Warning To O2 UK Customers Wanting a 4S

[fifi77]

The terms and conditions say:-

Fast Track Upgrade (the "Offer") is available to you if you're an existing consumer Pay Monthly or Business customer (who signed up in an O2 Shop, through O2 telesales or through o2.co.uk more than three months ago) or simplicity customer (who signed up in an O2 Shop or through o2.co.uk more than six months ago) on O2 who is still within the minimum term of their contract and, for consumer customers only, has monthly subscription charge (including any data Bolt Ons) of more than £40 per month (an "Eligible Customer").If you're a consumer simplicity customer and you've been on simplicity for less than 6 months, but with O2 for more than that, then you are an Eligible Customer.

So yes you would be eligible

Thanks for that, I did look over the T&Cs earlier and noticed this. It's just confusing since an O2 Customer Services representative told me a different story over the weekend, whereas another confirmed what's stated above today. Perhaps they've had clarification over the weekend.

 

[Mr.C]

They have one month roll in and 12 month sim only contracts too

And pay as you go

Those iPhone 24 month contracts at least they are value for money then rip off waste man O2 they should be called C2H6 (methane fart gas)

O2 also has one month roll in and 12 month contracts as well as pay as you go. They also offer more choice by having 12,18 and 24 month contracts. Not to mention they offer free Wi-Fi in all BT Open Zone and The Cloud hot spots as well as visual voice mail and discounts through O2 Priority Moments. They also offer discounted broadband to their mobile phone customers. Plus their customer service is far better then Three's. Taking all that into account I would say O2 is far better value and a better experience.

 

[HellDiverUK]

O2 is without doubt the worst carrier in the UK. I was with Orange and am now with Vodafone, both were far better than O2. In the 2 years I was with O2 I don't think I ever really got 3G signal anywhere - either stuck on EDGE or 3G that didn't actually move data.

I'm with Vodafone now, and it's so much better it's not funny. Oh, and I'm only paying a tenner a month.

 

[Mr.C]

It all depends where you are. Where I live and work Three is the worst followed by Orange a close second. Vodaphone and O2 are probably about the same. Orange and Vodaphone also are much stricter about when you can unlock your phone and I know Orange at least charges for it. O2 will unlock your phone anytime during your contract for free. Three's customer service is terrible and Orange's is not much better. I've not had to deal with Vodaphone's customer service.

 

[HellDiverUK]

O2 in N. Ireland is a joke. 3G that doesn't work in Belfast, 3G rare in Antrim town, no signal of any sort in the OH's parents house in Co. Tyrone, no signal of any sort in my parent's house in Co. Down. Vodafone works 100% everywhere I'm regularly at. Even Orange worked better than O2.

 

[jimN]

Just wanted to share this curiosity about the O2 pricing:
Minutes Upfront 12 months Total Monthly cost
300 £349.99 492 £841.99 £70.17
600 £299.99 552 £851.99 £71.00
900 £239.99 612 £851.99 £71.00
1200 £139.99 672 £811.99 £67.67

Their 1200 minute tariff is cheaper than the others with a low upfront cost, this is with the £10 data bolt on.

 

[sou1 so1di3r]

I am with O2, and on Saturday I called them to discuss upgrading. They confirmed that I could pay a £160 'fast-track upgrade' fee to get the 4S at the subsidised price. It worked out cheaper than buying a 4S sim free, so my plan was sorted.

Today I went to the Liverpool O2 store that I was planning to get my 4S from, just to check that what I was told on the phone was true.

Well well well...

Apparently lots of people are trying to do the same as me, and O2 are worried they will run out of stock. They have silently introduced a new policy - you won't be able to upgrade this Friday unless you are on a contract costing more than £40 per month (mine is £37). They aren't announcing the change so I think a lot of o2 customers will be very disappointed on Friday.

I went to the Apple store, and they confirmed after checking my eligibility that I was no longer able to upgrade because o2 had pulled their existing offer.

Looks like I'll be buying a sim free phone...

Long story short: If you are on o2 and want a 4S on launch day, you won't be able to upgrade unless your contract costs more than £40 per month. Your only alternative is to wait a few weeks for O2 to change its policy back, or buy a 4S sim free from the Apple store.

Well sounds like you are inadvertently in luck then..


grab a contract free iPhone 4S... and get a giffgaff SIM. Pay £10 a month for unlimited texts, data, and 250 min.

...

profit??



----------

I get wonderful reception with my giffgaff SIM (Which uses O2) all over London.. had pretty decent coverage in Scotland the other weekend.

Pretty bad coverage in Oxford... that's all I can speak of from experience though.

 

[borisiii]

Well sounds like you are inadvertently in luck then..


grab a contract free iPhone 4S... and get a giffgaff SIM. Pay £10 a month for unlimited texts, data, and 250 min.

I wish I was. The reason I am annoyed with O2 is that I can no longer upgrade to the 4S on my current contract. Their change of policy means I am locked down until May, so I will need to buy sim free.

 

[Iphone3gs]

O2 is without doubt the worst carrier in the UK. I was with Orange and am now with Vodafone, both were far better than O2. In the 2 years I was with O2 I don't think I ever really got 3G signal anywhere - either stuck on EDGE or 3G that didn't actually move data.

I'm with Vodafone now, and it's so much better it's not funny. Oh, and I'm only paying a tenner a month.

I agree O2 are the worst

 

[The Game 161]

I found this out Saturday..... And was the reason I handed my notice in. Told them exactly why I was leaving and how their shoddy preparation of this launch has forced people to leave. My contract terminates on 7th November, my termination fee of £62 will come through end of November and my new iPhone 4s is being delivered by the Carphone warehouse through Orange on Friday.

What did they say?

 

[fifi77]

Just found out that the terms & conditions listed on the website are incorrect. You can't just upgrade if you pay over £40.

In order to Fast Track upgrade, your contract must be at least £36 without any bolt ons. So, if you have the £31 + a £10 bolt on contract, you will not be able to upgrade. However, if you have the £36 contract plus the £6 bolt on you will be able to upgrade.

There are going to be many angry people outside O2 stores on Friday morning...

 

[mohaa2]

I'm an existing O2 customer and have 6 months or so left on my current contract.

I was like many of you going to do the fast track at a cost of £143 until they removed it, now luckily one of my good friends works in the o2 store and has worked a way round getting one on launch day, also the free 16GB 4S which would normally be £49.

If you go on the website they say only existing customers can get one on the 14th, now o2's own definition of an existing customer is anybody with a mobile contract, home phone, home or mobile broadband through o2.

So thats that sorted i can get one on the 14th, and get it for free. Now the upgrade part. I currently only pay £26 (Inc 30% discount) per month anyway thats with a £5 bolt on and not even the lowest contract option. So if i was to continue the contract and pay it off for the next six months it'll currently cost me £156. Now if i lower the contract and remove my bolt on it'll only be £18 p/m which is £108. Way lower than the fast track of £143.

Only downside is i will have to have a different number, which i s no biggie really.

So i'll be queuing outside my o2 store very early to get my free 16GB 4S at o2's expense

Oh and here are the FAQ's on o2's website, just look at the "Who is an existing customer"

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

 

[nip848]

FYI this doesnt seem to apply to O2 business customers wishing to upgrade.

Spoke to someone a couple of days ago regarding the options for upgrading, and on reading this thread called them back to double check- no issues. Plus apparently business accounts get priority when upgrading over the phone. Pretty sure thats just sales speak as when they run out they run out, but maybe we get to the start of the queue when stocks come back in.

Also, O2 seem to suggest that none will be delivered on Friday, but posted, quoting "3-5 days" but expect latest Tuesday delivery.