O2 on contract, options when studying abroad.

benatkinson1991

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum but just wondered if anyone had been in this situation before and or had any advice as to where I go now, I think I've exhausted all means of help!

I've been on an O2 contract since last October, due to expire October 2012. (24 months). I've already had so many problems with the contract, which has convinced me never to go on contract again.

I'm a University student and have recently secured a place on an American exchange which means I'll be studying in the states from August - December this year.

One of the first things I did was contact O2 to see what my options are regarding my contract, both my colleagues who are going with me on the exchange have got their own contract put on hold or some other alternative (different providers).

Anyway, I've constantly been told that O2 have nothing available to me. (On the phone and via the O2 shop). The operator / staff member has said basically they don't offer a contract on hold (okay that's fine) but then they fob me off and have no alternative, in fact they've told me on several occasions - "I don't know what you should do" or "Erm, well I'm sorry Mr. Atkinson.." before going on to repeat that they don't offer contracts on hold.

Now obviously to ask a student who is already taking out the maximum loans and personally funding a study abroad (which is not a holiday, if it was I'd understand O2's response) to pay £25 per month for four months when he cannot use his phone at all in the US without incurring additional massive fee's, is ridiculous. All the minuets and texts I get for that price won't apply, let alone the roaming.

I've been told my a third party phone shop, where I originally brought the contract from, that in the past their customers have had an international contract applied when in the same situation as mine. But in each situation I told to call O2 and are lumbered with the same call centre operators who, on every occasion have been unable to help.

Has anyone else been through this, or had a similar kind of problem with O2? Any advice on what I could do, if anything, to relieve the costs involved with paying the contract while studying abroad or alternatively getting an international contract applied for that time.

Cheers,

Ben

MRC_2

There's nothing else you can do unfortunately.

You've been given the correct advice about not being able to put a hold on your contract. The only way you can hold a contract is if you're doing duty in the army..

At the end of the day you've signed a minimum contract so you'll be liable for charges until it ends.. you can obviously downgrade in Oct this year though.

grumbler

benatkinson1991 wrote: »

...Now obviously to ask a student who is already taking out the maximum loans and personally funding a study abroad (which is not a holiday, if it was I'd understand O2's response) to pay £25 per month for four months when he cannot use his phone at all in the US without incurring additional massive fee's, is ridiculous.

I don't find this ridiculous. It's the main point of a contract. Your friends were just lucky to have more generous providers.

...
I've been told my a third party phone shop, where I originally brought the contract from, that in the past their customers have had an international contract applied when in the same situation as mine. ...

I've never heard about 'international contracts'.

Your options are:

1. Keep paying and use the phone only to receive text messages abroad (free for you and cheap for UK senders). You can downgrade to the next tariff after 12 months.
2. Pay the early termination fee, i.e. the cost of all remaining months in advance.
3. Cancel the DD and ruin your credit history.

If (1) or (2) sell the phone and use the proceedings for payment(s). Buy the cheapest replacement handset.

P.S. As a side note, "taking out the maximum loans" to pay £25 p.m. for a mobile is not the wisest financial decision.

benatkinson1991

Thanks for the help guys. I knew that yes I probably didn't have an option and I know I took out the contract. However I was just checking here to see if anyone else had been in the same situation and had a different outcome before I go ahead with factoring in payment of the contract while I'm away.

Also "grumbler", what I mean by maximum loans was for the covering of University fee's / tuition and living allowances etc.

But again. Thanks for your help. Appreciated.