“Don’t forget” - time is running out for O2 customers to switch without fees before price rise

Go.Compare Mobile is reminding O2 customers that time is running out if they’re intending to switch providers without incurring extra fees, following the news that prices are to rise in April 2026.

Approximately two weeks ago, the mobile provider started notifying customers that they will see a £2.50 increase on their monthly bill from April next year. Almost all O2 mobile customers are impacted by the rise, although prices will stay frozen for those on O2’s Essential Plan.

O2 also informed customers that they can leave their contract without being charged any early termination costs as a result of this. However, they only have 30 days from the date they received this notification to do so. Customers who are paying for a phone as part of their contract will also need to pay off the value of their handset, if they haven’t done so already, before switching.

This means customers who were notified of the rise on 23 October will now have just 13 days (until 22 November) left to leave their contract without incurring these early termination fees. Therefore, the comparison site is reminding customers not to forget about the rise if they’re intending to switch but haven’t done so already.

Catherine Hiley, spokesperson at Go.Compare mobile, said: “Although the O2 price rise doesn’t come into effect until April of next year, customers only have 30 days from receiving their notifications to switch without paying early termination fees. That means there’s still a short window to review your options if you’re thinking about making a change.

“It’s quite common to see mobile prices adjusted around this time of year, so it’s a good reminder to check whether or not your current plan still offers good value for money. If you’re happy with your service, you don’t need to do anything. But if you’ve been considering switching, it’s worth comparing deals now to see what’s available.

Go.Compare also shared its top tips for switching providers for those intending to switch. Catherine Hiley added: “If you are going to switch, remember to compare deals to make sure you find a contract that meets your needs at a price that works for you. If you want to keep your current phone, have a look at SIM only plans as they’re often cheaper and more flexible.

“Make sure your device is unlocked, too. If it is locked to your provider, you can unlock it for free. It’s also worth checking how much data you tend to use each month and using that as a basis for your next deal, as this will help you to avoid overpaying for a data allowance that you don’t need.

“And Black Friday deals are fast arriving on the market. While it’s likely that your 30 days will be up before Black Friday weekend itself, plenty of networks are already releasing early Black Friday deals, so you might be able to find a bargain.”

More information about switching mobile network providers can be found on Go.Compare’s website and you can find the deals available on our mobile phone deals page.