I Think I'm Being Ripped Off

M

Maurice

At the Start
Joined
May 4, 2003
Messages
1,226
I've been with O2 since I got my current Pay & Go mobile about five years ago. It was known then at BT Cellnet.

When I started, I was paying something like 2p per min to BT lines and BT Cellnet mobiles. Peak times and other networks were more expensive.

I don't use the mobile a lot and top up £20 every three or four months.

I only recently noticed a brief call home (BT landline) cost me about 50p when I expected it to be 2p or 3p. I've searched the O2 website and it seems to be telling me I'm paying more than I thought.

Can anyone tell me how to research mobiles that will cost me less without changing my number?

Thanks.
 
"I Think I'm Being Ripped Off, Are O2 at it?"
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No. You will find that all the charges will have been transparent and notified to you.

While there are varying packages available and call charges will vary according to which you are on, pay as you go phones will have you paying far more for calls than contracted deals.
 
What I meant was, have they bumped up the price progressively over the years, especially since the switch to O2?

I do get text messages from O2 but I don't usually read them through as they're usually adverts of some sort, so in among those texts must have been messages telling me about price increases.

At least credit card comapnies and mortgage lenders send you a letter to tell you they're about to start taking more money off you :huh:

Still, I suppose all I need to do is leave o2 and go somewhere else.
 
I was, Brian. It was called 1-2-3 or something like that. Certain calls were 1p per min at certain times, others 2p, others 3p, rising depending on whether it was peak time, and all others were a lot more expensive, especially to other mobile networks.
 
Mo.
PAYG is the most expensive way. My family uses 4 mobiles and over the years we have moved from one contract(mine) plus 3 PAYG to 3 contract and 1 PAYG. Just by threatening to move provider means that 2 of the contracts cost less than £10 p.m(inc VAT) which is less than half the advertised rate for the minutes and texts packages we have. I am trying to negotiate a group rate before I change the last PAYG to contract.
Basically the number of subscribers is a major determinant of the provider's market value and they are prepared to cut rates if pressed. I recall one successful negotiation where the guy resisted all my arguments until I said I would like to terminate the contract to try elsewhere.He then stated "you've said the magic words [- that allow me to meet your demands]." He then cut the cost by a full 50%.

You have a reputation to uphold!
 
I understand PAYG is normally the most expensive way, but I really don't use the mobile a lot, and now even less since I don't phone home to ask if I should bring in anything from the shops on my way home, as I now realise it's costing a lot more than it used to.

My wife and I got the phones for emergency situations and reckoned if we put in £20 each and got a year out of it, it would be worthwhile. As it was, in the first month someone slammed into my wife's car, just missing her, and she was able to phone the police, the insurance people and myself from the scene.

Anyway, I digress.

I'm still scouring the internet looking for a deal that will suit my needs best, then I might contact O2 and see if they'll negotiate.
 
I bought my wife a phone from O2 and it cost me £100 but the beauty of it was that my wife gets 50 mins free for life. As she does not use it very often she doesn't ever get a bill. I don't know wether they still do this offer but it might be worth enquiring.
 
I'm on O2 pay as you go and I pay £15 a month in return for 300 free text messages and 150 free minutes of off-peak (evening and weekend) calls.

The actual call charges are 25p for the first 3 minutes of the day and 5p per min thereafter.

Outwith the free calls period that is.
 
According to the Which? site, I'd be better switching to T-Mobile, based on my current usage.

They say I should be able to get a PAYG package costing just over £8 per month.

What I need to know is whether that package will include a new handset and whether I'll be able to keep my number.
 
Originally posted by Maurice@Jul 14 2005, 12:29 PM
They say I should be able to get a PAYG package costing just over £8 per month.

What I need to know is whether that package will include a new handset and whether I'll be able to keep my number.
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You're really working hard to achieve the image of a latter-day Jack Benny, aren't you? :lol:
 
T- Mobile are scum- avoid them like the plague . I ended up taking them to the Information Commissioner via a credit reference agency referral for falsely stating I owed them money when I ended by contract when they broke a promise for a free upgrade . I received numerous threatening letters yet when i replied in detail I never received a reply.

They admitted finally they were wrong when the IC investigated but I never received an apology let alone them f*****g up my unblemished credit record for six months :angy:
 
Originally posted by Ardross@Jul 14 2005, 12:08 PM
I never received a reply.
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Bloody frustrating isn't it Ardross when you politely request information from someone and you are blatantly and constantly ignored.
 
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