Voicemail issue has caused me distress and upset- how can I prove this error?

[ExasperatedMoi]

I turned off my voicemail as it became overwhelming. I asked people email or text if I didn't answer. But people did leave voicemails and somehow left me messages on my voicemail, when I'd turned it off. They told me they'd left voicemails but I knew I turned up off, so obviously I told them that... To now discover that even though I rang the number to turn it off, that because I have the O2 app, the voicemail was still, somehow active (from my research it looks this way). One of the main issues with this situation is that, when I turned off the voicemail (or so I thought) all notifications for missed calls when I had no signal, stopped. The voicemail notification stayed there, no matter what I did. I turned the voicemail back on, check it, no messages, still that notification stares back at me, mockingly. I turned the voicemail off, again. Nothing changed. And now I'm told people are leaving me voicemails, that I don't know about, I get no missed calls, and I can't hear the messages. I told everyone that I have no voicemail. I look like a liar, which is now a serious matter. I am not a liar, but I certainly look like one now. 

How do I prove whats happened? I've got a lot going on, and this has really caused me great stress and upset. I need to show I've not lied, that an error has occurred... Or I'm seriously concerned of what might happen. 

If nothing can be done, I'll end my contract early, pay the fees and never go near O2 again. 

Who knew such a silly thing like turning off a feature would cause such devastation? Ridiculous. 

I can't turn off the voicemail via the app either. I've tried. There's no "settings" option. No voicemail option. And turning it off completely, now, is too little too late. 

[MI5]

1760 turns off VM.

Having the app makes no difference to its operation.

Persistent messages can be cleared by leaving a new message and deleting it once listened to.

Guide: All you need to know about O2 Voicemail 901 

[pgn]

All we have in O2 Voicemail here, @ExasperatedMoi 

Guide: All you need to know about O2 Voicemail 901 and Guide: How to fix stuck voicemail notification 

Do ensure your phone settings are not configured for Visual Voicemail as well.

I have not used Voicemail for decades, anyone wants you they will call back.

[ExasperatedMoi]

That's got nothing to do with what I asked. I turned off voicemail. People say they're leaving me voicemails. I checked. No messages. I turned it off again. Still there's a persistent notification, no matter how many times I ring up the voicemail, to have no messages, turn it off... and people say they're still leaving me voicemails, we are talking about the police and my son's college, yet there's no messages on my voicemail. There's a persistent notification. No matter what I do. I'm leaving O2. That's the actual answer to my problem. Because ringing 1760, says it turns it off... yet the notifications and people say otherwise.

[MI5]

Guide: Cancelling Your Contract 

[pgn]

Is your phone out of network range when these calls were received @ExasperatedMoi?

Guide: How can I sort out my network issues? 

Is your phone diverted to another phone number, and this phone's voicemail has your messages?

Are your contacts dialling the correct number for your phone?

Contract cancellation info as shared above sounds like your preferred course of action. Good luck!

[snukems]

This is sort of similar to my ongoing issue. I have had an issue since Sept 2023, if others phone me and get through to voicemail, they are greeted with the this persons mailbox is full. It isn't and I don't have any voicemails at all when I check. As a result I am also unable to use my voicemail and have even been told off  by medical professionals trying to urgently talk to me as they think its my fault for not clearing my mailbox!  I am currently having someone on here trying to help get this fixed as its got so bad I've had a new sim card, three different upgrades, numerous complaints that seem to mysteriously get closed and tech teams looking into the issues only to give up without really trying. As far as I can tell this all seems to be related to the way the system was changed when they upgraded the accounts as that was when my problems began. Apparently they have done a service repair on my number today and still this issue is there. I'm now at the point like you where I feel like I want to leave O2 and take this higher up as I am not getting part of a service I pay for and haven't for almost 2 years. Have you checked your voicemail number in your settings? My husband, son and my daughter voicemails all have 3 different long numbers which im assuming is their personal mailbox numbers but I don't appear to have one. I am convinced if I did then my voicemail would likely work. Let us know if you figure your issue out. 

[MI5]

@snukems 

You can just add 901 as your voicemail number.

[netscape]

@ExasperatedMoi 

What happens when you call your number from another phone? Can you leave voicemails? If you can't its likely that the people are calling the wrong number for some reason. If you can, then you'd need to contact O2 - perhaps pop into one of the shops if you don't want to call them.

Also, some phones, specifically the latest iPhones, have on device voicemail as well as the network provider one. Turning off O2s voicemail won't turn the on device voicemail off, you need to do that in the phones settings (Settings -> Apps -> Phone -> Live Voicemail -> turn the setting to 'off')

[pgn]

If you do decide to pop into an O2 shop for this, @ExasperatedMoi, as pointed out by @netscape above - remember to take some form of valid photo id with you, or a couple of utility bills from different providers in your name at your address if you have no photo id (not all carry a driving licence or passport, for various reasons). Without some valid id, shop staff will not be able to help you. Good luck!