Problems With Phones 4u!! Con Artists!

[exnavalgunner]

As you can tell by the title im very angry, Ive been a customer with phones 4u for a year and a half and ive paid my bills on time with direct debit, with absolutely no problem, then I received a text asking if I would like to upgrade my phone to a newer model as my contract was ending, So I rang the number up and requested a upgrade, the salesman sold me a new model and asked if I would like to keep my old number, took my bank account details and I requested to be debited on the 16th as I always have with phones 4u, So on the 9th a debit comes out for 47 pound, strange, so I ring Orange and they tell me my bill for the 16th is still getting taking out, The woman at Orange found it very strange , she mentioned for some strange reason phones 4u have created two accounts for me! So i went off it! phoned phones 4u , promised two phone calls back but nothing!, then phoned again today and it was like talking to a brick wall, he said I didnt upgrade my phone I just created a line connection! WHAT! why would I use two sim cards for one phone and pay 40 quid each tariff!!! doesnt make sense, then he says I was phoning him on my old contract but It was the number I kept on which the salesperson told me, I checked the sim afterwards and it was the new sim card they sent out and as Id said to the lad on the phone I have kept my old number!! honestly thick as ****. He asked me which way i want to resolve the problem and I said I want the other account closed you created and my money back, He turned round and said we cannot cancel the account !!!!!! smoke coming out my ears at this point. He said I have to give a months notice to cancel a account I never created!! sorry for the overuse on exclamation marks! then he turned round and said people do make mistakes! still no resolving, He reckons he will play the call back from once I upgraded and if in the conversation I wasnt asked to keep my old number and I was told it wasnt a upgrade, I wont have a leg to stand on, but if I have its my fault for being so silly and wanting to pay for two bills for a year and a half, so thats 80 quid a month at least out my pocket! how ridiculous! So im awaiting his call 48 hours he reckons, I will reply to this thread in forty eight hours. probably heard nothing.

Sorry for the long story but im at my wits ends and really stressed out, Is there anyone I could get advice from or action I could take,because as far as Im concerned they have abused my bank account and totally taking the **** out of a loyal customer.

Do Not upgrade or use Phones 4u!

Thanks for your time!

[stardust_john]

I dont trust them either. Recently closed contract with them after found out they had sold me vodafone when I wanted orange, the vodafone masts had been taken down and they told me 'they' chose vodafone as an alternative as they had accepted me. Orange later told me they had not turned me down and said in their store that off the record 'maybe vodafone was giving them more of a cut on that day'in answer to my confusion. I didnt even think of approaching orange directly I just got hijacked in by this polite salesman offering me 100.00 free that day if I signed up. As I was wanting a new phone it seemed a good idea and I was offered orange as I walked in and I was orange pay as you go prior. Turned out they were aware the reception for vodafone was intermitant and I had told them all along the line needed to be very good as due to illness I needed to rely on being able to use it, not get no connection, dough!!
Any how I got my way after a long argument after vodafone backed me up in the reception being known to be intermitant and they wrote it down for me to give to phones 4u, who told me later they knew there was a problem.
Incidently as I left the store originally with the contract they told me the sign outside saying 100.00 and told verbally we'll put it in your hand was not the case and in fact it would be credited to account after been with them one month.

So I would never believe a word they say again personally from my experience. They blatantly missold me and promised money in cash that day that they know didnt happend that way. Their answer to this was well its marketing and I replied fair enough but you have to be marketing the truth and not poop. They had no reply to that.

Recently walked by the store and a man said, come on in my friend you look very smart, we can do a deal, how would you like 100.00 cash 'today' and free. The manager turned round from his chair at this point and his jaw hit the ground, yes the sign and offer was still the same and he poor man recodnised me. I dont know how they are allowed to get away with it. I walked on.

I am sure there are some happy customers of phones 4 u and I would like to think my case to be fair is not the norm, but Ive heared some horrors of stories of them. Its obviously a case of commision based sales and get the signature.

MY RANT OVER

[buzby]

Sorry, but you were just as culpable as they were!

Did you never stop to ask yourself, that if this was really the same company your had your DD with, WHY would they have needed your details over the phone again, when they had them all already? This has all the makings of a disaster, and that's what happened as you've no proof of what transpired. They company could say you legitimately requested another phone contract, how can you prove that you didn't?

As to the payment, the bank will not recall it as by giving out these details, you were clearly expecting the firm to take the funds required, so no recall would be permitted. Once you get into the 'they said/I said' with no paper trail to prove the agreement (and they are not required to provide you with any recordings, as that's for their protection not yours) you are often on a hiding to nothing.

More positively, I think you should run this past your network, explaining you ordered an upgrade and you've been sold an additional contract, if they don't help, then complain to OFCOM who are investigating these trade 'mistakes' at the moment.