O2 Upfront for Life - Free Upgrade

virgo17

Nice post JamesU and some very valid points.

The only thing that concerns me is that O2 are now owned by Spain's Telefonica, which has recently re-branded (in Spain) to Movistar, the previous name of it's mobile network.

We have a property in Spain and have long 'suffered' the poor service and uncaring attitude of this monopoly dinosaur. In Spain, they constantly break their T&C's and seem to get away with it.

Let's hope they don't try the same tactics here.

JamesU

ilikepoints wrote: »

edit - perhaps people are confusing "line advance" and PUFFL. With line advance don't you just pay for a year's line rental and get a free phone. In that instance presumably they can do whatever they want after 12 months.
PUFFL is a different deal altogether whereby peopel bought a crap phone for 200 quid but no rental to pay ever again.

Sorry folks the letter I recieved is indeed for PUF (pay up front line advances) rather than PUFFL as ilikepoints has mentioned! Just checked as could not understand why I was able to upgrade the phone over the last ten years and hence also previous discussion above on the line advance contracts. Simiilar legacy issues from BTCellnet days though as with PUFFL, link below. Not that it matters this side, leaving O2 anyway, enough pain from them when renewing contracts over the last few years with a diminishing range of options. Virgo17, guess time will tell how Telefonica shapes up, to be fair the O2 staff themselves have been pretty good over the years, just the contractual side of things that has been a constant tedious issue.

http://www.cellphonekb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/uk-phone/4256/O2-Line-Advance-Contract-Renewal

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2151559


JamesU

ilikepoints

So anyone managed to upgrade their handset on PUFFL recently?


For that matter has anyone somehow been kicked off the genuine PUFFL?

Nige71

Hi,
I have 2 Pay Upfront (Line Advance) contracts - had them from the days of Cellnet- and last month I received a letter for each, from the "Head of Pay Monthly Marketing", saying that they (O2) were moving me to a new tariff, to give me "better value for money"! The new tariff is called £15 Simplicity - so that's £180 per year for the two contracts, a total of £360 for the two.
Last year's renewal for each was £100 less £75 discount because I opted not to have a phone upgrade, so the net cost was £25 for each, totalling only £50. The phones are only used as just that, for emergencies and 'keep in touch' calls/texts, not bothered about internet, data etc. Inclusive minutes are only off-peak and the only 'excess' costs for both worked out to about £40 for the year. So total cost for the two was under £100.
I've written to the sender telling hm that I strongly object to being FORCED to change tariffs and asking him to explain how switching to the new tariff gives me "better value for money" although, as I said to him, it would obviously give O2 "better value" because they'd be getting FOUR times more money!
I'm still waiting for his response.

ilikepoints

Such communication come under the remit of the Advertising Standards Authority I believe.

If it's a dishonest as you suggest you can probably get them in trouble for that by filing a complaint at the ASA.

millie

I have a PUFL tarriff that I have had for about 14 years and have upgraded a few times. The last time was about 12 months ago. I have just looked at my account online and where it usually shows my current tarriff as 'My Time Net 200 Pay Up Front' it now says 'sorry about the delay we are working on it' not sure what that implies. It still shows my inclusive allowance as the same as its always been, my next bill is due 20th February so I will wait and see what that shows.

jeffkey1

Nige71 wrote: »

Hi,
I have 2 Pay Upfront (Line Advance) contracts - had them from the days of Cellnet- and last month I received a letter for each, from the "Head of Pay Monthly Marketing", saying that they (O2) were moving me to a new tariff, to give me "better value for money"! The new tariff is called £15 Simplicity - so that's £180 per year for the two contracts, a total of £360 for the two.
Last year's renewal for each was £100 less £75 discount because I opted not to have a phone upgrade, so the net cost was £25 for each, totalling only £50. The phones are only used as just that, for emergencies and 'keep in touch' calls/texts, not bothered about internet, data etc. Inclusive minutes are only off-peak and the only 'excess' costs for both worked out to about £40 for the year. So total cost for the two was under £100.
I've written to the sender telling hm that I strongly object to being FORCED to change tariffs and asking him to explain how switching to the new tariff gives me "better value for money" although, as I said to him, it would obviously give O2 "better value" because they'd be getting FOUR times more money!
I'm still waiting for his response.

Hi,
I have just got the same letter with the same offer for my two PUFFL contracts. Also sent a letter off complaining. Last year this got me £150 compensation for preach of Promise.

Still waiting for reply.

I we get no where can we take this to OFCOM or the ASA.

Jeff

ilikepoints

Jeff - PUFFL means pay upfront for Life. I'm guessing if youhad trouble last year then you're on a Pay Upfront Line Advance contract (this isn't the same thing).

Anyway if you don't get anywhere with an O2 complaint you ask to enter something called "deadlock" - you can then take your complaint to a body called OTELO

jeffkey1

Just an update.

Got a phone call from 02 Customer Relations yesterday.

I have been offered two Simpliciy £10.5 a month Tariff's on a rolling contract for each of my Pay Upfront Line Advance contracts. (I thought they were PUFFL sorry).

Also as a gesture of good will also £252 credit on my next bill. This will cover the next twelve months line rental.

After that I will have to decide what to do.

[FONT=&quot]I can choose to stay on the Simplicity tariff with a monthly charge, increase to 18 or 24 month tariff, or Pay And Go. [/FONT]

I have decided to accept the offer as this does now give me MMS and data services on my phone.

But I need to pop into an 02 shop and get my SIMs upgraded because they a so old and will not support an 3g services.

I man from 02 was very polite and we had a long chat about old BTCellnet Contracts and the streamlining of accounts they were trying to do.

jeffkey1

ok not the best £10 deal in town but its free for 12 Months.