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How do I top-up my O2 dongle?

Our Broadband Expert says...

Hi Tom,

Thanks for getting in touch. It might seem like a straightforward question, but when it comes to mobile broadband, O2 does things quite differently from other providers. While the likes of Three (www.Three.co.uk) and Vodafone (www.Vodafone.co.uk) let you top-up with vouchers, your only choice with O2 is to purchase credit online.

If that’s not possible - maybe you don’t have a debit or credit card - then an O2 Pay & Go mobile broadband package is perhaps not right for you. Maybe consider a Pay Monthly contract instead, or think about switching provider for more ways to top-up your pay-as-you-go (PAYG) mobile broadband account.

How do I top-up my O2 dongle?

While some mobile broadband providers allow you to top-up with vouchers, the only option for O2 customers is to purchase credit online. Unfortunately, the PAYG methods available to O2 mobile phone users, such as E Top-Up or vouchers from a shop, do not apply with mobile broadband top-ups.

You can add credit to your account by logging in to the O2 website’s mobile broadband area, which is accessible for users to check and top-up their balance even when it’s at zero. You will need to enter your mobile broadband number and make your purchase with a credit or debit card.

Where can I find my mobile broadband number?

When you access the O2 website to top-up your PAYG account, you will be asked to enter a mobile broadband number. This can be found on the holder your Pay & Go sim card arrived in. Alternatively, in O2 Connection Manager, you’ll find it in Settings > My Details.

What if I can’t top-up online?

Tom, you say topping up online may not be possible for you? Unfortunately, with O2 mobile broadband there is no alternative method. If you’re unable to purchase credit from the website - or perhaps you’d just rather use a voucher - O2 Pay & Go is not really for you.

If you decide against using O2 Pay & Go for your mobile broadband, there are two main options to consider. You could swap over to an O2 Pay Monthly contract that won’t require topping up, or maybe you could switch to another PAYG provider which allows voucher top-ups.

What are the alternatives?

If you decide that O2 Pay & Go mobile broadband isn’t for you and you want to either switch package or provider, these are the alternatives available to you:

O2 Pay Monthly - You could eliminate the need to top-up your dongle all together by opting instead for a monthly data allowance from O2. For around £10 a month, you get 1GB of data, which should be enough for about 40 minutes of browsing each day. The Pay Monthly option also gives you unlimited Wi-Fi access and there’s no long-term commitment, as it’s a 30-day rolling contract.

Switch provider - If you’ve changed your mind about O2 mobile broadband - and a monthly contract isn’t your cup of tea - you might want to consider switching provider. You could even get a refund on your dongle - provided it’s less than 30 days since purchase - thanks to the O2 Happiness Guarantee. Other mobile broadband providers include Three, Vodafone and T-Mobile (www.T-Mobile.co.uk) - all of which allow you to top-up your PAYG account with vouchers. To get the best deal for you, compare mobile broadband packages. Remember that when you’re choosing a mobile broadband network, coverage is just as important as speed and price. The main providers allow you to check availability by postcode, so you can be sure you’ll get a reliable connection in your area. It’s worth running checks on a few different postcodes - all the places you’ll be using your broadband most often. These might include your house, where you work and the local pub, for example.

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