O2 (Virgin Media O2). 2202 is the O2 number for buying more data and adding Bolt Ons by phone. O2 lists it as its Marketing Interactive Voice Response line, open 24/7. We verified this against the operator's own published information on 13 August 2026; the sources are linked on this page.

I got a text from a short code I do not recognise – what should I do?

Do not tap any link in it and do not reply unless you are certain who the sender is. If it is marketing from a company you know, replying STOP to the short code shown in the message opts you out free. If it is unsolicited, forward it to 7726 free of charge and delete it - replying to an unknown sender only confirms your number is live.

2202 – Who Runs It, What It Costs & Is It Safe?

Q: Is 2202 free?

Free. Free from an O2 mobile, on both pay monthly and pay as you go.

Q: Is 2202 a scam number?

No. A short code cannot be spoofed in the way an ordinary phone number can, because you are the one starting the conversation. The risk runs the other way: fraudsters send texts that claim to be from a service like this one and ask you to reply or tap a link.

Short code: 2202
Type: Short dial code
Operated by: O2 (Virgin Media O2)
Cost: Free
Category: Mobile network self-service codes
Verified: 13 August 2026

What 2202 is for

The name is misleading: despite being labelled a marketing IVR in O2's contact tables, 2202 is not about marketing preferences. O2's own description is that you call it “to purchase more data and add Bolt Ons”.

It is free from an O2 mobile and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for pay monthly and pay as you go customers alike - wider hours than O2's main customer service lines.

If what you actually want is to stop marketing texts and calls, this is the wrong number. The Information Commissioner's Office enforces the rules and the Telephone Preference Service blocks live marketing calls.

What it costs

Free. Free from an O2 mobile, on both pay monthly and pay as you go.

Call 2202 — how it works

Dial 2202 free from your O2 phone, any time, to buy data or add a Bolt On.
For account questions use 202 (pay monthly) or 4445 (pay as you go) instead.

Is 2202 safe, and is it spoofed?

A short code cannot be spoofed in the way an ordinary phone number can, because you are the one starting the conversation. The risk runs the other way: fraudsters send texts that claim to be from a service like this one and ask you to reply or tap a link.

If a text or call is trying to rush you, threaten you, or get a password, one-time code or payment out of you, it is a scam whatever number it shows. Read our guide to the UK number ranges scammers use and how to spot a smishing text, and forward anything suspicious free to 7726.

Where this came from

We do not guess short codes. Every entry in this directory was checked against the organisation that runs the code, or against gov.uk or the regulator:

O2 – Contact us

Checked against this source on 13 August 2026. Short codes and their charges do change — if the operator’s page now says something different, believe the operator.

Checking an ordinary number instead

Short codes are not in Ofcom’s numbering data — only full UK numbers are. If it is a normal 01, 02, 03, 07, 08 or 09 number you want to identify, put it into the phone number checker and you will get its type, its area and the provider Ofcom allocated the range to.

Other UK short codes

150 · EE customer service and account texts 202 · O2 pay monthly customer service 4445 · O2 pay as you go customer service 4444 · O2 top-up service 21202 · O2 Charge to Mobile balance 333 · Three UK customer services

All verified UK short codes › · UK area codes › · UK network operators ›

2202 — O2 line for buying data and Bolt Ons