Large O2 'data call' charge

redux

RallyJ wrote: »

The thing is, I had already paid for the full month line rental. I didn't expect O2 to refund any of that - as far as I was aware I could make use of my usual full allowance. Had I known they would refund it, I could have ported my number over to Vodafone about 9/10 days earlier and got a larger refund for the line rental. But because I had already paid for the month up front, I thought I would make the most out of it and at least make use of my data allowance. As soon as I received the text message telling me I had used 80% of my monthly allowance, my number was ported to Vodafone the following day.

Then I get a bill for over £100 for apparently going massively over the data allowance as they subsequently opted to refund the line rental and apply a pro-rata rate to the data allowance!

Don't get me wrong - I've never had any issues with O2 in the 10 or so years that I had a contract with them. But I find this extremely unfair.

The contract ends on the day that you chose, by using the PAC to transfer out.

They can't charge you line rental after the end of the contract. Note that there may be 30 days notice to end some contracts, but use of the PAC overrides this and cancels on that day.

They have charged pro rata for part of a month, and the included bundle is also proportionalised.

As we've already said, explain your misunderstanding of this to them, and perhaps there could be a goodwill refund of part of the charge.

RallyJ

mobilejunkie wrote: »

I would at least ask beforehand. Why do you think you have to give 30 days' notice? If the end of the 30 days falls mid-bundle date (which it will at least 29 out of 30 times) you can't expect to get a full months' allowance. Apart from anything else, it's common sense. It's also the same with all monthly mobile contracts and is a pretty obvious calculation. It's also the same when you start a contract, between the start date and the first bundle date.

That's the thing...I didn't get 30 days. I had requested the PAC a couple of days into the new month's billing period. I assumed that the contract/services would effectively end at the next billing period as I had already paid up to that point. Hence why I wanted to make use of the allowance and didn't use the PAC code until after I received the text telling me I was nearing my data limit. (I could have use the PAC straight away as my new contract had already started.)

Anyway, we're going around in circles now. It is what it is. Appreciate all the information but I still stand by what I said - I had paid for the month and expected to avail of that month's allowance.

Please remember not all of us are 'mobile junkies' and know these fine details. Obviously I'll remember this in the future and hopefully the thread helps others too.

RallyJ

redux wrote: »

They can't charge you line rental after the end of the contract. Note that there may be 30 days notice to end some contracts, but use of the PAC overrides this and cancels on that day.

That explains that then. Thank you.

mobilejunkie

RallyJ wrote: »

That's the thing...I didn't get 30 days. I had requested the PAC a couple of days into the new month's billing period. I assumed that the contract/services would effectively end at the next billing period as I had already paid up to that point. Hence why I wanted to make use of the allowance and didn't use the PAC code until after I received the text telling me I was nearing my data limit. (I could have use the PAC straight away as my new contract had already started.)

Anyway, we're going around in circles now. It is what it is. Appreciate all the information but I still stand by what I said - I had paid for the month and expected to avail of that month's allowance.


Please remember not all of us are 'mobile junkies' and know these fine details. Obviously I'll remember this in the future and hopefully the thread helps others too.

You can stand by anything you like; it doesn't make your position right. Regarding not getting your 30 days - that would depend on when you exercised the PAC; you'd pay for it regardless. It seems you've learned very little. As for mobile junkies - I started somewhere and worked out what I was doing before embarking on my first contract - not 10 years afterwards.

RallyJ

mobilejunkie wrote: »

You can stand by anything you like; it doesn't make your position right. Regarding not getting your 30 days - that would depend on when you exercised the PAC; you'd pay for it regardless. It seems you've learned very little. As for mobile junkies - I started somewhere and worked out what I was doing before embarking on my first contract - not 10 years afterwards.

Good for you. :T

pmduk

If you 've learned nothing from this experience, please keep track of your usage against the network's stated allowance. That would have avoided the whole situation. All of the main networks allow you to do this.

RallyJ

pmduk wrote: »

If you 've learned nothing from this experience, please keep track of your usage against the network's stated allowance. That would have avoided the whole situation. All of the main networks allow you to do this.

I always have done. My monthly bills were never any more than £25/£30. I didn't do anything different on this occasion. As explained earlier I switched networks as soon as I received the text from O2 telling me I had used 80% of my data for that month. Unfortunately I didn't know they would refund the remaining line rental and apply a pro rata rate once I used the PAC code. So the 80% data usage changed to approx 160% at that point.

RallyJ

I'm happy to report that O2 has scrapped this data charge in its entirety.

Thank you, O2.

Kernel_Sanders

mobilejunkie wrote: »

Had you read through either the t&c or the information on this forum first you wouldn't be crying over spilt milk now.

Does it say in those T & Cs that it would be pro-rated if you gave them early notification of your intention to end the contract?

es5595

RallyJ wrote: »

I'm happy to report that O2 has scrapped this data charge in its entirety.

Thank you, O2.

Thank you for coming back to update your thread.

Sorry about all the negativity on here, I'm sure they're lovely people and they don't mean to be so rude and arrogant, or just don't realise how they come across.

I understood what you were saying, and your comprehension, perfectly well, and obviously O2 did, hence why they've given you a full refund.