Big mobile bill - any way to get it reduced (O2)

cox78

Hi All,

I've been with O2 for many years, and am 19 months into my current 24 month contract.

Up to now I've been on a tariff with 300 minutes and unlimited texts, and I've had a 1gb Internet bolt on. I think my biggest bill has been about £40, which included about £9 of calls, though they were 08 numbers that weren't included in the free minutes.

However, a few days ago I checked the "My O2" app, and it said I'd used £80 worth of calls over my allowance. This shocked me a little, and I just assumed it was a mistake, until I phoned them and then checked my call log on the website. The biggest charge is £15 for a 51 minute call to a landline, though I've got a few at around £10.

Now, I know I should have kept an eye on my usage, however, as I'd never gone much over I didn't think I needed to (I didn't realise I'd been on some calls for so long). I don't deny its my fault though.

However, what does get me is that because of this I've now moved onto a new tariff, which now includes unlimited calls, for a grand total of £1 more per month. On this tariff my bill this month would be £32 instead of £130. That is a massive difference, and begs the question of what all that extra is actually for?

Is there any way I can get my bill reduced this month taking the above into consideration, or do I just have to take it on the chin, pay it, and just be thankful that I won't get this bill in future.

I have to say, despite the good deal I'm now on, I am a little annoyed that I've been charged so much, when obviously there is actually no need for them to charge that much if they can now offer me those calls for £1 extra per month.

oopsadaisydoddle

cox78 wrote: »

Hi All,

I've been with O2 for many years, and am 19 months into my current 24 month contract.

Up to now I've been on a tariff with 300 minutes and unlimited texts, and I've had a 1gb Internet bolt on. I think my biggest bill has been about £40, which included about £9 of calls, though they were 08 numbers that weren't included in the free minutes.

However, a few days ago I checked the "My O2" app, and it said I'd used £80 worth of calls over my allowance. This shocked me a little, and I just assumed it was a mistake, until I phoned them and then checked my call log on the website. The biggest charge is £15 for a 51 minute call to a landline, though I've got a few at around £10.

Now, I know I should have kept an eye on my usage, however, as I'd never gone much over I didn't think I needed to (I didn't realise I'd been on some calls for so long). I don't deny its my fault though.

However, what does get me is that because of this I've now moved onto a new tariff, which now includes unlimited calls, for a grand total of £1 more per month. On this tariff my bill this month would be £32 instead of £130. That is a massive difference, and begs the question of what all that extra is actually for?

Is there any way I can get my bill reduced this month taking the above into consideration, or do I just have to take it on the chin, pay it, and just be thankful that I won't get this bill in future.

I have to say, despite the good deal I'm now on, I am a little annoyed that I've been charged so much, when obviously there is actually no need for them to charge that much if they can now offer me those calls for £1 extra per month.

You've no right to get a refund, as you had previously been aware of and happy with the plan ( I understand it is frustrating though).

I think the best you can do is ask nicely and if they say no then you're stuck. Certainly worth asking even though there are no guarantees.

cox78

oopsadaisydoddle wrote: »

You've no right to get a refund, as you had previously been aware of and happy with the plan ( I understand it is frustrating though).

I think the best you can do is ask nicely and if they say no then you're stuck. Certainly worth asking even though there are no guarantees.

That's what I'm thinking - the charges will have been clearly stated when I took the contract.

It would be great (but highly unlikely) if they could backdate my tariff change to last month. However, why would they, they'd be losing around £100 by doing that, and as you say I have no rights to expect it, but I do still think its a complete rip off.

bedpotato_2

I don't think you can legally refuse to pay a bill for calls you have made. You signed a contract and are now legally obliged to pay.

To save you money, I'd just like to point out that if you are paying on average £40 per month for 300 minutes, unlimited texts, and 1GB of data, you are NOT getting a very good deal! I used to be on an O2 contract and then I did some market research and found out I was being ripped off!

You could be on PAYG with the 3 network, and paying a mere £15 per month for 300 minutes, 3000 texts, and unlimited data.

Better still, you could be on PAYG with GiffGAff, and be paying a mere £15 for 400 minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited data, and free calls to any other GiffGaff number.

Since your contract is nearly finished I suggest switching to one of those two networks to save yourself some money (once your O2 contract is finished).



See here http://www.three.co.uk/Store/Pay_As_You_Go_Price_Plans

and here http://giffgaff.com/index/offer

Edit: to prevent going over your limit again, you could try asking O2 if they will cap your calling allowance for you, so that when it runs out you are simply not able to make any more calls.

luci

bedpotato wrote: »

Since your contract is nearly finished I suggest switching to one of those two networks to save yourself some money (once your O2 contract is finished).

As the OP has been put onto a new tariff, it's possible that they have started a new contract of at least 12 months. Worth checking with O2.

Fifer

You aren't entitled to any refund, but there is no harm in asking nicely, politely and humbly, if there is any way your provider might consider charging the bill at the rate of the new contract (pointing out that you know it is your own fault, but that you are a loyal customer of long standing). The worst that can happen is they say no and you are no worse off than you are now.

Herongull

bedpotato wrote: »

I don't think you can legally refuse to pay a bill for calls you have made. You signed a contract and are now legally obliged to pay.

To save you money, I'd just like to point out that if you are paying on average £40 per month for 300 minutes, unlimited texts, and 1GB of data, you are NOT getting a very good deal! I used to be on an O2 contract and then I did some market research and found out I was being ripped off!

You could be on PAYG with the 3 network, and paying a mere £15 per month for 300 minutes, 3000 texts, and unlimited data.

Better still, you could be on PAYG with GiffGAff, and be paying a mere £15 for 400 minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited data, and free calls to any other GiffGaff number.

Since your contract is nearly finished I suggest switching to one of those two networks to save yourself some money (once your O2 contract is finished).



See here http://www.three.co.uk/Store/Pay_As_You_Go_Price_Plans

and here http://giffgaff.com/index/offer

Edit: to prevent going over your limit again, you could try asking O2 if they will cap your calling allowance for you, so that when it runs out you are simply not able to make any more calls.

Ovivo is much cheaper (unless you really need unlimited texts).

You get 150 minutes, 150 texts and 400mb free each month.

If you need 300 minutes in total, then that's a only fiver more ie £5 per month!

If you need even more minutes and texts, get a £10 bundle each month, and after 3 months of topups the free allowance goes up to 200 minutes 200 texts and 500mb. Then after another 3 months of topups the free allowance goes up still further to 250 minutes, 250 text and 600mb free. You can still top this up if you need more eg £5 per month would take this up to 400 minutes, 250 texts and 600mb free.

Why pay more?

cox78

bedpotato wrote: »

I don't think you can legally refuse to pay a bill for calls you have made. You signed a contract and are now legally obliged to pay.

To save you money, I'd just like to point out that if you are paying on average £40 per month for 300 minutes, unlimited texts, and 1GB of data, you are NOT getting a very good deal! I used to be on an O2 contract and then I did some market research and found out I was being ripped off!

You could be on PAYG with the 3 network, and paying a mere £15 per month for 300 minutes, 3000 texts, and unlimited data.

Better still, you could be on PAYG with GiffGAff, and be paying a mere £15 for 400 minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited data, and free calls to any other GiffGaff number.

Since your contract is nearly finished I suggest switching to one of those two networks to save yourself some money (once your O2 contract is finished).



Edit: to prevent going over your limit again, you could try asking O2 if they will cap your calling allowance for you, so that when it runs out you are simply not able to make any more calls.

I wouldn't refuse to pay, if they insist I'll just have to pay up, though I will seriously consider moving on in August when the contract is up because as I've said I'm not happy at being charged £80 for something they can get away with charging £1 extra for.

If they do backdate my tariff change then I'd be more than happy to stay - I think £32 is a good deal for the unlimited calls (any network), unlimited texts and 1gb Internet. I don't like the 3 network at all, was on it many years ago and left after about 3 months, and I know too many people who have struggled with them (mainly lack of service).

cox78

luci wrote: »

As the OP has been put onto a new tariff, it's possible that they have started a new contract of at least 12 months. Worth checking with O2.

I've checked it a couple of times as I thought the same thing, however its still showing August 2013.

Herongull wrote: »

Ovivo is much cheaper (unless you really need unlimited texts).

You get 150 minutes, 150 texts and 400mb free each month.

If you need 300 minutes in total, then that's a only fiver more ie £5 per month!

If you need even more minutes and texts, get a £10 bundle each month, and after 3 months of topups the free allowance goes up to 200 minutes 200 texts and 500mb. Then after another 3 months of topups the free allowance goes up still further to 250 minutes, 250 text and 600mb free. You can still top this up if you need more eg £5 per month would take this up to 400 minutes, 250 texts and 600mb free.

Why pay more?

I'm happy with the £32 per month I'm on now because it means I do get unlimited calls to any network (so I can use that instead of my landline, and never have to worry about going over), and I do use texts quite a bit (though I'm not sure how many). I also want a Galaxy S4 when it comes out and I think I'll be able to get that free on this tariff - I can't afford to get it sim free (I can't really afford to pay anything towards the phone).

Herongull

cox78 wrote: »

I'm happy with the £32 per month I'm on now because it means I do get unlimited calls to any network (so I can use that instead of my landline, and never have to worry about going over), and I do use texts quite a bit (though I'm not sure how many). I also want a Galaxy S4 when it comes out and I think I'll be able to get that free on this tariff - I can't afford to get it sim free (I can't really afford to pay anything towards the phone).

The Galaxy S4 isn't free on your tariff - you are essentially paying for it in these very high monthly charges.

If you moved to a much cheaper monthly tariff you could put the savings into a bank account and then easily afford to buy a handset outright, with plenty of money to spare.

£32*24 months =£768:eek:

You can buy fantastic handsets from much less than £100 these days, so are you really get £768 worth of value out of an S4?

There is also the risk of an expensive phone being lost, stolen or simply breaking.

cox78

Herongull wrote: »

The Galaxy S4 isn't free on your tariff - you are essentially paying for it in these very high monthly charges.

If you moved to a much cheaper monthly tariff you could put the savings into a bank account and then easily afford to buy a handset outright, with plenty of money to spare.

£32*24 months =£768:eek:

You can buy fantastic handsets from much less than £100 these days, so are you really get £768 worth of value out of an S4?

There is also the risk of an expensive phone being lost, stolen or simply breaking.

The problem is if I tried putting money away it would just get spent on other things

If you take into account the price of the tariff you'd still have to pay on a sim only plan it would then reduce the price of the phone anyway. So if I was on a £15 per month plan, that would be £360 over the same period of 24 months, so the phone would actually cost £408. It looks like the S4 will be priced at about £529 sim free, so it would actually be less and spread over a longer period.

I know I could get a cheaper phone, but it wouldn't do what I need it for. In my spare time I develop websites, and as I do this on my own I'm the only person that can provide support so at times while I'm out shopping, on holiday etc, I have to connect into the server remotely to perform admin tasks. I need quite a big screen to do this which the Galaxy S2 I have now offers, and the S4 will be that little bit bigger still and will reduce the need for me to buy a separate expensive tablet. That's my justification for it anyway