O2 UK Replaces Classic Pay-As-You-Go Plans with New Bundles
Mobile operator O2 UK appears to have scrapped their Classic Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) plans for new customers in favour of a refreshed range of Big Bundles, which include unlimited calls and texts as standard; these require you to top-up every month in order to get the allowance.
Previously customers had a selection of either the old Bundles or their Classic PAYG plans. Under the Classic plans customers only paid 3p per min for a call, 2p for a text and 1p for a MegaByte (MB) of data, which was fuelled by a £10 top-up and you simply purchased an additional top-up once that ran out. Good for occasional use that’s what many PAYG users tend to seek.
However, upon visiting O2’s PAYG page today, the Classic plans have vanished and instead the operator has refreshed their Big Bundles in order to make them more attractive. The new bundles all come with unlimited calls + texts (even on the new entry-level £5 option) and seemingly bigger data allowances, which still include a useful data roll-over to the next month for any unused allowance.
The new tariffs start from as little as £5 a month, although O2 states that their “minimum top-up amount is £10” and of course you have to top-up each month in order to get your allowance (stretching the definition of PAYG).
O2 Big Bundles (PAYG)
| Cost | Data | Minutes | Texts |
| £5 | None | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| £10 | 3GB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| £15 | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
| £20 | 10GB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| £30 | 20GB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Nina Bibby, CMO of O2, said:
“Our new Pay & Glo campaign highlights how our new and improved Big Bundles offer the freedom and flexibility of being contract free whilst still being able to benefit from all the brightest bits of O2.
We want all our customers to be able experience the full range of benefits of being on O2, whether they choose a fixed contract or a Pay As You Go tariff. We understand that for some customers, having the freedom and flexibility of being on a contract-free tariff is important. Our Pay As You Go Big Bundles now offer customers the freedom to talk and text as much as they would like, while choosing the data they want.”
By comparison EE tends to sell PAYG access in “packs” (similar to Big Bundles) that expire every 30 days, which cost from £10 a pop (2GB of data, 100 mins and unlimited texts). Vodafone also have a similar approach but with a more attractive entry-level allowance, although they also offer a classic “Pay As You Go 1” plan that charges 20p a minute, 20p a text and 20p for every 5MB of data. This might sound like a lot but once you’ve spent £1 in a day, you won’t be charged a penny more until midnight.
Alternatively Three UK now appear to be the only one of the largest four major networks to still be offering a more traditional PAYG plan, which charges 3p per min for a call, 2p for a text, 1p for a MB of data and there are add-ons for extra data (mobile broadband) if you want (e.g. from £10 for 4GB – lasts for 30 days).
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on Twitter, Google+, Facebook and Linkedin.
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So what about standard call charges? I have a 2nd / spare SIM that is on O2. I don’t want a bundle as it’s really not going to get used much, just regular PAYG charges. My sim is currently on Classic PAYG.
You can stay on it. You only lose it when you change to another tarrif. You will not be allowed to switch back to the classic tarrif after you have left
Hello Alan. Thanks. I tweeted O2 that’s what they said. So what happens when the add-on expires? Standard call rates? Did I miss that bit?!
I Sell the classic o2 sim card on ebay ive spoken to o2 they assure me that all classics I have in stock will be honoured if you require o2 classic sim card for mobile phone or tracking unit visit ebay and search item number 323873641211
we have enough stock to last until around jan 2020
James, I’ve just added two of your classic sims to my account. On the o2 website my account it is saying I need to top up every six months by £10 or I lose my number and on the O2 app it says I have to top up monthly. So very confusing. It certainly doesn’t appear that they are honouring traditional PAYG.
to Michael Hatton
im unsure that you have purchased my item as ive done a ebay search of all my items sold
and im afraid I can not find your transaction please contact me via ebay I can then get transaction and question my o2 sales account manager and get some answers for you
I ve searched for the £15 20 gb offer,,cant find it
It’s on the PAYG SIMs page of their website under the Big Bundles.
As if O2 couldn’t get any worse they go and do this…
Nothing wrong with 02! I think that O2 are the best Network!!
I wonder how long those of us on the Classic tariff will be allowed to keep it?
If they stop the Classic then guess it is back to 3 for a competitive tariff.
If you are on the classic tarrif already,you will be allowed to stop on it. When i was on the text and web tariff,and they discontined it,i was on it for 5 years,untill i switched to the classic tarriff
Try vectone better deals
But a generally terrible company
I used to be on vectone. Their service is bad. Often they will take all your data or minutes just like a thief will take your money and there is no customer support.
Try 1pmobile.com
I’ve just changed over today from Virgin who have screwed their pay as you go customers (£2.00 for a text dont think so!). Now like sleep O2 want to shaft ppl who just want to make calls and texts occasionally. Clearly all these companies want to scrap non contract services another kicking to poorer ppl.
I only use my mobile when my wife is away travelling. Just get a call to pick her up from the railway station
Good job I am with 3 as I only top up about every 6/9 months with a fiver
The bundles like O2 & EE are offering, would be of no use to me
1pmobile seems good value however it requires £10 topup every 4 months so £30/year.
3 is the best option so far, I have been on their payasyougo sim for over a decade and spend hardly £5 a year if that, as I have a home phone and nowadays wifi allows calls on other platforms. 3 maintains its tariff of 3p per minute, 2p per text and 1p per megabyte of data and your credit never expires.
Tesco do a Triple Credit tariff which leaves your basic top-up untouched when the bonus expires. It has high usage costs but the basic top-up doesn’t expire, so it’s ideal for occasional users. The Tesco service runs on Q2, so get in quick before they pull it!
I’ve just noticed that my Classic PAYG credit expires on 7 January 2020 (I thought credit didn’t expire until used). Perhaps that is the date this product is being withdrawn for existing Classic PAYG users?
I Sell the classic o2 sim card on ebay ive spoken to o2 they assure me that all classics I have in stock will be honoured if you require o2 classic sim card for mobile phone or tracking unit visit ebay and search item number 323873641211
we have enough stock to last until around nov 2020
(we have new stock so can supply up to November 2020 not jan as stated on over message)
Hi james,
I have read that O2 have introduced a top up of £10 every 6 months for these classic cards, so the minimum it will cost per year is £20 … can you confirm if this is correct please. And does this new rule also apply to existing classic holders, or is it just for these remaining stock since they stopped the tariff in November, Thanks
O2 Have stated to me that all my cards will be honoured even though they stopped issuing new cards on 7th November
as for the top-up once you top-up as long as you have credit and make at least one call that is paid once every 6 months then the card will remain active
if you run out of credit and do not add any credit then it will only remain activate for 6 months
o2 and all networks reclaim the phone line (mobile number) if
1, you have credit but do not make a paid call in 6 month period
2, you have no credit and do not topup within a 6 month period
ie if you have £10 credit and make 1 minute call every 6 months the credit will last
something like 15 to 16 years
if you miss one six months period of making a call you lose the credit and the number
this is for cards in use and any that o2 re-sellers have in stock
This is what is says on the O2 website. I looked at the eBay SIMS but this suggests that its a top-up every 6-months.
Classic Pay As You Go
With Classic Pay As You Go, you pay for what you use, as you go. The minimum top up requirement is £10.
If you don’t top up, or add a Bolt On at least once in any six month period, your mobile will be disconnected and you’ll lose any credit on your account. If you want to be reconnected you’ll be given a new mobile number.
Just had an online chat with O2. This is what they said:
You would need to top up and make chargeable call or text once in every 6 months to keep the tariff and sim card active.
In case, you do not wish to top up in every 6 months and you have credit than you can also add a chargeable bolt on such a more minutes which will cost you £1 and give 50 minutes valid until midnight same day.