I came to know that Vodafone is making it more affordable to use mobile data when roaming in Europe. You can use up to 25MB of data per day in 35 European countries. Regular travelers can opt to pay £10 a month, while customers travelling out of Europe can enjoy the same 25MB data allowance for £5 per day.

Adam78:

...I know myself too well and am liable to forget to tell them in time to leave O2 dead on the day my contract expires; will they accept a letter now even though I have 4 months to run...

Surely someone who has a job travelling a lot in Europe can diarise a reminder for that?

However if you are set on giving notice and accept the likely consequence that on a day you can't remember, travelling in Europe, your O2 phone will stop dead in the water, go right ahead. I haven't studied the O2 terms and conditions but I would be *very* surprised if phoning Customer Services wasn't the only method specified for giving notice. Either they will accept the notice or (more likely) you will be told to phone back later.

Anyway its hardly a smart move. What limited power a customer has over the networks only occurs when out of or nearly out of contract. The smart move is to wait until you have fulfilled the minimum term and *then* threaten to leave, going for the best deal in the marketplace at that time. If you want to retain your number use the PAC process otherwise you will lose your number.

There are sim cards that will work in many countries. They will be more expensive than, for example, using a French sim card in France but probably less than any of the roaming charges from the main network providers. Googling for "international sim" or similar will get some details.

It should be fine writing now to state that you wish to end the arrangement at the end of the contract. It's worth keeping a copy of the letter and asking the post office for a proof of posting. You should be ready for them to contact you nearer the time to try and tempt you to stay with them.

Thanks for the reply...

My contract does indeed have a 28 day notice period, what I wanted to know was how long in advance can I tell O2 that I'm off? I know myself too well and am liable to forget to tell them in time to leave O2 dead on the day my contract expires; will they accept a letter now even though I have 4 months to run.

The SIM card idea is a good one, but not really practical. I got to so many places I'd need about 20!

They'll usyually want 30+ days notice if you are not renewing.

It's worth having a look at some European sim cards to use while overseas.

Hi everyone,

I am currently about 14 months through an 18 month contract with O2 and am employed in a job where I travel a lot in Europe.

I know that a number of companies do tariffs or bolt-ons that give a limited data allowance for use in Europe. I called O2 and asked if they did anything that would be suitable and the answer turned out to be no.

Does anyone have either:
1) recommendations for a short-term solution to my data-famine I am currently experiencing when I am abroad
or
2) experience of differing contracts offering a data allowance for use overseas along
With any recommendations.

I plan on upgrading my iPhone to the latest model when I come out of my lock-in period in September.

I was surprised when O2 said I just had to use the data offering as-is and that they didn't offer any packages (like I know Vodafone do).

Finally (getting my money's worth out of you all here!), how far in advance can I tell O2 that I'm leaving them before the end of my lock-in period on 30th September?

Cheers,

Adam