O2 Classic 123 (activated in Nov 22) deactivated after no regular top up

savergrant

The t&c's say you will be disconnected, no warning and no option to restore service. and no discrimination as to whether there has been any sort of chargeable activity. Of course it may be that these t&c's don't apply to topups made before they came into effect (and probably no way of finding out when they were last updated.) My guess though is that if you topup from now you accept these t&c's.

k_man

datz said:

k_man said:

While this doesn't appear to impact SIMs already in use (an older SIM is still active), my second SIM, activated and topped up in Nov 22, has been deactivated (and balance lost) even though it has been used.

Interesting post, since it could (potentially) impact me on one of my SIMs.

As far as I am aware, it has always been a chargeable activity every 6 months - but this was changed such that 'chargeable activity' needed to be a phone call (not SMS). This wasn't documented officially anywhere, but seems to be the general concensus on other forums. This is/was regardless of what the latest T&Cs state.

Customer service should be able to reactivate it for you, such that you can keep your number, but they may be difficult about it because they want customers off those older tariffs.

What chargeable activity did you opt for?

My chargeable usage was SMS (as part of my regular keeping other backup SIMs active routine) rather than call, so that may have been the problem.

However CS stated the expired state was due to no top up, rather than no chargeable use/call.
They also said the SIM couldn't be reactivated, and only option was a new SIM and number.

Both the above could have just been CS roulette  

There was also a big push to move to the more convenient, better value monthly contract option....

I declined.

I have other, still working SIMs, but will miss the extra Priority account!

savergrant

Does anyone have a copy of previous t&c's for this tariff? People seem pretty convinced that there was not a requirement for six monthly topups before  I feel that if there is a significant change to your disadvantage you should have the right to a refund of payg credit. If I had topped up £10 in November in the expectation of that credit lasting me over a year I would be pretty miffed to find myself disconnected in June because they have changed the t&c's.  If the t&c"s have been changed how did they communicate this?

virgo17

Just for fun I sent the text to 65075 requesting my PAC for my Classic O2 PAYG. The PAC arrived by text immediately together with a message that after using it I can claim a refund of the remainder of my credit balance.

If that's the case it might make leaving the plan a bit more palatable. I haven't used mine and probably won't do but just offer the above to anyone who might be interested.

Neil_Jones

An offer of a refund of PAYG credit after a PAC is a bonus, not an obligation I believe.  So if the provider doesn't offer to refund PAYG credit when you go away migrate to another company, that's up to them.  Its the risk you take with PAYG and the whole use it or lose it thing.

savergrant

Neil_Jones said:

An offer of a refund of PAYG credit after a PAC is a bonus, not an obligation I believe.  So if the provider doesn't offer to refund PAYG credit when you go away migrate to another company, that's up to them.  Its the risk you take with PAYG and the whole use it or lose it thing.

I am sure there is a getout in their t&c's but if say the minimum topup was £20 and calls were offered at 2p per minute then the day after you topped up the price went up to £1 per minute you would have had a reasonable assumption that you were buying 1000 mins of calls, not 20. Similarly the phrase 'credit never expires so long as you...' if they change the t&c's you SHOULD be entitled to refuse the new terms and receive back unused credit imo.

virgo17

Neil_Jones said:

An offer of a refund of PAYG credit after a PAC is a bonus, not an obligation I believe.

Indeed, and that is the point that it is very unusual and may benefit some people who wish to leave.

savergrant

virgo17 said:

Neil_Jones said:

An offer of a refund of PAYG credit after a PAC is a bonus, not an obligation I believe.

Indeed, and that is the point that it is very unusual and may benefit some people who wish to leave.

virgo17 said:

Neil_Jones said:

An offer of a refund of PAYG credit after a PAC is a bonus, not an obligation I believe.

Indeed, and that is the point that it is very unusual and may benefit some people who wish to leave.

Asdamobile dud it when quadrupling (375% technically) their prices, albeit as a voucher to spend at asda. But to me it is a bit like buying a loaf of bread and after paying for it the cashier takes the middle out and leaves you with the crusts, then telling you that you haven't paid for a loaf of bread, just an amount of bread of their choosing.

Neil_Jones

savergrant said:

Neil_Jones said:

An offer of a refund of PAYG credit after a PAC is a bonus, not an obligation I believe.  So if the provider doesn't offer to refund PAYG credit when you go away migrate to another company, that's up to them.  Its the risk you take with PAYG and the whole use it or lose it thing.

I am sure there is a getout in their t&c's but if say the minimum topup was £20 and calls were offered at 2p per minute then the day after you topped up the price went up to £1 per minute you would have had a reasonable assumption that you were buying 1000 mins of calls, not 20. Similarly the phrase 'credit never expires so long as you...' if they change the t&c's you SHOULD be entitled to refuse the new terms and receive back unused credit imo.

Not a far comparison for PAYG because if you buy a pack/goodie bag/bundle/add-on/<whatever> to get 1000 minutes, you'll get 1000 minutes of calls because you're not charged per minute like you are on PAYG.  Most of the time if you get a bag/bundle/<whatever> on PAYG that is deducted from your credit.

What you "should" be entitled to and what you "are" entitled to are two entirely different things.

savergrant

My point is that if topups are non-refundable the provider should honour the t&c's and rates in force at the time of ropup. I actually fell foul of 1pmobioe's round-up policy in 2020 after topping up £30.