[the hamster]

I'm in the last month of my 18 month contract so I thought i'd ring o2 to see what handset I could get.

I'm happy with the tariff and what I get but the handset options at the moment are a joke.

O2 have stopped doing the Tocco becuase of stock problems and have also stopped doing the N95 in any guise. They did offer me a returned N95 1gb silver but as it was a customer return I didnt fancy it.

I'd be happy to wait for an N96 but the release date is a mystery at the moment.

Has anyone on here had a recent upgrade and had the same problem?

Whats the best handset to get at the moment, not including iphone?

[kosmos5457]

O2 Xda Stellar is a good phone if you don't mind paying a bit for it.

Have you spoken to O2 Retentions?

To do this, should just be a case of saying you are in the last month of your contract and having looked around at what other networks have on offer, you think it's time that you cancel your existing contract with O2 and want your PAC code so that you are free to move over to another network.

The O2 representative should ask why you want to leave and he might try and do you a deal himself. I think they are the standard ones at this point though, so you say no, unless you really think the deal is good value for money, then he will put you through to retentions and the deals they do are really good.

With retentions, they do contracts with £15 per month discount on the normal tariff price along with £100 credit if you take out a contract for 12 months or £180 for 18 months.

I once had for £20 a month, 600mins and 500 texts, and I'm sure you can get £100 or £180 credit, but that is if you don't take a phone with them.

Not long ago, I was offered 75mins and 125 texts for £10 per month along with £100 credit and this meant if I did not go over the allowance, the contract for the whole year would only cost £20.

The iPhone 3G would be worthwhile for you but I don't think you will get any retentions deal on one of those I don't think. Guess you would have to accept the same deal that is offered to new customers.

[the hamster]

dont suppose you have the retentions number?

[00tommo]

They've stopped doing the N95? Gutted, i was looking at getting that next month when my contract is up.

[the hamster]

Yup, no longer on the website for new or existing customers. Its a pain because they dont offer another phone in the same league, especially as the Tocco has been shelved by O2.

[00tommo]

Do we know when the N96 is out?
hey're probably going to charge stupid money when it does come out. Oh well, looks like the SE C902 for me then.

[GrantM]

http://shop.o2.co.uk/mobile_phone/No..._Monthly/page3

Its still on the website but its on page 3. I think they are really pushing the iphone just now so they have put the price up on the n95 and other handsets. Its only available free on £75 a month contracts which is crazy. I recon the prices will go down again in a few weeks.

[the hamster]

I rang them when I saw it, and the Tocco still on the website but get this, according to them, its out of stock for customers ordering over the phone and like you say, both are only available on a £75 tariff.

What a great loyalty bonus that is. Contract it up 23/8, time to consider my options me thinks.

[kosmos5457]

Sorry, I don't have a number for retentions, though I think you might get through to them on what would be an 0151 number. Not sure if someone may have posted a retentions phone number online. It is usually people in Runcorn that have called me to offer a new deal.

The first time round, I had phone them myself. I wanted a Sony Ericsson K800i as soon as that came out. Told them what I was offered by CPW and they immediately offered a much better tariff.

Last time, I moved to Simplicity a month before renewal as I had paid a month in advance. Then a day after the due to renew date had gone. The woman told me she called to offer me a new deal. She mentioned that as I went on to simplicity that they did not need to offer me any new deal though but obviously they wanted to tie me into contract for a while longer rather than have me on Simplicity that I could leave at any time. I did take the contract on offer but I managed to cancel that. I felt I was misold the contract as she said I would not be eligible for any future retentions deals. I did not want that to happen. A lot of what is on offer is based on your monthly spend by the way. They love it when you go over your monthly allowance.

Have you tried O2 at CPW or CPW O2. There is a difference between the two. Not sure if you can actually get O2 at CPW any more. It might just be CPW 02 that they offer. Anyway, I know with CPW you will not get retention deals like you do with O2. It would seem like O2 are changing their ways after many years of being by far the best network in my opinion. You might expect other networks to follow but people are describing the current situation with O2 on here and must admit, if you want a brand new top of the range phone, it does not look good. Don't think this strategy will work long term.

The popularity of the iPhone 3G is what is bringing them more custom and interest from potential customers if anything at the moment. They will be pushing them onto anyone that walks in store.

[the hamster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosmos5457

The popularity of the iPhone 3G is what is bringing them more custom and interest from potential customers if anything at the moment. They will be pushing them onto anyone that walks in store.

This is why I thought asking for an upgrade to an N95 was'nt asking to much, especially as i'm on an 18 month contract @ £35 a month but my average bill is £50.

[rfctabs]

I think there's a retentions number shown on www.saynoto0870.com

Haven't tried it, but a lot of their numbers are good and they avoid paying 084 / 087 charges.

[kosmos5457]

Quote:

Originally Posted by the hamster

This is why I thought asking for an upgrade to an N95 was'nt asking to much, especially as i'm on an 18 month contract @ £35 a month but my average bill is £50.

This is not unreasonable for you to ask for an N95 if it really is that phone that you want. However, I am very sure that it is an iPhone 3G that they want you to be using next.

Don't forget, I don't think that sales were all too great with the first iPhone so O2 will certainly be wanting to prove they have had the right idea with how they have promoted the new one.

Think it might well look like you will have to give in and go for the iPhone 3G, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Would insist that they give you the handset free, and ask for a 16gb one too. Worth a try anyway.

Apart from that, your spend is pretty good and should get a good deal. Shame your contract was not due a little sooner so you might have been able to get the phone of your choice.

[Aye Up]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosmos5457

This is not unreasonable for you to ask for an N95 if it really is that phone that you want. However, I am very sure that it is an iPhone 3G that they want you to be using next.

Don't forget, I don't think that sales were all too great with the first iPhone so O2 will certainly be wanting to prove they have had the right idea with how they have promoted the new one.

Think it might well look like you will have to give in and go for the iPhone 3G, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Would insist that they give you the handset free, and ask for a 16gb one too. Worth a try anyway.

Apart from that, your spend is pretty good and should get a good deal. Shame your contract was not due a little sooner so you might have been able to get the phone of your choice.

No one has to get the Iphone......use you're noggin you're in the middle of a credit crunch, the person is a high spending customer, so he has a hell of a lot of bargaining power. The iPhone is Apple's flagship device not O2's. O2 is simply a network which is trying to make up for lost income as a result of the oncoming recession.

[the hamster]

i've rang 3 times and no-one has mentioned the iphone to me. Judging by the threads on here I think I would prefer a Nokia, and will proberbly wait for the N96.

[kosmos5457]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aye Up

No one has to get the Iphone......use you're noggin you're in the middle of a credit crunch, the person is a high spending customer, so he has a hell of a lot of bargaining power. The iPhone is Apple's flagship device not O2's. O2 is simply a network which is trying to make up for lost income as a result of the oncoming recession.

I'm well aware that this is Apple's phone and not O2's but with the first iPhone, people could actually go in store and buy the iPhone and throw the contract back at O2. O2 will be wanting to make money back there as well.

I understand that due to the credit crunch, there are less customers, so the most loyal ones are suffering from O2 putting their prices up and nobody is going to be willing to pay more now for a phone if they weren't prepared to only a few months ago.

[uknowsit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by the hamster

dont suppose you have the retentions number?

Hi

all you need to is dial 202 from you o2 phone and select the option thinking of leaving o2 i think its number 2.

[the hamster]

ok ta, still havent found any phone worth ringing them about tho.

[out4zero]

Shame about the N95 just managed to get mine then, only sorted the contract 10 days ago and the 8Gb phone is lovely.

[uknowsit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by the hamster

ok ta, still havent found any phone worth ringing them about tho.

i would wait for the n96 or the new sony ericcson c905

im waiting for one of them so i changed my tariff to a sim only one to save some money till they come out

I have saved £15.00 as it only costing me £20.00 for the same mins and text plus i can upgrade at any time as its sim only