31.25% April 2026 Price Increase from O2

bjorn_toby_wilde

oldernonethewiser said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

Mike_from_Croydon said:

I agree with the original poster, it's absurd to have a flat rate increase regardless of the amount currently paid.  I was on a deal which follows on from one I got with Virgin (via MSE) paying £7.16 per month (10G and unlimited minutes, with roaming in Europe).  So my increase would have been 35%!  Whether or not this is a consequence of Martin Lewis' "good intentions gone bad", it has had the good effect of prompting me to transfer to another provider (Lebara on a comparable deal, obtainable until 7 Nov via MSE) which will be £1.99 to start - and even when it increases it will be £5.90, less than I was paying even before O2's planned increase!

Make sure your email (especially webmail) security is the very best and your bank accounts and credit cards protected by 2FA and passkeys if you’re moving to Lebara.

Not bad advice in general but is there an known issue with Lebara?

I was with Lebara until Monday when they sent out a SIM for my phone to a scammer.

I had a phone call from their customer service team on Saturday asking if I’d requested a replacement SIM card. I told them I definitely hadn’t but it seems they sent one out to a scammer at a different address anyway.  On Monday my phone lost signal and that was quickly followed by attempts to access my bank and credit card.

My banks were brilliant and no money was taken because the scammer didn’t pass security.  He breezed through at Lebara though.

My complaint is ongoing, but if you google Lebara sim swap fraud you’ll see other examples.  This kind of fraud is more and more common and happens with all mobile providers to some extent, but you would want your mobile provider to be very alert to the possibility and have the strongest possible security.

iamnotasoldier

Just jumping on here with a quick question - is the 30 days right to cancel from when you receive the notification of price increase eg email, or from when they implement the increase ie 1st April? 
Spoke to O2 earlier & told me to contact them mid March to discuss, as they couldn't do anything now with my contract, as it already had a discount applied. I'm thinking " are they trying to pull a fast one so 30 days has expired by March & I'll have penalties!"
Note also as a gesture of goodwill they applied £5 credit to my account. Was a distraction tactic???

liviboy

Does anyone know if we need to actually call up to cancel or if we can just text for a PAC to avoid early termination fees?

GadgetGuru

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

oldernonethewiser said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

Mike_from_Croydon said:

I agree with the original poster, it's absurd to have a flat rate increase regardless of the amount currently paid.  I was on a deal which follows on from one I got with Virgin (via MSE) paying £7.16 per month (10G and unlimited minutes, with roaming in Europe).  So my increase would have been 35%!  Whether or not this is a consequence of Martin Lewis' "good intentions gone bad", it has had the good effect of prompting me to transfer to another provider (Lebara on a comparable deal, obtainable until 7 Nov via MSE) which will be £1.99 to start - and even when it increases it will be £5.90, less than I was paying even before O2's planned increase!

Make sure your email (especially webmail) security is the very best and your bank accounts and credit cards protected by 2FA and passkeys if you’re moving to Lebara.

Not bad advice in general but is there an known issue with Lebara?

I was with Lebara until Monday when they sent out a SIM for my phone to a scammer.

I had a phone call from their customer service team on Saturday asking if I’d requested a replacement SIM card. I told them I definitely hadn’t but it seems they sent one out to a scammer at a different address anyway.  On Monday my phone lost signal and that was quickly followed by attempts to access my bank and credit card.

My banks were brilliant and no money was taken because the scammer didn’t pass security.  He breezed through at Lebara though.

My complaint is ongoing, but if you google Lebara sim swap fraud you’ll see other examples.  This kind of fraud is more and more common and happens with all mobile providers to some extent, but you would want your mobile provider to be very alert to the possibility and have the strongest possible security.

Well I just ordered 3 Lebara SIM cards to move 3 of my 4 O2 lines across! 
Now I'm wondering what I should do and whether I should just cancel them.

Are Lebara more vulnerable to this scam compared to other networks?

Wonder if I should stick with O2 for now, as my contracts are up for renewal 27 Mar 2026, so I could change them before the price increase - maybe even another 12 month deal if they tempt me enough - and keep doing that every 12 months just before the price increases......

jonnyb

Secblat said:

I moved to O2 because it is the only major provider that includes EU roaming. Fear i may have to stick with them for that reason. Does anyone have other suggestions?

Smarty have EU roaming, up to 12GB. If you think that's enough, they are a great option. They use the vodafone and 3 network. Our family have 4 plans with them, in a family group. And now this O2 price rise has come around, I am about to move a fifth number to Smarty.

PHK

GadgetGuru said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

oldernonethewiser said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

Mike_from_Croydon said:

I agree with the original poster, it's absurd to have a flat rate increase regardless of the amount currently paid.  I was on a deal which follows on from one I got with Virgin (via MSE) paying £7.16 per month (10G and unlimited minutes, with roaming in Europe).  So my increase would have been 35%!  Whether or not this is a consequence of Martin Lewis' "good intentions gone bad", it has had the good effect of prompting me to transfer to another provider (Lebara on a comparable deal, obtainable until 7 Nov via MSE) which will be £1.99 to start - and even when it increases it will be £5.90, less than I was paying even before O2's planned increase!

Make sure your email (especially webmail) security is the very best and your bank accounts and credit cards protected by 2FA and passkeys if you’re moving to Lebara.

Not bad advice in general but is there an known issue with Lebara?

I was with Lebara until Monday when they sent out a SIM for my phone to a scammer.

I had a phone call from their customer service team on Saturday asking if I’d requested a replacement SIM card. I told them I definitely hadn’t but it seems they sent one out to a scammer at a different address anyway.  On Monday my phone lost signal and that was quickly followed by attempts to access my bank and credit card.

My banks were brilliant and no money was taken because the scammer didn’t pass security.  He breezed through at Lebara though.

My complaint is ongoing, but if you google Lebara sim swap fraud you’ll see other examples.  This kind of fraud is more and more common and happens with all mobile providers to some extent, but you would want your mobile provider to be very alert to the possibility and have the strongest possible security.

Well I just ordered 3 Lebara SIM cards to move 3 of my 4 O2 lines across! 
Now I'm wondering what I should do and whether I should just cancel them.

Are Lebara more vulnerable to this scam compared to other networks?

Wonder if I should stick with O2 for now, as my contracts are up for renewal 27 Mar 2026, so I could change them before the price increase - maybe even another 12 month deal if they tempt me enough - and keep doing that every 12 months just before the price increases......

I know several people myself included who had a poor experience with Lebara. They claim that your payment failed and, if you phone up, will try again in 24 hours. There is no reason the payment should have failed. The payment then goes through in 24hours. 

The problem being that the first failed payment removes any discount or special rate you had! 

Customer “service” refused to do anything about it.  

Quackist

mmel said:

rdajackson said:

mmel said:

mmel said:

I recently purchased a Samsung phone via their website and opted for the O2 2 year contract. The phone was provided by Samsung / Mobileshop Affordable Mobiles Limited.

The email from when I ordered with Samsung stated the device "is supplied by Mobileshop and not by O2. "

So if I cancel the O2 Airtime contract, will the device be "left alone" i.e. it won't get blocked??

Update: I've just noticed the thread about this stated "We've asked O2 how this will work if you took out a bundled contract through a third-party reseller and we'll update this story when we get an answer."

I assume I'll be in that group then?

Edit: I have paid an amount to Samsung for the device and no further payments are due, but it was a rather low amount - presumably they were reliant on their "referral" amount of me taking out an O2 Airtime agreement.

I am in the same boat. Just cancelled the contract, haven't even made my first payment. Have had text confirmation and MyO2 no longer shows the account.

Super cheap 25 Ultra! Gone from being very annoyed with the increase to being absolutely chuffed.

I've just been reading the T&C's (I know I'm sad!!) but it looks as though they may be able to take action, (if they wish to do so) - a summary below:

Discounted Device Linked to Network Contract

If you paid a reduced one-off fee for the handset because you agreed to a Network Contract, then:

You’re contractually bound to:

• Maintain the Network Contract for the full Minimum Term (usually 12, 24, or 36 months).
• Pay the Tariff (monthly airtime charges) to the network provider as agreed.

What happens if you don’t?

• Samsung may remotely disable your device 14 days after a missed payment.
• You may be liable for:
• Outstanding Tariff payments to the network provider.
• Legal action from Samsung to recover the handset.
• You could lose access to:

• Promotional benefits (e.g. cashback, free gifts, line rental refunds).
• Future purchases — Samsung may refuse further orders from you.

Key Clauses

• Clause 7–8 under “Contract Phones Only” outlines that the discount is conditional on maintaining the Network Contract.
• Clause 4 under “Risk and Title” confirms Samsung retains rights to disable the device if the contract terms aren’t met.

I won't invoke my PAC code just yet.

I am also going to delay cancelling my O2 contract.
I am in a similar position with a purchase of a Samsung S25 in early October from Samsung site with a 24 month O2 contract

My Samsung contract states 

"4.5. If you purchase Contract Phone or SIM Only we will often charge you less for those Goods than the amount we would charge if you were buying them without a Network Contract (the Retail Price). You acknowledge that us providing those Goods to you for free or at less than the Retail Price is conditional on you not downgrading your Tariff or ending your Network Contract during the Minimum Term."

The question is have O2 broken this contract by altering the terms?
Even if they did the contract terms with Samsung may override this

flaneurs_lobster

Quackist said:

The question is have O2 broken this contract by altering the terms?
Even if they did the contract terms with Samsung may override this

Think it is two different (but obviously linked) contracts. Unless Samsung agree that they will waive their right to full payment of the (non-discounted) price for the phone then that's the liability you have.

If Samsung don't agree then you'll have to do the sums, better to pay the increased O2 price for the rest of the 2 year deal or cancel, pay Samsung full retail (as a 1-off? over 2 years?) and find another mobile service deal.

It's the inherently one-sided nature of contracts with O2 and other mobile companies.

We will charge you £n a month for two years.

We have the right to change this contract, you can suck it up or end the contract.

You, the punter, have no rights at all to alter the terms of the contract.

oldernonethewiser

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

oldernonethewiser said:

bjorn_toby_wilde said:

Mike_from_Croydon said:

I agree with the original poster, it's absurd to have a flat rate increase regardless of the amount currently paid.  I was on a deal which follows on from one I got with Virgin (via MSE) paying £7.16 per month (10G and unlimited minutes, with roaming in Europe).  So my increase would have been 35%!  Whether or not this is a consequence of Martin Lewis' "good intentions gone bad", it has had the good effect of prompting me to transfer to another provider (Lebara on a comparable deal, obtainable until 7 Nov via MSE) which will be £1.99 to start - and even when it increases it will be £5.90, less than I was paying even before O2's planned increase!

Make sure your email (especially webmail) security is the very best and your bank accounts and credit cards protected by 2FA and passkeys if you’re moving to Lebara.

Not bad advice in general but is there an known issue with Lebara?

I was with Lebara until Monday when they sent out a SIM for my phone to a scammer.

I had a phone call from their customer service team on Saturday asking if I’d requested a replacement SIM card. I told them I definitely hadn’t but it seems they sent one out to a scammer at a different address anyway.  On Monday my phone lost signal and that was quickly followed by attempts to access my bank and credit card.

My banks were brilliant and no money was taken because the scammer didn’t pass security.  He breezed through at Lebara though.

My complaint is ongoing, but if you google Lebara sim swap fraud you’ll see other examples.  This kind of fraud is more and more common and happens with all mobile providers to some extent, but you would want your mobile provider to be very alert to the possibility and have the strongest possible security.

Most unpleasant.

I've been with Lebara twice and had no issues, fortunately.

Some more info on SIM swapping fraud https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c14g47vmkevo

As an aside my experiences with 02 have made them the No1 on my list for the worst customer service, edging ahead of KLM 

maxander2000

Unbelievable really - Just chatted to o2.

Confirmed I could cancel Airtime portion of contract and pay off hardware monthly.

Was paying £30/month (Airtime). Was going to increase to £32.50/month, so £780 total to the end of my contract.

So ported straight away to ID Mobile (108GB Data (with rollover of allowance), (was unlimited with o2), Unlimited Texts & Calls for £9/Month for 12 month contract) and £24.00 Cash Back!!!

So o2 have lost £780 in revenue for the greed of gaining an extra 70p/month  (£16.80 for remainder of term).

And i have saved £700+ by switching providers.

I'm sure the bean counters have done their sums and feel overall increase is worth it, but with me alone they have lost a 20 year + customer