Debt Management : How to switch O2 to cheaper contract

rajeshk4u

I am helping someone who is struggling with his phone bill. He has n't paid this month's bill.

Currently: With O2 paying about £50p/m air plan (unlimited min text and 30Gb internet. Plus £25 p/m for handset. So £75 p/m
Contract ends October.


I have tried to help him out and tried to speak to O2. The SIM only deal from o2, is around £20 for 20GB. This he can manage.

However, O2 are being difficult and insist he pay's off the remaining amount owning on the handset which is £125 all in one go. Which is nuts. He can't pay £75, but they expect him to pay £125 (handset bill) plus £20 for new-sim only deal. Effectively, their argument, is this is a 'new contract'.

I spoke to customer services, but they were not helpful. They logged a complaint, however he will get called in 5 days.

He is a heavy internet mobile user, so needs around 15GB plus a little extra.

I told O2, they are ripping him, as he is paying around £50p/m for air time, yet similar sim-only deals are cheaper....

How can I help him out?

Neil_Jones

Well if he's in contract with o2 until October and wants to terminate it early, don't be surprised if they want it to be paid off or apply termination fees. That's how these things work.

You can do better than o2 though, I note Three have a deal on the website, Unlimited data £11.00 a month for six months, rising to £22 after that, 24 month Unlimited minutes Unlimited texts - signal permitting of course. Whether that will still be there in October though...

rajeshk4u

Well if he's in contract with o2 until October and wants to terminate it early, don't be surprised if they want it to be paid off or apply termination fees.

They were willing to close off the air plan. So that was n't an issue.

I did suggest Three, but he was worried about quality of internet. The internet is important to him.

Frozen_up_north

rajeshk4u wrote: »

I did suggest Three, but he was worried about quality of internet. The internet is important to him.

And he’s currently on O2 :rotfl:

Myself and my OH are both on those Three unlimited everything (inc unlimited tethering) £20/month SIM only contracts. There is nothing wrong with Three in terms of speed or coverage, but equally it is important to check coverage and capacity where you use the phone regularly.

The bigger issue is avoiding a trashed credit rating as a result of defaults in paying the existing bill. It sounds like someone wasn’t doing their arithmetic when signing up for £75/month for a phone!

[Deleted User]

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

And he’s currently on O2 :rotfl:

Obviously it is dependant on your particular location but generally speaking O2 has better coverage and probably better quality signal than Three.

JJ_Egan

Debt can he not do without the internet for a couple of months ??

sdduk

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Obviously it is dependant on your particular location but generally speaking O2 has better coverage and probably better quality signal than Three.

RUBBISH crap where i live and i know because my son is on o2 and me and the wife are on Three and signal is great.

d123

rajeshk4u wrote: »

I am helping someone who is struggling with his phone bill. He has n't paid this month's bill.

Currently: With O2 paying about £50p/m air plan (unlimited min text and 30Gb internet. Plus £25 p/m for handset. So £75 p/m
Contract ends October.


I have tried to help him out and tried to speak to O2. The SIM only deal from o2, is around £20 for 20GB. This he can manage.

However, O2 are being difficult and insist he pay's off the remaining amount owning on the handset which is £125 all in one go. Which is nuts. He can't pay £75, but they expect him to pay £125 (handset bill) plus £20 for new-sim only deal. Effectively, their argument, is this is a 'new contract'.

I spoke to customer services, but they were not helpful. They logged a complaint, however he will get called in 5 days.

He is a heavy internet mobile user, so needs around 15GB plus a little extra.

I told O2, they are ripping him, as he is paying around £50p/m for air time, yet similar sim-only deals are cheaper....

How can I help him out?

Sounds like he’s on O2 Refresh, they are correct that he has to pay off the handset loan to cancel the airtime and it’s two separate contracts.

One of the terms of the loan is keeping the airtime contract and paying the handset off if you want to terminate the airtime contract.

[Deleted User]

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Obviously it is dependant on your particular location but generally speaking O2 has better coverage and probably better quality signal than Three.

sdduk wrote: »

RUBBISH crap where i live and i know because my son is on o2 and me and the wife are on Three and signal is great.

Ask someone to explain the phrase "Obviously it is dependant on your particular location" to you :rotfl: