had been a loyal customer for all that time. So I changed to Vodafone, and then 3 months later I bought a mobile payg dongle from Vodafone aswell.

At this point I should add I am not on a contract with Vodafone for phone or broadband...THANK GOD!

Trust me, if you think 02 are bad...I am actually going to move back to 02. Voda's broadband coverage and speed (or lack of it) is abysmal! talk about stick your left leg out the window whilst scratching your right ear to get a signal!

Even the phone tells me there is no signal at times in places where I always had a full strength signal with 02.

I am going to pay £15 a month on 02's Simplicity Package and £15 on payg mobile broadband, which includes a back up of free wifi in wifi hotspots.

Sorry OP, hijacked your thread a little. But I guess what Im saying is, sometimes it really is better the devil you know. Though they shouldn't take your loyalty for granted.

DarkConvict

Vodafone do have sure signal at home. Use your internet to get full signal.

However coverage varies for everyone. Down in newquay, cornwall i was with vodafone, and friends on orange/o2/three didnt get anything for most of the stay even at the airport. However i got fairly decent coverage all the time.

However at my university orange is the best, and even gets into the basement level of our computing building, no one less can. But at the pub by the M6 motorway, It is real hit and miss on orange but great on vodafone.

Aspiring_Writer

DarkConvict wrote: »

Vodafone do have sure signal at home. Use your internet to get full signal.

However coverage varies for everyone. Down in newquay, cornwall i was with vodafone, and friends on orange/o2/three didnt get anything for most of the stay even at the airport. However i got fairly decent coverage all the time.

However at my university orange is the best, and even gets into the basement level of our computing building, no one less can. But at the pub by the M6 motorway, It is real hit and miss on orange but great on vodafone.

Yes, true enough. Reception is a lottery. This is going to sound pathetic, but 02 is just too familiar to me really, and most of my family and close friends are on it too.

God I sound like an older person who won't change from BT despite the fact they are ripping me off and have been for the past zillion years!