O2 17.5% price increase - more like 42.5%

dangerousdowning

Just spotted the 17.5% price increase in my daughters O2 bill this month. Then found the MSE article on this (won't let me post the link).
It states that its an airtime only price increase, but that simply isn't true.
I signed up for a 24 month contract for an iPhone 13, with no upfront cost, at £37 per month. The billing is structured in such a way, that there is no spit between the airtime cost and that hardware cost you're essentially repaying over the duration of the contract. 
Therefore, the monthly cost has now jumped to £43.40.
If I take a current comparable SIM only contract at £15 per month, then my monthly price increase is more like a 42.5%!!
This is a complete con.
We all look at what a contact will cost over its duration, which heavily influences our decision making and then they put up the prices to whatever they can get away with. 
It's so wrong and something needs to be done. If you sign up for contact and 12, 18 or 24 months, then it should stay fixed for that duration.

southsidergs

So you have a joint device & sim contract not separate ones? If that's the case it's not a con it's what you agreed too!

dangerousdowning

southsidergs said:

So you have a joint device & sim contract not separate ones? If that's the case it's not a con it's what you agreed too!

Correct, joint device & sim contract. However, the device is not a service and therefore I believe that an increase in the cost of this part of it is unwarranted.
Yes, I signed a contract, but that mean the consumer should be screwed over in this fashion.   

southsidergs

It's the way it's worked across all mobile providers over the years until the recent split options. Nobody is saying it's right bolt ultimately you're not going to get anywhere as it's in the t&c's that the price will increase & it's not split out for different things.

BUFF

when & through whom did you take this out?
O2's own contracts are generally set up with separate device & airtime components.