O2 upgrades

Tumbleflumps · 22-03-2008, 10:30

After a bit of advice here...

My friend and I took out a sim only contract on O2 over 6 years ago. We pay £15 a month for 500 off peak minutes and 500 texts per month. I also have the gold insurance at £4.99 a month.

Over the last couple of years, my friend has been having problems getting a yearly upgrade for free, as they are telling her she can't upgrade because of the tariff she is on. After telling them that she's managed to upgrade for the years before then, they let her. But yesterday, she went into the shop to find out when she can upgrade and chap told her she couldn't unless she changed her tariff or went on an 18mth contract, even though it was the same person who did her upgrade the previous year!!

I know that with some phones, you have to be paying a certain amount each month or go onto an 18 month contract, but all she wants is a phone that she doesn't have to pay for or go into an 18 month contract.

I don't seem to have had any problems upgrading my phone, but then I have paid for my last two phones. I've never been told that I can't upgrade because of my tariff.

Any advice or has anyone been in a similar situation?

Massive Attack · 22-03-2008, 11:08

You do realise that "SIM Only" customers are not entitled to an upgrade?

You need to be on a 12 or 18 month contract. Why would a network give you a free phone, low line rental and so many minutes / texts for almost nothing?!

Whoever authorised the upgrades in the past must have either a) done so incorrectly or b) gave you a very, very rare goodwill gesture.

webbym · 22-03-2008, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Massive Attack

You do realise that "SIM Only" customers are not entitled to an upgrade?

You need to be on a 12 or 18 month contract. Why would a network give you a free phone, low line rental and so many minutes / texts for almost nothing?!

Whoever authorised the upgrades in the past must have either a) done so incorrectly or b) gave you a very, very rare goodwill gesture.

she is not on a sim only contract i had the same problem them deal's were when they first started and as its only £15 for 500 mins and 500and a free txts mobile but noy saying intitled to a free upgrade it was to lure the punters in thw will tell you need to have a contract for 20 25 per month to get a free upgrade every year

Massive Attack · 22-03-2008, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by webbym

she is not on a sim only contract i had the same problem them deal's were when they first started and as its only £15 for 500 mins and 500and a free txts mobile but noy saying intitled to a free upgrade it was to lure the punters in thw will tell you need to have a contract for 20 25 per month to get a free upgrade every year

You don't make sense.

Ricardodaforce · 22-03-2008, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Massive Attack

You don't make sense.

Someone's in a bad mood today.

Massive Attack · 22-03-2008, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricardodaforce

Someone's in a bad mood today.

Nope

Tumbleflumps · 22-03-2008, 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Massive Attack

You do realise that "SIM Only" customers are not entitled to an upgrade?

You need to be on a 12 or 18 month contract. Why would a network give you a free phone, low line rental and so many minutes / texts for almost nothing?!

Whoever authorised the upgrades in the past must have either a) done so incorrectly or b) gave you a very, very rare goodwill gesture.

Very rare goodwill gesture that I've managed to get for the last 6 years!!!

I've always been on a 12 month contract and apart from 2 occasions, I've always paid up to £80 for a phone so I haven't got it for free. I appreciate that one day I'm going to have to change my tariff to get a phone but if they're going to keep doing it without, I'll keep schtum. Unfortunately, my friend isn't so willing to pay any more than she has to!!

I've tried searching on the website under sim only T&C's to see if it says that upgrades aren't allowed but can't find anything.

coopermanyorks · 22-03-2008, 14:07

Sim only surely means just that , 02 supply the sim , you supply then phone ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleflumps

My friend and I took out a sim only contract on O2 over 6 years ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleflumps

I've always been on a 12 month contract .

Is it Pantomime season already ?

kexy · 22-03-2008, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tumbleflumps

Very rare goodwill gesture that I've managed to get for the last 6 years!!!

I've always been on a 12 month contract and apart from 2 occasions, I've always paid up to £80 for a phone so I haven't got it for free. I appreciate that one day I'm going to have to change my tariff to get a phone but if they're going to keep doing it without, I'll keep schtum. Unfortunately, my friend isn't so willing to pay any more than she has to!!

I've tried searching on the website under sim only T&C's to see if it says that upgrades aren't allowed but can't find anything.

It's a sim only contract, you're not entitled to a free phone unless you sign up to a 12, 18 or 24 month tariff and contract and pay the appropriate rate. You're alternative is to purchase a pay as you go handset.

You're going to be looking at £30-£40 for 600 minutes and unlimited text messages. You will get the latest handset though. The price depends on the length of contract.

Ricardodaforce · 22-03-2008, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

Sim only surely means just that , 02 supply the sim , you supply then phone ?

Is it Pantomime season already ?

Tumbleflumps · 23-03-2008, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

Sim only surely means just that , 02 supply the sim , you supply then phone ?

Is it Pantomime season already ?

Yeah

What I meant by that is I've always taken out a NEW 12 month contract when I've upgraded

Oh well, if O2 will carry on letting me upgrading my phone, I'm not gonna complain

coopermanyorks · 23-03-2008, 12:39

If you are on sim only I cannot see how / why they / you get any upgrade on your mobile phone , the whole point of sim only is to reduce the cost to the supplier by not supplying a new phone when your contract ends

Are you sure you are not on a pay monthly 12 / 18 month contract rather than a sim only contract

_amanda_ · 23-03-2008, 12:41

What O2 are doing is correct. You aren't 'getting away' with anything.

A lot of phones are free on certain 12 or 18 month contracts, its not the length of the contract thats important its the monthly LR. I would guess with your allowances you are probably on the Online 500 offpeak, so for instance if you make a peak call to a xnet mobile you will be paying 40p per minute whereas on newer tariffs you would only pay 20p per minute. The fact that you have had to pay £80 for handsets before was probably because they were relatively new to the market/O2 and so all customers below a certain tariff would be required to pay toward the handset cost.

Your tariff is probably a very old one. And O2 will be trying to get you to move to one of there newer tariffs because they generally offere better value for money.

The £15 per month you are on will probably have a subsidy (like £10 off per month). If you wanted a better tariff you could probably keep your discount and move to a newer tariff. This would be an actual deal and not just an upgrade so you would probably have to speak with Retentions.

I would get your friend to call the retentions department and listen to the advice they have on tariff options etc. You will probably find that the 'free phones' that are available are older handsets.

_amanda_ · 23-03-2008, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

If you are on sim only I cannot see how / why they / you get any upgrade on your mobile phone , the whole point of sim only is to reduce the cost to the supplier by not supplying a new phone when your contract ends

Are you sure you are not on a pay monthly 12 / 18 month contract rather than a sim only contract

She just said that she takes out a new 12 month contract each time. I think the OP is just getting a little confused by the Sim Only term, as she is paying towards the handset.

Tumbleflumps · 23-03-2008, 13:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by _amanda_

What O2 are doing is correct. You aren't 'getting away' with anything.

A lot of phones are free on certain 12 or 18 month contracts, its not the length of the contract thats important its the monthly LR. I would guess with your allowances you are probably on the Online 500 offpeak, so for instance if you make a peak call to a xnet mobile you will be paying 40p per minute whereas on newer tariffs you would only pay 20p per minute. The fact that you have had to pay £80 for handsets before was probably because they were relatively new to the market/O2 and so all customers below a certain tariff would be required to pay toward the handset cost.

Your tariff is probably a very old one. And O2 will be trying to get you to move to one of there newer tariffs because they generally offere better value for money.

The £15 per month you are on will probably have a subsidy (like £10 off per month). If you wanted a better tariff you could probably keep your discount and move to a newer tariff. This would be an actual deal and not just an upgrade so you would probably have to speak with Retentions.

I would get your friend to call the retentions department and listen to the advice they have on tariff options etc. You will probably find that the 'free phones' that are available are older handsets.

Yeah the tariff is a really old one, like I said, i took it out over 6 years ago. Am not too fussed about getting a newer tariff atm, as I mainly use it for texts and occasionally off peak calls. I rarely use the phone during the day, as I'm at work. But if it comes to the stage where they won't upgrade me to any phone unless I change my tariff, then I will. It would be handy to maybe have a few anytime minutes, but 90% of the time, they would be wasted.

I usually have no problem with paying for the handset I want, unless it's really expensive or I really want the phone. My friend, however, won't pay out for a phone as she said (and these are her words) that the whole point of getting a contract phone was to get a free upgrade each year. i've tried telling her that its going to get increasingly difficult because of the tariff we're on and she's either going to have to pay for a phone or go on a different tariff or 18 mth contract. Another problem of hers is that she'll get a free upgrade, whcih will be an old phone and then get bored of it within a few months and want a change at the earliest opportunity.

prking · 23-03-2008, 18:55

I had one of these BT Genie Sim Only contracts (as they were called then) and at the end of the twelve months you COULD "upgrade" and get a handset. But it did require paying something for the handset and slightly more each month, after the upgrade. I paid £30 for a Motorola v600. Eventually I was persuaded to change tariff as the old tariffs didn't offer as much as newer tariffs.

sla_steve · 26-03-2008, 09:03

I had the same experience as the OP.

Been on a 15/mo contract for years - upgrading every 12 months no problem.

Except for this year when I was told I had been on a SIM only contract all this time and I shouldnt have been allowed to upgrade!

sodafountain · 26-03-2008, 09:12

O2 have a new £15 a month tariff, with a free phone (limited style), if she upgrades to this tariff, she will get the free phone (as O2 offer existing customers the same deals as new customers, as long as they change to a current tariff).

http://shop.o2.co.uk/GreatDeals?last...ox-_-Nokia6300

As per this link, you are entitles to an upgrade on a Sim only tariff, but may be subject to an increase in line rental

http://service.o2.co.uk/IQ/SRVS/CGI-...Case=obj(12875)

I had an old Genie Sim, 7 years ago i think, and when i finally wanted to upgrade (as it was sim only), i had to change to a current tariff. Now, every 17 months, i can upgrade to the latest phone, as long as i take the relevant tariff that comes with it, as per new customers deals.

lucid · 26-03-2008, 14:36

On the older tariffs they initially had a online sim only tariff it was £5 cheaper and you just got the sim. However after a year if you continued you could get an upgrade and a new phone if you wished as you had stayed with them.The upgrades the lady received was not a mistake. I found this out as i had not upgraded in years and had assumed i couldn't but had it explained to me. You can get an upgrade new phone and stay on your old tariff though if you have any saved texts or minutes these will be lost (even if the cs advisor tells you otherwise!)

Some older tariffs had a 3 month rollover so on an older 200min tariff that was £25 with 500 free txts you could build up a reserve of upto 800 mins and 2000 texts. These will be reset if you upgrade and get a new phone though you can build them up again.

i hope this helps.

22-03-2008, 10:30	#1
Tumbleflumps Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,542	O2 upgrades After a bit of advice here... My friend and I took out a sim only contract on O2 over 6 years ago. We pay £15 a month for 500 off peak minutes and 500 texts per month. I also have the gold insurance at £4.99 a month. Over the last couple of years, my friend has been having problems getting a yearly upgrade for free, as they are telling her she can't upgrade because of the tariff she is on. After telling them that she's managed to upgrade for the years before then, they let her. But yesterday, she went into the shop to find out when she can upgrade and chap told her she couldn't unless she changed her tariff or went on an 18mth contract, even though it was the same person who did her upgrade the previous year!! I know that with some phones, you have to be paying a certain amount each month or go onto an 18 month contract, but all she wants is a phone that she doesn't have to pay for or go into an 18 month contract. I don't seem to have had any problems upgrading my phone, but then I have paid for my last two phones. I've never been told that I can't upgrade because of my tariff. Any advice or has anyone been in a similar situation?

22-03-2008, 11:08	#2
Massive Attack Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 152	You do realise that "SIM Only" customers are not entitled to an upgrade? You need to be on a 12 or 18 month contract. Why would a network give you a free phone, low line rental and so many minutes / texts for almost nothing?! Whoever authorised the upgrades in the past must have either a) done so incorrectly or b) gave you a very, very rare goodwill gesture.

22-03-2008, 11:14	#3
webbym Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: thompson nr watton farmand Posts: 134	Quote: Originally Posted by Massive Attack You do realise that "SIM Only" customers are not entitled to an upgrade? You need to be on a 12 or 18 month contract. Why would a network give you a free phone, low line rental and so many minutes / texts for almost nothing?! Whoever authorised the upgrades in the past must have either a) done so incorrectly or b) gave you a very, very rare goodwill gesture. she is not on a sim only contract i had the same problem them deal's were when they first started and as its only £15 for 500 mins and 500and a free txts mobile but noy saying intitled to a free upgrade it was to lure the punters in thw will tell you need to have a contract for 20 25 per month to get a free upgrade every year

22-03-2008, 11:16	#4
Massive Attack Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 152	Quote: Originally Posted by webbym she is not on a sim only contract i had the same problem them deal's were when they first started and as its only £15 for 500 mins and 500and a free txts mobile but noy saying intitled to a free upgrade it was to lure the punters in thw will tell you need to have a contract for 20 25 per month to get a free upgrade every year You don't make sense.

22-03-2008, 11:17	#5
Ricardodaforce Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alacant Posts: 7,773	Quote: Originally Posted by Massive Attack You don't make sense. Someone's in a bad mood today.

22-03-2008, 11:18	#6
Massive Attack Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 152	Quote: Originally Posted by Ricardodaforce Someone's in a bad mood today. Nope

22-03-2008, 11:25	#7
Tumbleflumps Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,542	Quote: Originally Posted by Massive Attack You do realise that "SIM Only" customers are not entitled to an upgrade? You need to be on a 12 or 18 month contract. Why would a network give you a free phone, low line rental and so many minutes / texts for almost nothing?! Whoever authorised the upgrades in the past must have either a) done so incorrectly or b) gave you a very, very rare goodwill gesture. Very rare goodwill gesture that I've managed to get for the last 6 years!!! I've always been on a 12 month contract and apart from 2 occasions, I've always paid up to £80 for a phone so I haven't got it for free. I appreciate that one day I'm going to have to change my tariff to get a phone but if they're going to keep doing it without, I'll keep schtum. Unfortunately, my friend isn't so willing to pay any more than she has to!! I've tried searching on the website under sim only T&C's to see if it says that upgrades aren't allowed but can't find anything.

22-03-2008, 14:07	#8
coopermanyorks Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In Gods Own County Posts: 20,678	Sim only surely means just that , 02 supply the sim , you supply then phone ? Quote: Originally Posted by Tumbleflumps My friend and I took out a sim only contract on O2 over 6 years ago. Quote: Originally Posted by Tumbleflumps I've always been on a 12 month contract . Is it Pantomime season already ?

22-03-2008, 14:31	#9
kexy Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,215	Quote: Originally Posted by Tumbleflumps Very rare goodwill gesture that I've managed to get for the last 6 years!!! I've always been on a 12 month contract and apart from 2 occasions, I've always paid up to £80 for a phone so I haven't got it for free. I appreciate that one day I'm going to have to change my tariff to get a phone but if they're going to keep doing it without, I'll keep schtum. Unfortunately, my friend isn't so willing to pay any more than she has to!! I've tried searching on the website under sim only T&C's to see if it says that upgrades aren't allowed but can't find anything. It's a sim only contract, you're not entitled to a free phone unless you sign up to a 12, 18 or 24 month tariff and contract and pay the appropriate rate. You're alternative is to purchase a pay as you go handset. You're going to be looking at £30-£40 for 600 minutes and unlimited text messages. You will get the latest handset though. The price depends on the length of contract.

22-03-2008, 14:32	#10
Ricardodaforce Inactive Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alacant Posts: 7,773	Quote: Originally Posted by coopermanyorks Sim only surely means just that , 02 supply the sim , you supply then phone ? Is it Pantomime season already ?

23-03-2008, 11:43	#11
Tumbleflumps Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,542	Quote: Originally Posted by coopermanyorks Sim only surely means just that , 02 supply the sim , you supply then phone ? Is it Pantomime season already ? Yeah What I meant by that is I've always taken out a NEW 12 month contract when I've upgraded Oh well, if O2 will carry on letting me upgrading my phone, I'm not gonna complain

23-03-2008, 12:39	#12
coopermanyorks Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In Gods Own County Posts: 20,678	If you are on sim only I cannot see how / why they / you get any upgrade on your mobile phone , the whole point of sim only is to reduce the cost to the supplier by not supplying a new phone when your contract ends Are you sure you are not on a pay monthly 12 / 18 month contract rather than a sim only contract

23-03-2008, 12:41	#13
_amanda_ Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 276	What O2 are doing is correct. You aren't 'getting away' with anything. A lot of phones are free on certain 12 or 18 month contracts, its not the length of the contract thats important its the monthly LR. I would guess with your allowances you are probably on the Online 500 offpeak, so for instance if you make a peak call to a xnet mobile you will be paying 40p per minute whereas on newer tariffs you would only pay 20p per minute. The fact that you have had to pay £80 for handsets before was probably because they were relatively new to the market/O2 and so all customers below a certain tariff would be required to pay toward the handset cost. Your tariff is probably a very old one. And O2 will be trying to get you to move to one of there newer tariffs because they generally offere better value for money. The £15 per month you are on will probably have a subsidy (like £10 off per month). If you wanted a better tariff you could probably keep your discount and move to a newer tariff. This would be an actual deal and not just an upgrade so you would probably have to speak with Retentions. I would get your friend to call the retentions department and listen to the advice they have on tariff options etc. You will probably find that the 'free phones' that are available are older handsets.

23-03-2008, 12:42	#14
_amanda_ Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 276	Quote: Originally Posted by coopermanyorks If you are on sim only I cannot see how / why they / you get any upgrade on your mobile phone , the whole point of sim only is to reduce the cost to the supplier by not supplying a new phone when your contract ends Are you sure you are not on a pay monthly 12 / 18 month contract rather than a sim only contract She just said that she takes out a new 12 month contract each time. I think the OP is just getting a little confused by the Sim Only term, as she is paying towards the handset.

23-03-2008, 13:01	#15
Tumbleflumps Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,542	Quote: Originally Posted by _amanda_ What O2 are doing is correct. You aren't 'getting away' with anything. A lot of phones are free on certain 12 or 18 month contracts, its not the length of the contract thats important its the monthly LR. I would guess with your allowances you are probably on the Online 500 offpeak, so for instance if you make a peak call to a xnet mobile you will be paying 40p per minute whereas on newer tariffs you would only pay 20p per minute. The fact that you have had to pay £80 for handsets before was probably because they were relatively new to the market/O2 and so all customers below a certain tariff would be required to pay toward the handset cost. Your tariff is probably a very old one. And O2 will be trying to get you to move to one of there newer tariffs because they generally offere better value for money. The £15 per month you are on will probably have a subsidy (like £10 off per month). If you wanted a better tariff you could probably keep your discount and move to a newer tariff. This would be an actual deal and not just an upgrade so you would probably have to speak with Retentions. I would get your friend to call the retentions department and listen to the advice they have on tariff options etc. You will probably find that the 'free phones' that are available are older handsets. Yeah the tariff is a really old one, like I said, i took it out over 6 years ago. Am not too fussed about getting a newer tariff atm, as I mainly use it for texts and occasionally off peak calls. I rarely use the phone during the day, as I'm at work. But if it comes to the stage where they won't upgrade me to any phone unless I change my tariff, then I will. It would be handy to maybe have a few anytime minutes, but 90% of the time, they would be wasted. I usually have no problem with paying for the handset I want, unless it's really expensive or I really want the phone. My friend, however, won't pay out for a phone as she said (and these are her words) that the whole point of getting a contract phone was to get a free upgrade each year. i've tried telling her that its going to get increasingly difficult because of the tariff we're on and she's either going to have to pay for a phone or go on a different tariff or 18 mth contract. Another problem of hers is that she'll get a free upgrade, whcih will be an old phone and then get bored of it within a few months and want a change at the earliest opportunity.

23-03-2008, 18:55	#16
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	I had one of these BT Genie Sim Only contracts (as they were called then) and at the end of the twelve months you COULD "upgrade" and get a handset. But it did require paying something for the handset and slightly more each month, after the upgrade. I paid £30 for a Motorola v600. Eventually I was persuaded to change tariff as the old tariffs didn't offer as much as newer tariffs.

26-03-2008, 09:03	#17
sla_steve Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Belfast, N.Ireland Posts: 1,457	I had the same experience as the OP. Been on a 15/mo contract for years - upgrading every 12 months no problem. Except for this year when I was told I had been on a SIM only contract all this time and I shouldnt have been allowed to upgrade!

26-03-2008, 09:12	#18
sodafountain Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wrexham Posts: 12,102	O2 have a new £15 a month tariff, with a free phone (limited style), if she upgrades to this tariff, she will get the free phone (as O2 offer existing customers the same deals as new customers, as long as they change to a current tariff). http://shop.o2.co.uk/GreatDeals?last...ox-_-Nokia6300 As per this link, you are entitles to an upgrade on a Sim only tariff, but may be subject to an increase in line rental http://service.o2.co.uk/IQ/SRVS/CGI-...Case=obj(12875) I had an old Genie Sim, 7 years ago i think, and when i finally wanted to upgrade (as it was sim only), i had to change to a current tariff. Now, every 17 months, i can upgrade to the latest phone, as long as i take the relevant tariff that comes with it, as per new customers deals.

26-03-2008, 14:36	#19
lucid Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 14	On the older tariffs they initially had a online sim only tariff it was £5 cheaper and you just got the sim. However after a year if you continued you could get an upgrade and a new phone if you wished as you had stayed with them.The upgrades the lady received was not a mistake. I found this out as i had not upgraded in years and had assumed i couldn't but had it explained to me. You can get an upgrade new phone and stay on your old tariff though if you have any saved texts or minutes these will be lost (even if the cs advisor tells you otherwise!) Some older tariffs had a 3 month rollover so on an older 200min tariff that was £25 with 500 free txts you could build up a reserve of upto 800 mins and 2000 texts. These will be reset if you upgrade and get a new phone though you can build them up again. i hope this helps.

DS Forums

O2 upgrades