So I can upgrade at the Apple store ????

[Cousin Dirk]

Here's hoping it went well. Every single Apple Store currently has stock of the white 16GB model. Why doesn't O2 get any?

 

[stradders]

I had been following this thread to see if we'd found a way around the system. I got a little impatient and called o2 on 202 from my handset and talked to upgrades. Initially the guy was not giving much info so I threw some scenarios at him. Basically we agreed the following would work.

Goto a Apple Store buy and signup to a new Contract.
Get home and place old Sim from old iphone into new 3G one
Call O2 and cancel the new contract within 7/14 days and keep the handset that you bought with the new contract with your old sim. O2 said this would be OK. You also keep your number and may need to contact upgrades to have the new IMEI registered to your existing account.

I have asked for email confirmation to cover myself and going to do it Friday

 

[ducks15]

It's just silly that all these iPhones are sitting in the Apple Store, when O2 stores are empty and when there are no indications of when they are getting more.

I don't understand why O2 can't let upgraders use the Apple Store - each party still gets their money, and O2 saves themselves the bother of trying to source iPhones quicker than they are being brought.

I mean, wasn't part of Friday's problem the fact that O2 stores and Apple Stores were using the same computer system to register iPhones - I believe there was an indication that Apple had allowed their staff to be trained by O2 to do the activations - my point being that if the O2 stores can do upgrades, what is the sense in stopping the Apple Store when they CAN do new customers?

 

[hazdageez]

I had been following this thread to see if we'd found a way around the system. I got a little impatient and called o2 on 202 from my handset and talked to upgrades. Initially the guy was not giving much info so I threw some scenarios at him. Basically we agreed the following would work.

Goto a Apple Store buy and signup to a new Contract.
Get home and place old Sim from old iphone into new 3G one
Call O2 and cancel the new contract within 7/14 days and keep the handset that you bought with the new contract with your old sim. O2 said this would be OK. You also keep your number and may need to contact upgrades to have the new IMEI registered to your existing account.

I have asked for email confirmation to cover myself and going to do it Friday

If you were to do this i presume that your existing contract has come to the end of your minimum term.

Therefore if you were to cancel the new iphone contract but keep the phone then you would have a new phone but not a new contract (because you will cancel within 14 days). I dont see 02 agreeing unless you sign up for another 18 months.

or am i missing something?

 

[cdownton]

Guys,

I did this today - O2 didn't have a problem with it.

Report
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/523033/

 

[Cousin Dirk]

Guys,

I did this today - O2 didn't have a problem with it.

You're a non-iPhone O2 customer though... I think a few of the people watching this thread are existing iPhone customers. Were you at the end of your existing O2 contract, or did you jump across early?

 

[stradders]

If you were to do this i presume that your existing contract has come to the end of your minimum term.

Therefore if you were to cancel the new iphone contract but keep the phone then you would have a new phone but not a new contract (because you will cancel within 14 days). I dont see 02 agreeing unless you sign up for another 18 months.

or am i missing something?

The o2 guy didn't mention an extension of the existing contract. I suppose this is just a way of me getting the handset and not returning the handset when canceling the contract. Even if they were to extend the contract it would not bother me. I just want the 3g speed anyway I can get it. I don't think the return of the handset is conditional to you canceling the contract an so the phone is yours in effect. Its a great loophole if it works. Maybe O2 are going to let this slide a little given the fact they are sold out and may help to shut us lot up a little

 

[cdownton]

You're a non-iPhone O2 customer though... I think a few of the people watching this thread are existing iPhone customers. Were you at the end of your existing O2 contract, or did you jump across early?

That is true I am (was) a non-iPhone O2 customer and I was at the end of my existing O2 contract.

It was news to me though - and against the advice of O2 stores, one guy in O2 retentions and the Apple Store didn't seem to want responsibility either.

 

[April Dancer]

Thing is, if it comes to it, you've got 14 days to return the phone by which time you should be sure that they're doing what they said they'd do?

 

[stradders]

Thing is, if it comes to it, you've got 14 days to return the phone by which time you should be sure that they're doing what they said they'd do?

Exactly nothing ventured nothing gained !

 

[hazdageez]

The o2 guy didn't mention an extension of the existing contract. I suppose this is just a way of me getting the handset and not returning the handset when canceling the contract. Even if they were to extend the contract it would not bother me. I just want the 3g speed anyway I can get it. I don't think the return of the handset is conditional to you canceling the contract an so the phone is yours in effect. Its a great loophole if it works. Maybe O2 are going to let this slide a little given the fact they are sold out and may help to shut us lot up a little

If this were true, you would be able to go out everyday and get a new iphone 3g then cancel the contract and end up with a phone that you have (potentially if you go on the £45 tariff) got for free.

There has to be an agreement somewhere to sign up for the contract otherwise 02 would not make any money. 02 recoup their money from the handset because they know they will get £35 x 18. If they let you cancel the contract straight away then they are not guaranteed to make any money which would be risky for them

 

[stradders]

If this were true, you would be able to go out everyday and get a new iphone 3g then cancel the contract and end up with a phone that you have (potentially if you go on the £45 tariff) got for free.

There has to be an agreement somewhere to sign up for the contract otherwise 02 would not make any money. 02 recoup their money from the handset because they know they will get £35 x 18. If they let you cancel the contract straight away then they are not guaranteed to make any money which would be risky for them

I honestly don't know. I am only going from the information that the O2 rep gave me. To be honest though anybody that tried it repeatedly would fail the credit check after a couple of attempts. Each credit search lowers your credit score and are stored for six months on file. You wouldn't get out of the shop with a phone. It's important not to take the Mick...

 

[Cousin Dirk]

If you were to do this i presume that your existing contract has come to the end of your minimum term.

Therefore if you were to cancel the new iphone contract but keep the phone then you would have a new phone but not a new contract (because you will cancel within 14 days). I dont see 02 agreeing unless you sign up for another 18 months.

or am i missing something?

I'm pretty sure they would ask for the phone back. They subsidise the phone based on the assumption you will be paying them £30+ a month to use it.

What the topic starter is talking about doing is migrating his old contract to his new one, keeping the new contract whilst closing the old one - basically, what O2 would do in their stores for you to upgrade.

 

[andy007]

Emailed o2 when i first read this threard and they have just replied. Unfortunatly it doesnt sound good:

"Hello Andrew,

Thanks for emailing us about upgrading to an iPhone 3G.

You can buy an iPhone 3G from an Apple store, subject to their stock availability. However, in that case you'll have to start a new account with us and it won't be considered as an upgrade.

After purchasing the iPhone 3G from an Apple store, I'm sorry but you won't be able to cancel your existing iPhone contract without paying termination fee. The termination fee will be calculated by taking the remaining number of months of your contract multiplied by your monthly line rental.

If you purchase your iPhone 3G from O2 online or an O2 / Carphone Warehouse store, your existing contract will be renewed free of charge.

Unfortunately, we're out of stock in all our stores and online. Carphone Warehouse stores have also sold out their iPhone 3G stock.

I'd request you to check our website http://www.o2.co.uk/ for details of stock availability.

We recognise that this has not been a brilliant experience and apologise for the obvious frustration, but we're doing everything we can to resolve the situation as soon as possible.

Important - When you email us please provide: your date of birth, postcode and mobile number as it helps us answer your query faster.

Kind regards,

Alok Bharti
O2 Customer Service."

 

[Londonuser]

Hmm... I also emailed O2 and got the following:

Looks like it IS possible...



Reply-To: mycarewebform <mycarewebform@o2mail.co.uk>


Hello Andrew,

Thanks for emailing us to find out if you can use your existing iPhone SIM card in the new iPhone 3G.

You can purchase the iPhone 3G from an Apple store and can insert your existing iPhone SIM card in the new iPhone 3G. You'll then be able to activate your iPhone and will be able to keep you existing phone number. This would be your upgrade and you won't need to pay any termination fee.

To find out how you can activate your iPhone using your existing SIM card, please visit the link below:

http://www.o2.co.uk/iphone/existingiphonecustomers

If you need more help, you can also contact our iPhone customer service team on 08706 072 302. They are open:

- Monday to Friday between 8am and 9pm.
- Saturday and Sunday between 8am and 8pm.

Calls to the above number are free from all O2 Pay Monthly mobile phones. You can also dial 2302 free from an iPhone to speak to our iPhone customer service team.

To find your nearest Apple Retail store, please click on the link below:

http://www.apple.com/uk/retail/

For the most up to date information on iPhone, please visit our website using the link www.o2.co.uk/iphone.

Important - When you email us please provide: your date of birth, postcode and mobile number as it helps us answer your query faster.

Kind regards,

Vivek Sharma
O2 Customer Service.

 

[Mustard Chops]

Well I just called oO2 and was categorically told that it wouldn't be possible to do this. They are adamant that they wil holld you to term for the remainder of the contract...

I was told that O2 are offering early upgrades a a "gesture of goodwill" for existing customers!!! The cheek! - I thought that it was more like damage control for the possible outcry from early adopters who spent £269 minimum on the original phone...

They did say that they would be updating the website soon with stock info but no more than that.

 

[andy007]

All this sounds like the infamous 02 aint got a clue what their on about.

 

[marksman]

Also, if you do get stuck with 2 contracts, you can change the person the contract is under on the O2 website(change it someone you know thats under 18) and you should be able to get out of that contract very easilly).

That sounds like a crazy loophole.

No business in their right mind would intentionally allow people to willy nilly change who is under contract without actually making the new person sign a new contract, and go through the same verification process.

 

[Mercer]

Thanks for emailing us and I'm sorry you're considering cancelling your contract for the phone number **********.

Existing iPhone customers can upgrade to the new iPhone 3G either at O2 or Carphone Warehouse stores. I'm sorry due to high demand the O2 and Carphone Warehouse stores have exhausted their stocks for iPhone 3G.

They'll be having more stocks shortly but we don't have an exact date when the iPhone 8GB or 16GB will be available. In the meantime, please keep checking our website by visiting www.o2.co.uk for up to date stock information.

The early upgrade offer for the iPhone customers' is available until 11 October 2008.

Apple stores still have limited stocks for iPhone 3G. However, it won't be possible to upgrade from Apple stores, as they don't have access to our upgrades system. If you want buy the iPhone 3G at the moment, you can place a new order from Apple stores.

---------------------------------------

WTF?

i didnt even say anything about cancelling my contract?!

 

[Cousin Dirk]

You can buy an iPhone 3G from an Apple store, subject to their stock availability. However, in that case you'll have to start a new account with us and it won't be considered as an upgrade.

After purchasing the iPhone 3G from an Apple store, I'm sorry but you won't be able to cancel your existing iPhone contract without paying termination fee. The termination fee will be calculated by taking the remaining number of months of your contract multiplied by your monthly line rental.

If you purchase your iPhone 3G from O2 online or an O2 / Carphone Warehouse store, your existing contract will be renewed free of charge.

Unfortunately, we're out of stock in all our stores and online. Carphone Warehouse stores have also sold out their iPhone 3G stock.

That is infuriating to say the least. Why is it existing customers have an apparent abundance of stock to choose from in the Apple Stores, and yet those of us promised an upgrade as existing customers are being forced to wait whilst the O2 stores wallow with no stock at all? Not to mention the complete lack of the white model at O2 stores, which may leave me not able to upgrade for months yet.

This launch is going well.

 

[themaxx]

I'm a CPW customer who is out of contract - on their month to month plan. Do you think this will work for me?

 

[anim8or]

Does everyone who is waiting to upgrade remember we only have til 11th Oct to do so then we cant do it without paying termination fee.....

I think O2 need to extend this seeing as all of these F*** ups are directly effecting upgrade customers....

...unless there is some guarantee from O2 that stock will improve and the white 16GB will be available in good time and good quantity!

Anyone care to join this crusade?

 

[iSimon]

I'm a CPW customer who is out of contract - on their month to month plan. Do you think this will work for me?

As far as I know you should have no problems at all getting one from an Apple store - you'll just need a PAC (Port Authorisation Code) from CPW for your number (assuming you want to keep it). It's only existing iPhone customers (who want to take advantage of the offer to finish their old contract early) for whom this is an issue.

 

[Cousin Dirk]

This is getting ridiculous. Even now we're still getting contradicting reports from O2 depending on who you happen to speak with. I may have to give them a try to see what story they try to give me.

 

[themaxx]

As far as I know you should have no problems at all getting one from an Apple store - you'll just need a PAC (Port Authorisation Code) from CPW for your number (assuming you want to keep it). It's only existing iPhone customers (who want to take advantage of the offer to finish their old contract early) for whom this is an issue.

Sweet!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!!!