02 in a win/win situation

morrowind

Hello, this is my first post so go easy on me.

Ive been an 02 customer for the last 5 years on differing contracts with the same number. I am having financial problems at the moment and can't really afford the £20 a month contract phone. As my finances and resources to pay the bills has gone up and down so to has my ability to pay 02 on time each month. This has led to a number of disconnections and reconnections to the service.
My problem is that if i continue to keep the 02 contract then the charges for the reconnections and late payments will not be levyied on my account. However if i choose to get rid of my contract phone to go on pay-as-you-go then all the charges will be placed on my account (which amount to over £200) before i am allowed to cancel it.
This to me is like holding me against my will. 'If u stay with us we'll be your best friend, but if u leave we will jump on your head'.
Surely there must be something slightly illegal going on here.
My current contract expired in december 2006 and i haven't renewed it so apart from the £200 hanging around my neck i am a free agent.

Help!.......anybody!

Thankyou

dellboy102

I'm not against charges, but these sound excessive, maybe try negotiating to lower the £200?.

Are you with CPW, if your not tied into a minimum term contract then you should try ringing the disconnections dept, that way maybe you can keep the contract + get a much better/cheaper deal.

Good luck

esuhl

That definitely sounds unusual. It might be worth giving Ofcom a call to see if they can help get the charges cancelled (if they're breaking industry regulations, for example). Their number is 020 7981 3040.

digp

send an email to Matthew.key at o2.com about this