Phone smart / plan.com phone contract scam

soolin

born_again said:

Bjjb said:

Phonepartner said:

savergrant said:

The bit I don't understand is the partner gave them a pac. Op doesn't say which network partner was leaving, but if they were with o2 already why give 'o2' the pac?

My partner was with o2, the person called them and said they were from o2 (which was not true) and calling about my partner’s contract renewal. My partner’s contract was coming to an end soon so they thought it was someone from o2. They gave them the PAC code because they didn’t realise they shouldn’t do this and had a lapse in judgment.

The person did not explain what my partner was signing up for in terms of minutes, costs, etc. while plan.com may be a real company, they sold my partner a phone contract through deceptive means. 

Exactly the same is happening to me right now. Until 3 weeks ago, I'd never heard of Plan.com or Phone Smart. Had some sort of communication from someone (can't find it in my email or messages, it may even have been a cold call. It happened the day after I'd moved house so was quite stressed. They told me my 3 year contract with 02 was coming to an end. (Only 02 should know that, even I didn't know 'cus I've been with 02 for 20+ years and just carry on with them, unlimited texts and calls, which is more than enough for me). Genuinely thought I was speaking to 02 and only wished just carry on as always. Last thing on my mind was shopping around for mobile phone deals! It's dawned on me recently that plan.com is for business. I am not a businessman, never have been a businessman, in fact I'm on benefits through I'll health (and these people are interfering with my recovery, but presumably they're on commission so who cares?)
 I truly didn't understand a word that was being spoken, she spoke so unbelievably quickly, giving me no time to think or ask questions. The noise in the background was deafening. The only real sense I made of it is that they are partners with 02, but not quite 02. I just thought that they were probably handling 02's finances maybe. The business world confuses me, parent companies, trusted partners, sister companies, puc codes, platforms, it means nothing to me. I only phone my two children, my grandchildren and my pastor for goodness sake! Never did she say the contract was for business. It's exactly the opposite to what I wanted, what I had, and what they so wickedly took from me.  It may be considered my fault , no matter, I'm a vulnerable adult who was already at breaking point with the house move! Tried to call plan.com several times, and they will not budge an inch, always pulling you back to what they wish to say, or ignoring your well worded clear questions, all presumably to avoid telling you the truth. Is this how business is done now, in a nightclub (noise reference),one saying everything they've been told to say, speaking far too fast for you to understand, in a language that you're certain you once understood,  being sold something that you neither wanted or asked for! Absolutely appalling! 02 have passed it onto their fraud department, heard nothing yet! 

One thing to remember is that you control the call. Do not understand them, busy or stressed. Simply end the call, or if unrecognised number. Don't answer. If it's important they will leave a voice mail.

That is actually a good thing to remember, if you feel stressed or bullied, or can’t understand the caller clearly enough then just hang up. 

A scammer works either by being really really friendly, your new best friend, or tries to confuse you with lots of noise, talking quickly , asking questions, frightening you into thinking something needs to be done immediately. 

Musley

I have just fallen victim of this.
My contract was about to expire and a call came through claiming to be from O2.
I accepted the new deal, but then received a text from O2 saying sorry you are leaving us.
It turns out that I'm now the customer of plan.com.
My direct debit is more than they said it would be and also less data.
Should I cancel the direct debit?
I have been mis sold a contract, which they say is for 36 months.
Any help or advice will be appreciated.
Thanks.

Musley

Bjjb said:

Phonepartner said:

savergrant said:

The bit I don't understand is the partner gave them a pac. Op doesn't say which network partner was leaving, but if they were with o2 already why give 'o2' the pac?

My partner was with o2, the person called them and said they were from o2 (which was not true) and calling about my partner’s contract renewal. My partner’s contract was coming to an end soon so they thought it was someone from o2. They gave them the PAC code because they didn’t realise they shouldn’t do this and had a lapse in judgment.

The person did not explain what my partner was signing up for in terms of minutes, costs, etc. while plan.com may be a real company, they sold my partner a phone contract through deceptive means. 

Exactly the same is happening to me right now. Until 3 weeks ago, I'd never heard of Plan.com or Phone Smart. Had some sort of communication from someone (can't find it in my email or messages, it may even have been a cold call. It happened the day after I'd moved house so was quite stressed. They told me my 3 year contract with 02 was coming to an end. (Only 02 should know that, even I didn't know 'cus I've been with 02 for 20+ years and just carry on with them, unlimited texts and calls, which is more than enough for me). Genuinely thought I was speaking to 02 and only wished just carry on as always. Last thing on my mind was shopping around for mobile phone deals! It's dawned on me recently that plan.com is for business. I am not a businessman, never have been a businessman, in fact I'm on benefits through I'll health (and these people are interfering with my recovery, but presumably they're on commission so who cares?)
 I truly didn't understand a word that was being spoken, she spoke so unbelievably quickly, giving me no time to think or ask questions. The noise in the background was deafening. The only real sense I made of it is that they are partners with 02, but not quite 02. I just thought that they were probably handling 02's finances maybe. The business world confuses me, parent companies, trusted partners, sister companies, puc codes, platforms, it means nothing to me. I only phone my two children, my grandchildren and my pastor for goodness sake! Never did she say the contract was for business. It's exactly the opposite to what I wanted, what I had, and what they so wickedly took from me.  It may be considered my fault , no matter, I'm a vulnerable adult who was already at breaking point with the house move! Tried to call plan.com several times, and they will not budge an inch, always pulling you back to what they wish to say, or ignoring your well worded clear questions, all presumably to avoid telling you the truth. Is this how business is done now, in a nightclub (noise reference),one saying everything they've been told to say, speaking far too fast for you to understand, in a language that you're certain you once understood,  being sold something that you neither wanted or asked for! Absolutely appalling! 02 have passed it onto their fraud department, heard nothing yet! 

Hi
How has this panned out as I have fallen victim to this.
See above post.
Thanks.

born_again

@Musley

poster you are quoting made one post & has never returned since Oct 26, 2023

Alextydeman

I have been scammed also. 

I was made to believe to be signing up a new cheaper deal with O2. However, this morning I realised that my account with O2 was terminated without my consent, and I have been left now without signal and unable to use my mobile phone. I have contacted O2 Fraud team and they told me that this will be investigated and it will take 5 working days. Therefore I will have no phone access for during period.

O2 have not been helpful, I have made the call at 9:30am today and Im still on the phone (partner’s phone) with the 7th person on the line right now.

I just don’t understand why this wasn’t picked up. Fraud team that doesn’t pick fraud. 

Also why my account was terminated without my consent?
If I go outside and more some reason I need to make 999 call I am not able to

why cant O2 allow me to walk to the store and provide me with a temporary phone until this gets sorted. 

O2 is the biggest let down I have ever experienced so far.

I apologise for the ranting but I am stuck now and I dont know what to do tbh.
 

Any thoughts would be appreciated, thank you

born_again

Alextydeman said:

I have been scammed also. 

I was made to believe to be signing up a new cheaper deal with O2. However, this morning I realised that my account with O2 was terminated without my consent, and I have been left now without signal and unable to use my mobile phone. I have contacted O2 Fraud team and they told me that this will be investigated and it will take 5 working days. Therefore I will have no phone access for during period.

O2 have not been helpful, I have made the call at 9:30am today and Im still on the phone (partner’s phone) with the 7th person on the line right now.

I just don’t understand why this wasn’t picked up. Fraud team that doesn’t pick fraud. 

Also why my account was terminated without my consent?
If I go outside and more some reason I need to make 999 call I am not able to

why cant O2 allow me to walk to the store and provide me with a temporary phone until this gets sorted. 

O2 is the biggest let down I have ever experienced so far.

I apologise for the ranting but I am stuck now and I dont know what to do tbh.
 

Any thoughts would be appreciated, thank you

Sadly as far as 02 go, you gave this company your consent to change. As per your 1st line.
Fraud teams can only investigate, they can not stop legitimate transfers when consent has been given.

savergrant

What information have you received about this cheaper contract? Have you received a sim and does it work?
Did the person calling you misrepresent themselves as working for o2, or simply want to talk about your o2 contract? Did they know your current monthly payment? What is the minimum term of the deal you agreed? It sounds as though you gave them consent to cancel your existing contract, otherwise you wouldn't be saving, whether they tricked you into doing so is possibly debatable.

eskbanker

Alextydeman said:

why cant O2 allow me to walk to the store and provide me with a temporary phone until this gets sorted. 

As above, you may consider O2 to be at fault, but it's unlikely that they agree, so if you're desperate to have a working phone, why don't you just go and get a PAYG SIM to tide you over, i.e. there's presumably no need for another handset?

Cary34

AVOID!!!! AVOID!!! AVOID Plan.com & Prestige

They are liars, they promise you good tariffs without mention the VAT and miss lead you to sign contracts for 36 months and charge you exorbitant fees, I was paying 60.00£ for 33GB of data I had to buy a Tesco sim card witch just cost me £10 a month for 32GB of data. I am paying my FEES of £544 and leaving them, only way to get rid of them, the "Fees are cheaper" then what they are going to cost you on a long run. I don't understand how this people still operating in the UK, they are based on the Isle of Man, tax avoidance and if that's not enough looks like the greed to rip off people have no limits, they are the one who breach the contracts by lying to people and their hidden fees.   

suzigzag

I have become a victim to this myself recently. 

Has there been any outcome or way out for others?

I am trying to use my consumer right to a 14-day cooling off period but they're refusing because I am 'still with O2' as didn't need a new SIM or number and I'm using the O2 network still. My contract is now with Plan.com and Supplier is Phone-Smart.

I feel incredibly stupid for getting roped in, but like so many others I was under the impression I was talking to O2 (which was my provider). They didn't ask for much personal information - they already had it!