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O2 Upgrade Options = Dissapointment

D

drtimjones

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 20, 2009
17
0
Okay, so I've been an iPhone user since they launched and I've had both the 2G and 3G handsets. My 18 month contract has just come to an end so I phoned O2 (waited in a 40 minute queue) and talked to an advisor who told me my upgrade options were the following:

1) A 30-day simplicity SIM only tariff and keep my 3G iPhone - This would cost me £20 per month but would allow me to cancel at anytime and have comparable minutes/texts to my current contract.

2) Spend £45 per month and receive a free iPhone 3GS (this equates to £810 over the life of the 18 month contract or £720 if I reduced the tariff after 9 months to one at £35 per month - The one for £30 per month really isn't an option for me).

3) Spend £35 per month to receive a free refurbished handset from O2 which the advisor told me were 14 day returns to O2 but were not returns to Apple, therefore they will be opened and may have data on them?! - This option would cost me £630 over the life of the contact.

Personally, I don't think any of these options are particularly attractive since I regularly spend £40 per month on my contract plus I have the Internet tethering option and pay for O2 home broadband. I've been a customer for over 3-years, never defaulted on a payment etc etc. I wanted the 3GS since I do a fair amount of emailing and web browsing from my phone and would like the extra speed.

Am I being unreasonable or do you think the options are a little paltry at best? Especially considering as this is the season of goodwill!

If you have any alternative suggestions I would be pleased to hear them.
 
I had exactly the same options given to me and I'm in exactly the same boat.

Only difference was that i was only given the option of a free handset on the 24 month tariff not the 18 month.

So ive been a customer for years and years, well before the Iphone was an option and again have NEVER missed a payment. I have also been on the high end tariffs for many of those years (£45 - £75)

so yeah i Think the options are pretty paltry
 
drtimjones said:
Okay, so I've been an iPhone user since they launched and I've had both the 2G and 3G handsets. My 18 month contract has just come to an end so I phoned O2 (waited in a 40 minute queue) and talked to an advisor who told me my upgrade options were the following:

1) A 30-day simplicity SIM only tariff and keep my 3G iPhone - This would cost me £20 per month but would allow me to cancel at anytime and have comparable minutes/texts to my current contract.

2) Spend £45 per month and receive a free iPhone 3GS (this equates to £810 over the life of the 18 month contract or £720 if I reduced the tariff after 9 months to one at £35 per month - The one for £30 per month really isn't an option for me).

3) Spend £35 per month to receive a free refurbished handset from O2 which the advisor told me were 14 day returns to O2 but were not returns to Apple, therefore they will be opened and may have data on them?! - This option would cost me £630 over the life of the contact.

Personally, I don't think any of these options are particularly attractive since I regularly spend £40 per month on my contract plus I have the Internet tethering option and pay for O2 home broadband. I've been a customer for over 3-years, never defaulted on a payment etc etc. I wanted the 3GS since I do a fair amount of emailing and web browsing from my phone and would like the extra speed.

Am I being unreasonable or do you think the options are a little paltry at best? Especially considering as this is the season of goodwill!

If you have any alternative suggestions I would be pleased to hear them.
Click to expand...

I am not sure if you are aware that you can ask O2-UK to officially unlock your iphone via their website by inserting your details. Once you iphone is unlocked (when you receive a text and restore via iTunes) then cancel your contract with O2 and find another provider...that if you wish to continue using the existing iphone.

Other than that i wouldn't waste my time upgrade to the 3GS if the existing 3G still works!! Save yourself a bit of cash until it packs in!
 
I was lucky and only on hold for 20 minutes.....

Since i wasn't interested in 3GS on my 3G contract cos i sold my 3G in june to pay for a PnG 3GS i just wanted cheapness....

They offered Simplicity 20 tarrif (as detailed above) which includes a decent amount of minutes/text/unlimited wifi/data etc on a 30 day rolling contract

They also gave me(offered) free home broadband (which i didn't take cos i'm already under contract with another provider so they offered me a free o2 mobile broadband dongle instead which i took

Its pay'n'go and can be topped up by day, week or month.... works for me.

Saves me £15/month until iPhone next is out in june/july
 
Unlock your iPhone through this link:

http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/unlockmyiphone.html

Then call O2 after your iPhone is successfully unlocked, and mention that since your iPhone is now unlocked, and your contract is at an end - that you'd like to cancel your contract at the end of the month, as you can get a 'better' sim-only deal elsewhere.

That may persuade them to offer you a better deal, you have to push network operators these days, and O2 aren't particularly forthcoming most times, especially when it comes to iPhone contracts. :rolleyes:

If you do find, or want to move to another provider, you're able to take your number with you. I'll assume you know which providers to research.

Good luck! :)
 
I would be inclined to call the CS number and choose the "thinking of leaving us" option, which puts you through to Retentions.

Start by saying "I want to give the 30 days notice on my contract and get a MAC code for transferring my number please." That always gets their attention! They'll ask you why and you can tell them - say you think you're going to move to another operator as you feel badly treated over your upgrade. They'll be able to improve the offer.
 
synagence said:
I was lucky and only on hold for 20 minutes.....

Since i wasn't interested in 3GS on my 3G contract cos i sold my 3G in june to pay for a PnG 3GS i just wanted cheapness....

They offered Simplicity 20 tarrif (as detailed above) which includes a decent amount of minutes/text/unlimited wifi/data etc on a 30 day rolling contract

They also gave me(offered) free home broadband (which i didn't take cos i'm already under contract with another provider so they offered me a free o2 mobile broadband dongle instead which i took

Its pay'n'go and can be topped up by day, week or month.... works for me.

Saves me £15/month until iPhone next is out in june/july
Click to expand...


It must really vary who you talk to I went on the o2 simplicity after trying to haggle (I was tempted by oranges 3g network) I wasn't offered broadband or mobile broadband ( I would have taken the mobile cause I'm thinking of giving it a try )
 
There's big text on the O2 upgrades page saying "£150 cash if you don't need a new handset" - doesn't that sweeten the "upgrade to simplicity £20/month for 12 months" option considerably?

You can also get cashback through Quidco for a new O2 SIM-only contract.

Edit: assuming you get £150 for that contract - I've just noticed those powerful words, "up to..."
 
I had exactly the same problem, I just got off the phone to customer services with the iphone simplicity tariff for iphone. Going to keep my old iphone 3G for a little bit longer and wait to see if a new iPhone is coming out later on in the year. If not I will probably get a pre or whatever good new phones have come out.

I think Apple dropped a ball by not releasing something for everyone who had an 18 month contract which runs out in January.
 
stridemat said:
I think Apple dropped a ball by not releasing something for everyone who had an 18 month contract which runs out in January.
Click to expand...

Apple is very USA-centric and with their iPhone customers in America all on 24 month contracts there is no incentive for Apple to move from their existing 12 month upgrade cycle.
 
You haven't mentioned the options of:
- Holding off for 6 months.
- Selling the 3G handset, buying a PAYG (which you could then sell on come July
Also - you're valid to get a 12 month PAYG sim card from O2, that you can port your number over to, (they're easily available from Ebay legally). Same thing a PAYG 3GS would be bundled with. You get the Cloud wifi, the acess to data you'd likely want.

Edit - the iPhone simplicity tariff doesn't sound that bad? £20 for "same price, minutes and text and includes internet, WiFi and VISUAL VOICEMAIL!!" https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/830720/
 
MagicWok said:
Unlock your iPhone through this link:

http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/unlockmyiphone.html

Then call O2 after your iPhone is successfully unlocked, and mention that since your iPhone is now unlocked, and your contract is at an end - that you'd like to cancel your contract at the end of the month, as you can get a 'better' sim-only deal elsewhere.

That may persuade them to offer you a better deal, you have to push network operators these days, and O2 aren't particularly forthcoming most times, especially when it comes to iPhone contracts. :rolleyes:

If you do find, or want to move to another provider, you're able to take your number with you. I'll assume you know which providers to research.

Good luck! :)
Click to expand...

You're unlikely to get any better deals when you're after an iPhone. The Simplicity 20 for iPhone is already the 'best' sim only deal out there, so you can't even threaten to leave on that basis!
 
OllyW said:
Apple is very USA-centric and with their iPhone customers in America all on 24 month contracts there is no incentive for Apple to move from their existing 12 month upgrade cycle.
Click to expand...

Good point I forgot about that, looks like I'm just going to have to wait untill a hopeful update in June/ July.
 
Anyone had any good offers for a different handset?

My 3G is up for upgrade next tuesday, and I dont mind changing handset, as my 3g runs on my vodafone contract sim which i got with my HTC magic (since passed to wife with the o2 sim)

So i might upgrade to another of their smart phones, was considering the pre - anyone had prices from them or a nokia/Sony smartphone - dunno really whats out recently
 
Iphone Sim-Only

Im well getting the sim only iphone simplicity deal and waiting for the next iphone in the summer :) hopefully 28 megapixel camera and a mind reading function to make texting and emailing faster :cool:
 
As someone has already said. You have been paying a lot per month but a proportion of that has been paying for your handset. Check out on eBay what you would get selling your existing handset. Then weigh up your options. Personally I went with simplicity as I will probably go fir next gen iPhone whenever it is released. I will sell my existing handset at that time to help pay for it (that's what I did with 1stgen iPhone to get the 3g)
 
cant you just get a o2 text&web unlimited simcard? for £15 a month top up, you get unlimited texts and unlimited internet, plus the £15 credit to make calls with? Only things is you dont get visual voicemail, (which i never use anyway)
 
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