Mobile phones cashback schemes - Page 2

derekgas · 05-12-2007, 18:51

Very unlucky HR, I think everybody has had something, I had 30k, which ultimately cost me 95k. More people get stung more locally and more subtly than this on a regular basis, if you look at the company website where I work, they have a very interesting fact sheet on the info page.

entwisi · 05-12-2007, 20:25

Lesley,
I believe you 'might' be able to get out of teh 12 month contract as teh Sale of Goods act says that your contract was with the phone co not the network operator. They 'broke' their side of teh contract so you can return teh phone and get out teh deal. One other option is to drop teh contract to teh cheapest possible one.

I'd do some asking at CAB if I was you or even one of those free saturday morning legal clinincs

harwood red · 06-12-2007, 01:28

Thanks Ian for your comments, unfortunately the air time 12 month contract was with the provider eg. vodaphone

I haven't had the time to contact the provider yet, but have heard that they are being reasonable so it is on my things to do tomorrow

entwisi · 06-12-2007, 07:31

Mmm, still worth asking a solicitor, I believe in this country the retailer is responsible for all subcontracts and dealing with all suppliers. e.g. if your TV breaks it is the shops responsibility not the manufacturers, you 'bought' a package from whichever of the ones that went bump. The fact that that contained a contact with voda should be irrelevant.

I read on a forum that if you push voda are offering £5/month contracts. Which operator are yours with?

Mick · 06-12-2007, 08:01

This is part of the report from the Watchdog program:

17 October 2007
Cashback is the secret weapon of the mobile phone industry. Offers of up to £1,000 cashback are used to lure customers into signing mobile phone contracts. But you know what they say about deals that sound too good to be true...

Viewers have complained that they haven't received their cash and have been left tied into high-cost contracts with the networks.

In August this year, retailer Mobile Connections/Dial a Mobile went out of business owing 60,000 customers an estimated £12m in cashback deals.

We've had complaints about other companies, too. Wayne Shepherd took out a 12-month mobile phone contract with Chatterbox.com in October 2006. The offer included cashback of £321 in three instalments. His contract has now expired, but he still hasn't received a single penny.

So why is the cash not coming back? Kevin Patel, CEO of Chatterbox.com, blames the networks. He claims 3 Mobile in particular has worked on the basis that only 40 per cent of customers bother to claim their cashback. He says the actual figure is more like 80 per cent - and that he can't afford to pay all those customers.

In August this year, the major networks agreed to a voluntary code of practice set out by Ofcom. They promised to protect consumers from the mis-selling of mobile phone contracts. Ofcom plans a review this week and will impose mandatory regulations if it's found the networks aren't protecting their customers.

3 says: "3 has never encouraged dealers to follow a 40 per cent redemption model. Cashback is an arrangement between retailers and the customers - the networks are not liable for any arrangements between the retailer and the customer. However, 3 is concerned by the cashback-related complaints it continues to receive and has an established process through which all cashback complaints are dealt with."

Orange says: "Orange does have a responsibility to ensure that its customers are supported appropriately. Any Orange customer who is unhappy with the way they have been treated by Dial a Mobile, and feels they have been signed up to a contract that does not suit their needs, should call Orange to change their package." The cheapest Orange monthly package is £20 per month.

There is also a video clip on there site

BBC - Consumer - TV and radio - Mobile Phone cashback offers

Neil · 06-12-2007, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by harwood red

I know how you feel cashy I have recently had 14k taken out of my pension fund...but that is a whole different story

That is another story we have talked about before.

Why/how was the money taken out?

harwood red · 06-12-2007, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

That is another story we have talked about before.

Why/how was the money taken out?

Ooo it's a long story, but it has actually been claimed back by the govt!!! but that would have to be another thread