Overview
- O2 has increased its announced mid‑contract uplift from £1.80 to £2.50 a month for up to 15.6 million customers, taking effect in April 2026 and adding roughly £30 a year versus what was initially indicated.
- MoneySavingExpert reports some departing customers were billed hundreds of pounds or told to repay handset balances in full, which it says is incorrect for those cancelling airtime due to the rise.
- Customers are urged to review O2 emails and texts about airtime plans and to check postal letters for any handset‑plan notices, as communications were sent via different channels.
- People should scrutinize final bills and bank or credit card statements for unexpected lump‑sum payments and review credit reports for any erroneous entries.
- If wrongly charged, consumers should complain to O2 and escalate to the communications ombudsman if unresolved; O2 says it was transparent, calls the change about “2p a day,” and says it allows penalty‑free exits.