Former O2 customers refunded after being overcharged for exit fees

The network has been writing to customers who switched away from it since 2013 and were overcharged early termination fees.

O2 is refusing to say how many customers are affected, but says the refunds are small. In most of the cases we've seen, they've been just a few pounds or even pennies.

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'I was overcharged in 2013 and now I've got a cheque for 18p'

Several former customers have posted on social media about their refunds, with some including images of the letters they've received from O2.

The letters include a cheque for the refund, plus 4% interest.

Early termination charges are sometimes charged by firms when a customer leaves their contract before their minimum term is over.

O2 generally works out these fees by adding together all agreed monthly airtime tariff charges for the remainder of your minimum term, factoring in any regular recurring discounts you're entitled to and then deducting VAT. You can find full details about this on its website.

Another tweeted: "Seems I was overcharged by O2 in 2013, so they kindly sent me a refund yesterday... I have a cheque for 18p!!"

A third, who got a cheque for 14p, said: "Probably would have been cheaper for you to keep the money you spent on sending me the refund tbh."

I think I was overcharged, how do I get a refund?

O2 is proactively contacting customers who have been overcharged and sending them a cheque, so you shouldn't need to do anything. It says all affected customers have been written to.

Customers who have moved home since being with O2 are still getting the letters, so it appears that even if you have moved, the letter should still reach you.

If you think you were overcharged but haven't received a letter, you can contact O2 on 0344 809 0202.

What does O2 say?

An O2 spokesperson said: "We identified that some customers who left O2 from 2013 onwards had paid an incorrect early termination charge. Any customer affected has been reimbursed."