O2 Removed F&F Discount!!

burnsythedude

So frustrated...

My wife's mate's husband convinced me to go to O2 on the basis that I used his F&F discount to gain 30% off my contract. Of course I moved from T-Mobile. Why wouldn't you? The result was a free iPhone 4 on an 18 month contract for approx £38/month with pretty much unlimited everything. I use a lot of everything.

18 months later and it's time for my contract to be renewed. I used one of the official methods (call, website or shop) to upgrade by using the website due to it's convenience. I upgraded to an iPhone 5 with unlimited everything for approx the same monthly cost, assuming the F&F discount still applied. When it came to bill time, the discount had miraculously disappeared.

To cut a long story short O2 are refusing to reapply the F&F discount to my account. I am now locked in to a 2 year contract where I have to pay £50 a month. I was better off at t mobile!

I tried ringing them but they say they can't help. They told me to go through my "friend" through official admin routes. When I did this they incorrectly accused me of upgrading through carphone warehouse! What actually happned was that they were out of stock so instructed carphone warehouse to deliver an iphone 5 tome on their behalf. Once it was established that I didn't actually go through carphone warehouse, they simply severed communications saying "we are not reapplying the discount to your account". My 'friend' has strangely gone silent on the matter. I have tried ringing them back and all they say is that I should have gone through my 'friend'. I told them I tried and it resulted in a dead end.

I have nothing in writing to say any upgrade has to go through my friend but that is what they keep telling me when I call them. I told them we tried going down that route but their response ended with "we are not going to reapply your discount" with no real explanation why. Between now and the end of my contract I will be paying O2 in excess of £800, about £250 more than I was on before the upgrade.

Can I do something about this or should I cancel my direct debit, and take my chances legally saying that O2 have broken their side of the deal by enticing me to the company then charging me a higher price without my agreement, effectively bringing me on false presences and as a result breaking their side of the contract?

Feel completely cheated, disappointed, let down and frustrated.

anotheruser

If you "upgrade" you technically get a brand new deal, so any previous discounts are removed. They have to be re-negotiated to keep them. I hate the term "renew" or "upgrade" really as you don't upgrade or renew anything, you get a new one for a new term.

Where did you actually make the deal? Over the phone or in store?
Did you sign a contract?

I am also surprised you remember T-Mobile after an 18 month contract. Why not consider other operators?

You could go down the "mis-sold" route but that is thin ice and likely you will fall through.
To be fair, as you are using your "friends" deal, then you don't have much to stand on as that "deal" isn't really yours to have and your friend could get into trouble for allowing you access, especially if it is unique to them.

However, I am sure the price would have been agreed with you prior to taking out the contract and as you chose an iPhone, then of course the cost will be steep. Next time, don't follow the drones and get a phone which works in (more or less) the same way.

HeadAboveWater

As above.

burnsythedude wrote: »

I upgraded to an iPhone 5 with unlimited everything for approx the same monthly cost, assuming the F&F discount still applied.

I'm guessing this is when the problem started.

burnsythedude

So are you saying I have to simply accept? What a crazy world we live in where they can entice you with a discount, dangle an upgrade under your nose, and then simply remove the thing they offered you to come in the first place. Regardless of whether or not this is contractually allowed, it is not right.

burnsythedude

HeadAboveWater wrote: »

As above.



I'm guessing this is when the problem started.

My choice of words wasn't correct. What I should have said was that I had no reason to think my F&F discount would be removed.

burnsythedude

I know this makes no difference but I was with T-Mobile for years, had F&F, upgraded several times, yet never had to fear for my discount which remained on my account all the way through.

Can I get out of my contract? Is there any way?

chanz4

only if they stated the discount on the upgrade call

mije1983

burnsythedude wrote: »

What a crazy world we live in where they can entice you with a discount, dangle an upgrade under your nose, and then simply remove the thing they offered you to come in the first place.

When you arranged the upgrade, did you ask them if the F&F discount would remain? If not, I can't see how they have enticed you to upgrade and then changed the price?

Also, does the fact that the friend has gone 'strangely silent' not make you a bit suspicious? After all, he was the one who convinced you to go for it 18 months ago.

Could it be that he is no longer entitled to the discount which is why you no longer get it? Or possibly something more sinister?

MisterBrico

If you did it online and the tariff said £50/month and made no mention of a discount and you agreed to the £50 tariff then unfortunately it is not O2's fault.