Virgin to O2 migration - monthly rolling contract 1 year on

speedysaver

I was previously on a Virgin SIM only deal paying about £8 per month.

When migrating to O2 I was put on their most closely matched deal at the same tariff as I’d paid at Virgin.

It now appears that the way that the tariff was matched was by applying a discount which, after 12 months, disappears and the deal reverts to the standard O2 rate of just over £30 per month.

I called them this morning but their customer service couldn’t do anything to help (the excuse being that they couldn’t see the Virgin Contract…..)

Thanks to MSE I fairly quickly found a new tariff that’s better and cheaper but surely O2 can’t do this - it’s a breach of the contract I had with with Virgin (where Virgin is, of course, now O2).  Anyone else in this situation, a year after migration?

katejo

I was also with Virgin on a SIM only and now on O2. I haven't yet seen a sudden increase like this. How did you find out about it? Did you get a text or email? 

flaneurs_lobster

A "monthly rolling contract" is just that, the customer can cancel at any time by giving a month's notice and the supplier can change the terms to anything they like by giving a month's notice (which is what they've done albeit after a year). 

You've exercised your rights by ending the arrangement, why do you thing a contract has been broken?

speedysaver

flaneurs_lobster said:

A "monthly rolling contract" is just that, the customer can cancel at any time by giving a month's notice and the supplier can change the terms to anything they like by giving a month's notice (which is what they've done albeit after a year). 

You've exercised your rights by ending the arrangement, why do you thing a contract has been broken?

There’s a clause in the contract (and in many other mobile contracts) saying that the maximum increase is CPI+4%. If what you say is true, the clause capping the rate increases is worthless - how would I go about enforcing this clause? (In this case O2 didn’t cancel the contract, they simply increased the price)

born_again

Would help is OP said which tariff they were on.
As only Sim only 02 @ £30 (just over) is the unlimited one.
Cheapest is 1 gig @ £18. Both are 12 month contracts.

speedysaver

born_again said:

Would help is OP said which tariff they were on.
As only Sim only 02 @ £30 (just over) is the unlimited one.
Cheapest is 1 gig @ £18. Both are 12 month contracts.

I was on 5GB/month, SIM only, rolling monthly.

Current available rates are very different. I got 6GB for £6.99 online (via MSE) this morning for 12 months (with increase capped at CPI+3.9% - I’m still interested in whether that clause is worth anything!)

flaneurs_lobster

O2 did not increase the price by more than CPI + 4%, they removed a 12 month discount (and then probably increased the price by CPI + 4%). 

Of course O2 didn't cancel the contract, why would they? You say

"It now appears that the way that the tariff was matched was by applying a discount which, after 12 months, disappears....."

If this was not in the T&C's that you agreed to when the contract was set up then you have a legitimate grievance, but I bet it was.

speedysaver

flaneurs_lobster said:

O2 did not increase the price by more than CPI + 4%, they removed a 12 month discount (and then probably increased the price by CPI + 4%). 

Of course O2 didn't cancel the contract, why would they? You say

"It now appears that the way that the tariff was matched was by applying a discount which, after 12 months, disappears....."

If this was not in the T&C's that you agreed to when the contract was set up then you have a legitimate grievance, but I bet it was.

This was the e-mail describing the switch.  No mention of discount, simply fixed for 12 months and increasing by RPI+3.9% thereafter

speedysaver

As I mentioned, I fortunately spotted the increase before being charged way too much and I’m now on a better deal so no big deal for me but I was interested in whether (a) O2 could do this and (b) whether others should be aware.

flaneurs_lobster

speedysaver said:

As I mentioned, I fortunately spotted the increase before being charged way too much and I’m now on a better deal so no big deal for me but I was interested in whether (a) O2 could do this and (b) whether others should be aware.

I think you've got a good point. What's under the "Please click here ....." link?

speedysaver

flaneurs_lobster said:

speedysaver said:

As I mentioned, I fortunately spotted the increase before being charged way too much and I’m now on a better deal so no big deal for me but I was interested in whether (a) O2 could do this and (b) whether others should be aware.

I think you've got a good point. What's under the "Please click here ....." link?

It’s a link to the O2 ‘Accounts and Billing’, ‘Help and support’. Not particularly helpful.

I’m new to the Forum, so not yet able to post the link - here it is as a picture