Auto-Save making contact over double the price

[Tiggimus]

Hey,

Just reaching out for some support. I pay £8 a month for a minimal contract as I have brought my phone outright and also don't need tonnes of data.

I've just received a message from O2 saying my tariff is changing from £20 to £20 with the Auto-Save changes to a 30 day rolling contract.

I understand that these changes are cheaper for most people due to them having paid off their phone now, but why is mine increasing so much now?

I don't want a bigger contract as I do not use the data, I don't require and extra bolt ons. I have tried to get through to a guru to help with this matter but on the O2 app (which I have updated) it keeps going back to the same automated chat screen and won't update to an actual person.

Any help would be much appreciated!!

Ideally I'd like to stay with O2 as I have for many years, but this would over double my current payments

[MI5]

@Tiggimus 

You don't have to change and you cannot be forced to either.

If you don't make any changes your contract will just continue as it is now.

Guide: How to find help & contact O2 

[Tiggimus]

The message I've received doesn't sound like I have a choice in the matter as it states my 12 month contract is finishing. I'm not sure if I'm just reading it incorrectly to be honest 

" Hello. Your minimum contract term ends on **Personal info**24. As part of our Auto-Save programme, we’re moving you to a 30‐day rolling airtime contract, and your monthly plan will automatically change from £20.00 to £20.00*.

As part of this move, you won’t see any Airtime discounts that you may have had, but we’ve taken any discounts that would have been active after your contract end date into consideration, when selecting your new tariff."

[MI5]

That sounds like another of Virgin Media's shady tactics.

Refuse the change. They cannot force you off your tariff unless it's been withdrawn, in which case they have to give you 30 days notice and the option to leave for free.

OFCOM  rules here @Tiggimus 

End of contract notifications: everything you need to know (uswitch.com)

You may also find a better deal on the uswitch website.

[Oxonian]

@Tiggimus 

Another option if you do not need much data might be to move onto one of O2's Big Bundles :-  

Big Bundles: Eveything you need to know – Help and Support | O2

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/pay-as-you-go/big-bundles

Or onto a Rolling Plan :-

Rolling plans | Help and Support | O2

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/pay-as-you-go/rolling-plans

[MI5]

But all more than £8 a month.

[Oxonian]

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@MI5 wrote:

But all more than £8 a month.

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@Tiggimus Said :-

"I do not use the data."

If that means that the OP does not use any data, the Big Bundle at £5.00 per month comes into play :-

£5 Big Bundle

• Unlimited minutes and texts. No data included.

[MI5]

Not unless he already has an O2 PAYG  sim.

New customers can't get the £5 bundle.

[Oxonian]

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@MI5 wrote:

Not unless he already has an O2 PAYG  sim.

New customers can't get the £5 bundle.

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Thank you for explaining that @MI5 ; another example of an O2 webpage that is either obsolete or does not explain things fully. 👍