mobiles.co.uk

[morgie36]

My girlfriend bought a phone from mobiles.co.uk at the weekend on a half-price line rental/cashback deal. I have heard many a horror story about various cashback schemes from other websites, but cannot find any complaints about this particular website.

 

Has anyone had any good/bad experiences with mobiles.co.uk?

[skbuncks]

Hi Morgie

 

Not heard anything bout the company but do make sure your GF goes through the terms and conditions of the cashback scheme with a fine toothcomb as they may try to wheddle out of paying if you dont stick to them to the letter

 

skb

[buzby]

As it's too late to avoid - keep us all posted. I'll be nice to hear of at least one cashback scheme that didn't end in tears.

[jonni2bad]

I've never dealt with this particular company before, but reading through their T&Cs for cash-back, they seem quite simple and do not have some of the obvious trip-ups that less reputable sites can include.

 

They are also quite open about their contact details and list their data controller's name. There is an email addy and phone number shown for cash-back queries too - all this is very encouraging.

 

Follow the terms closely, make a copy of the bills before you send them, and make sure you send claims by SPECIAL DELIVERY, not recorded. It costs slightly more but is well worth the extra.

 

I have had many cash-back deals in the past and they have all gone very well, although I have always stuck to the bigger operators in this field (CPW for example). I tend to advise people looking for these deals to go with such names because their T&Cs are not designed to catch you out.

 

I don't need cash-back deals at the moment because Three give fantastic deals to existing customers - if you don't want a phone upgrade and are prepared to ask for a great deal !!!

 

No claims to make (all the 'deal' money is credited to your mobile account automatically), 200mins and 100texts along with some pic and vid messages too - all for £20 for the year... Can't ask for more than that

[ruggy]

do not use this bucket shop

 

 

 

see all my emails below from them

 

From:

Sent: 14 July 2009 15:15

To:

Subject: TID 675022 Re:

 

Hello,

 

Your handset should be with you tomorrow before 1pm.

 

Regards,

 

--

xxxxxxxx

Cashback Administrator

 

 

 

I cannot believe I got this message after your emails unbelievable (see below) who is lying? all I want is a phone call .please do the decent thing I’m on

 

 

Hello

 

Our lines are busy today and are unable to make outgoing calls,

 

Sorry for any inconvenience, you should get through soon enough.

 

From:

Sent: 13 July 2009 15:27

To:

Subject: RE: Your order with Mobiles.co.uk

 

 

Hello,

 

A member of our processing team has tried phoning on the contact number provided on your order but it is appearing as invalid. Please provide a contact number to contact you on and we will phone you shortly.

 

Regards,

 

_____________

Operations Supervisor

Mobiles.co.uk Ltd.

 

www.mobiles.co.uk

Mobile News Awards Best Online Retailer 2007 & 2008

Mobile Awards Best Online Retailer 2007

Mobiles.co.uk is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC Registered in England No. 06320783 at 1, Portal Way, London W3 6RS

 

From:

Sent: 13 July 2009 15:06

To:

Subject: RE: Your order with Mobiles.co.uk

 

 

Just been on hold again for 30 mins “Subject: TID 675022 Re:

Hello

 

Thank you for your email

 

Your order has been sent to our warehouse for next day delivery” It was ordered on thursday why has it taken until now ?

From:

To:

Sent: Mon Jul 13 13:59:20 2009

Subject: TID 675022 Re:

Hello

 

Thank you for your email

 

Your order has been sent to our warehouse for next day delivery.

 

From:

Sent: 13 July 2009 13:19

To:

Subject: Your order with Mobiles.co.uk

 

 

Hi,

 

We have received your e-mail regarding difficulty contacting our processing team to discuss your order.

 

Please provide us with your order number and a contact number which we can speak to you on to help speed up the process of your order.

 

We apologise for the delay.

 

Regards,

 

_____________

Operations Supervisor

Mobiles.co.uk Ltd.

www.mobiles.co.uk

Mobile News Awards Best Online Retailer 2007 & 2008

Mobile Awards Best Online Retailer 2007

Mobiles

Edited August 12, 2009 by alanfromderby
Personal and confidential details removed

[wuggahumpstamuff]

Keep away from mobiles .co .uk

I sent in my mobile-phone bill (on time, by registered post etc. etc. etc.) as per the smallprint & still did not get my cash back.

 

They provide no telephone number for you to call them on

If you write to them, they ignore you

If you e-mail them, you get an automated reply to say that they got your e-mail, & nothing else.

 

I tried a letter threatening further action - they ignored it.

... and there's nothing I can do about it, except warn other people not to make the same mistake ( don't buy from mobiles.co.uk ).

 

It's a [problem].

 

They hope that their offers will pursuade you to buy through them, but can't/don't give the cash-back that they offer.

 

You have been warned !!!

[WebMaster]

I was just looking at this site this afternoon actually, was quite tempted by one of their deals (even dispite it being a cashback scheme)

[Lee Vodafone Company Rep]

Hi wuggahumpstamuff,

 

While there's not a representative on here from Mobiles.co.uk they do frequently visit MSE Forum and so it may be worth posting on there to see if things can be resolved for you that way.

 

All the best.

 

Lee

 

Web Relations Team

 

Vodafone UK

[wuggahumpstamuff]

WebMaster: If you do succumb to the temptation of their offers, I STRONGLY recommend that you avoid the option of Cash-back by redemption ... (unless you want to kiss goodbye to your money of course).

With the other offers (immediate cash-back, or a gift etc.), at least you have the option of cancelling your contract early on & therefore not paying the full contract price - if you don't receive your cash-back/gift.

+

There are a few other pitfalls to look out for:

You are automatically given 1 month free "Gadget Helpline" and "Phone Care" which you will have to pay for if you neglect/forget to cancel it.

If you buy a "Clearance Phone" you could find that it doesn't work as these are usually phones that other customers have returned as faulty.

etc. etc. etc.

 

 

Lee Vodaphone: Many thanks for your response.

I am new here, so it would be helpful if you could tell me what MSE is & point me in the right direction.

Thanks again.

 

P.S. I am about to send my 12th month invoice to Mobiles.co.uk.

I will return here to let you know whether I get a response from them this time.

 

.

[locutus]

MSE = moneysavingexpert.com (martin lewis from the TV's website)

[wuggahumpstamuff]

Thank you locutus.

I'll check it out.

 

 

...

 

 

Checked it out & posted

See: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=32123327#post32123327

 

 

Thanks guys.

Edited April 22, 2010 by wuggahumpstamuff

[Lee Vodafone Company Rep]

Hi wuggahumpstamuff,

 

I'm pleased to see that locutus has been on hand to clarify things for you.

 

Hopefully a positive outcome can be reached here - be sure to keep us updated.

 

Thanks,

 

Lee

 

Web Relations Team

 

Vodafone UK

[wuggahumpstamuff]

Will do, Lee

 

... and thanks again.

[wuggahumpstamuff]

Here's an update:

 

 

I sent my 12th month mobile phone bill to mobiles.co.uk to claim back the line-rental.

Here's their reply:

 

---------------------------------------------------

 

To claim your discounted line rental, we would have needed

to receive your bill dated 24th March 2010 by 23rd April

2010, we received it 26th April 2010.

 

As per our terms and conditions the correct bill must be

received by us within 30 days of the bill date.

Unfortunately we are unable to authorise your claim.

 

Full details of our terms and conditions can be found on

our website at:

http://www.mobiles.co.uk/free_gift_hplr.htm

 

---------------------------------------------------

 

If you follow the link to their terms & conditions,

& click on "How to claim Discounted Line Rental"

you'll see that customers have 60 days (not 30 days) to send in their phone bills.

 

 

Crooks?

[HerrMaker]

I too have had problems.

 

I called them when I recieved my March bill and was told i needed to send my April bil.. I sent my april bill and was told I wa stoo late and should have snet my March bill.

 

They refuse to consider this and wont budge.

 

what happens if i cancel my DD and stop paying them. who will chase me, mobiles.co.uk or Orange?

[buzby]

Orange. Who will tell you it is nothing to do with them, then wreck your credit file. Cashback deals are designed to discourage successful collection, complain to Orange about them, bur don't default.

[Surfer01]

Avoid at all costs. In 2006 I took out two phones with them where the 1st GB download per month was free and therafter it was £4 per GB and had that in writing. I thought this was quite a good deal and agreed a 12 month contract.

My third phone bill arrived with a whopping £700 bill. I was then told that it was £4 per megabyte despite me having it in writing that it was £4 per GB. Eventually the bill was reduced by about £300 leaving £400 outstanding as I could not pay this on top of my normal monthly bill, I got defaulted.

I still have all the evidence and wonder if there is any timeframe for claiming back?

[buzby]

6 years (5 in Scotland) but don't hang about!

[wuggahumpstamuff]

Hey, Surfer01.

 

Having it in writing doesn't seem to mean anything to mobiles.co.uk

 

I have an e-mail from them from January.

Subject: Claim Approved

Body: ... Your line rental claim has been approved and your cheque will be processed shortly. ...

 

I haven't received anything yet.

 

 

Maybe having it in writing would mean more to a solicitor.

It's worth a try.

 

From experience; I wouldn't bother trying

Consumer Direct

Trading Standards

Citizens advice

or OFCOM

 

(Long story, but you'd be sent around in circles).

My advice is "Ask a solicitor".

[Stella!!]

I have also had massive problems with mobiles.co.uk - ongoing since last year. After I sent a 30 page recorded delivery letter they agreed they were wrong on one thing and said they would process my cashback claim for December 2009 - every time I email them about it I just get an email back saying "bill not submitted in timeframe" so back to where I started!.

 

DO NOT, (PLEASE), DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY FOR CASHBACK ON MOBILE PHONES. You will save yourself a lot of frustration and massive amounts of time if you go elsewhere.

 

As everyone says, you cannot speak to anyone and they just ignore what you say in your emails.

 

Disgusting behaviour and completely unprofessional company. I don't understand why Orange use them.

[hate_mobiles]

They are trying every dirty tactic to refuse cashback claim.

 

1. No acknowledgement / confirmation is send for submitting bill for cashback purpose, whereas for any other query you receive instant auto-mated acknowledgement (though not a resolution.)

 

2. Mail informing that your claim is rejected is send very late..20-30 days after passing the timeline.

 

3. Some claims are be made in 30days, but there website says 60 days. However they are shameless enough to contradict their own website and refuse your claim if the bill is not received within 30 days of bill date.

 

After having experienced all the above (2 claims rejected), I wont be surprised if they bin all the claims received by post.

 

A MUST AVOID COMPANY - mobiles.co.uk (A Carephone Warehouse group company)

[biggeorge]

Never personally used these but my daughter and her boyfriend have.

 

I have never gone for the cash back deals as there is always too many clauses in the way to get your cash back if you don't follow the rules.

 

Daughter and her boyfriend both got the Tocca when it 1st came out with a free laptop and Nintendo Wii + Wii Fit board.

Both phones and gifts delivered next day without any problems.

 

Never go for cash back deals,get a free gift and just sell gift if you don't want it and you have your cash back yourself in one lump sum.

 

George

 

I actually watch this site for latest phones coming out as they are the quickest to update.

[justaconsumer999]

Hi hate_mobiles, just thought you may feel a bit better if you knew you were not the only one.

 

Mobiles.co.uk are also fiercely defending a decision to withhold a cash-back claim that is within the 60 day period. The matter has been "escalated" within the company but I've heard nothing so planning to take it to small claims court and get the money I owe and some compensation for the wasted time and effort. They must assume most customers will just back out ... not likely.

 

This cash-back nonsense is just a thinly disguised way of cheating people. Any spurious reason for delaying payment is made. Once they have your cash, you're lost.

 

Good luck with you claim.

 

Anyone reading this, DON'T BUY FROM MOBILES.CO.UK . Look at the forums. There are only two types of review;

1) never needed to get customer assistance (fair- good rating)

2) needed to get customer services, and THEN IT ALL GOES TO S*^T (one star, and that is being generous)

[martinja1]

My girlfriend bought a phone from mobiles.co.uk at the weekend on a half-price line rental/cashback deal. I have heard many a horror story about various cashback schemes from other websites, but cannot find any complaints about this particular website.

 

Has anyone had any good/bad experiences with mobiles.co.uk?

 

I have had a nightmare with mobiles.co.uk cash back, I had no problems the 1st & 2nd claim but on the 3rd & 4th claim mobiles.co.uk just ignored all emails and online claims. I contacted Carphone Warehouse but they refused to have any involvement and claimed although they owned Mobiles.co.uk they had their own procedure and nothing to do with CPW. But, all the cash back cheques are directly from CPW and are clearly marked CPW. I would advise do not use Mobiles.co.uk if you want cash back use another otherwise you are going to have a nightmare like me trying to get the cash back cheque. I am currently trying to get the 4th cheque at this moment and the will be trying again in 3 months to get the last cheque, they are just not worth the effort.

[locutus]

I think that goes for all cash-back schemes. The business plan is to put too many hoops in the way for anyone to actually receive any cash back.