Phones4U

[Renzo]

Ok. I agreed a contract last November with a 'chequeback' scheme. I pay 40 a month then every 3 months send off some forms and get 60 back, essentially making it 20 a month. I thought it was too good to be true at the time. I went to Phones4U yesterday after having waited 2 months to get my money (30 days wait maximum they said) They said they didnt know what to do and put me on the phone to the specialist department. Ever so conveniently they have no record of ever receiving it because i "didnt send it my recorded delivery" Something that i never thought i had to do as it wasnt mentioned anywhere. As a result im out of pocket by £60 and dont have a form to try again for the next £60 this month. Not that i would trust them to do it... What can I do to try and get the money I'm owed? Write to head office perhaps?

Also Vodaphone wont let me reduce my contract for another 3 months :(

I feel so stupid.

[Splodgey]

Surely if you agreed this contract with Phones4U and you have held up your end of the bargain by paying £40 a month (I presume you have bank statements to show this) then I can't see they have much choice but to refund you...

Do you have any paperwork at all from when you first agreed the contract that refers to this cashback scheme?

[Renzo]

Surely if you agreed this contract with Phones4U and you have held up your end of the bargain by paying £40 a month (I presume you have bank statements to show this) then I can't see they have much choice but to refund you...

Do you have any paperwork at all from when you first agreed the contract that refers to this cashback scheme?

Yep i took in it there yesterday and i will again later saying vodaphone wont let me reduce the contract. I wonder how many other peoples chequeback forms have "no record of being received". Cunts.

[cocoonrecs]

Just unlucky I think. About 3 of my mates have had no problem with P4U chequeback. I did one through CPW again without problems.

Just be persistant.

[Calvin]

Sounds like you have been had mate. Take comfort from the fact your probably not the first or last.

If you have the time and inclination, you could read through the small print and see what the terms of the offer are. If you think you have a case then you could write them a letter. To which they will probably fob you off. If you are really determined then you could send legal letter, but be prepared to fight for it.

Good luck

:thumb:

[Renzo]

Sounds like you have been had mate. Take comfort from the fact your probably not the first or last.

If you have the time and inclination, you could read through the small print and see what the terms of the offer are. If you think you have a case then you could write them a letter. To which they will probably fob you off. If you are really determined then you could send legal letter, but be prepared to fight for it.

Good luck

:thumb:

They say they are not responsible for anything being 'lost' If i can get another form, one which i should have been sent back with mymoney, im going to send it via recorded delivery seeing as im due a further 60 this month. Im not letting them get away with this though. Letter writing will be happening, and i can get help from my housemate who worked for her MP over the summer so knows how to do these sorts of things.

I really dont want to go in later and be barking mad though, i will try to be civil but that got me nowhere yesterday.

That got me nowhere. I have to call the special department dealing with it again apparantly just to get another bloody form. Im not letting them con me out of next months because IF they give me one they will undoubtably take 8 years to send it.

[girl with sharp teeth]

If you think they are being deliberately obstructive and have therefore "missold" you the deal then you can take it up with Trading Standards.

Have a look here (http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/before_you_buy/thinking_about/mobile-phones/) for more advice.

[Renzo]

im on the phone as we speak apparantly any failed claims invalidate any future claims s. so its very convenient my 1st has gone missing. bastards i cant afford this. im on hold again. pricks.

Apparantly they will call me tomorrow. Im not holding out for much. And vodaphone wont downgrade my contract for 3 more months.

Some letter writing will need to be done.

[Renzo]

Suprise, suprise they didnt call me. I will have to ring them again. Bastards absolute fucking money grabbing bastards.

[Calvin]

If I was you. I would get a bucket load of horse shit and throw it in their store. Might not get you your money back but it will make you feel better. :D

[Thunderstruck]

I'm with Vodafone that I got from Phones4U and so far they've been great. I've got a good deal, on Vodafone (which means good coverage, especially at home) and once, when Vodafone mis-billed me (only took 100 free minutes off instead of 500), I called them, they apologised and gave me the credit on my next bill. I guess there are always going to be people who get had or have problems.

[Simba T Lion]

Have you tried talking to your bank or credit card or whatever method you used to pay? They are quite good with getting your money back, or at the least, giving you the money back and then taking the hit themselves.

[DG]

Ok. I agreed a contract last November with a 'chequeback' scheme. I pay 40 a month then every 3 months send off some forms and get 60 back, essentially making it 20 a month. I thought it was too good to be true at the time. I went to Phones4U yesterday after having waited 2 months to get my money (30 days wait maximum they said) They said they didnt know what to do and put me on the phone to the specialist department. Ever so conveniently they have no record of ever receiving it because i "didnt send it my recorded delivery" Something that i never thought i had to do as it wasnt mentioned anywhere. As a result im out of pocket by £60 and dont have a form to try again for the next £60 this month. Not that i would trust them to do it... What can I do to try and get the money I'm owed? Write to head office perhaps?

Also Vodaphone wont let me reduce my contract for another 3 months :(

I feel so stupid.


I've used cashback for like 4 or 5 years now, but always online - decent companies send you an email when they get the claim form

But yes recorded delivery is always a good idea

[Renzo]

CUNTS

Fobbed me off again in a letter basically saying they have no recollection of my claim so cant do anything so im not getting anything back.

Robbing motherfuckers. And vodaphone still wont reduce my contracted.

:(

[Calvin]

What you going to do now then ?

[Sofie]

I thought your contract couldn't be reduced anyway? Well, that's what I got told. And if you want it reduced, you have to pay for the remainder of the contract or something?

[Territt]

its not really there fault that they didnt receive the form? is it?

[Jim V]

They haven't said they didn't recieve the form though - they've said they don't have a record of recieving it in their books, which is a pretty different thing - it's actually very unusual for mail not to arrive these days.

[Renzo]

its not really there fault that they didnt receive the form? is it?

Seems convenient for it to get lost in the post though doesnt it. Sigh.

[Calvin]

There is nothing to stop them shredding all the documents received that didn't come recorded delivery, and saying the didn't receive it.

After all there is no current way of customers knowing individually they have all been had. :thumb:

Sorry Renzo; I'm sure that didn't reassure you :(

[lipsy]

Sigh.

That sort of defeatist attitude won't get you anywhere! :p
I would totally kick off! Threaten to cancel the contract, stop direct debits, get onto head office, amke a scene in the shop, bring my mum with me and let her shout at them.. anything to get that money back from those thieving cunts.


I have a similar deal with carphone warehouse that I've just started. They better not pull any tricks!

[Renzo]

That sort of defeatist attitude won't get you anywhere! :p
I would totally kick off! Threaten to cancel the contract, stop direct debits, get onto head office, amke a scene in the shop, bring my mum with me and let her shout at them.. anything to get that money back from those thieving cunts.


I have a similar deal with carphone warehouse that I've just started. They better not pull any tricks!

Phones4U are the middlemen i suppose. My contract is with Vodaphone who always said the Phones4U is nothing to do with them. They're in it together i bet. :mad:

[Territt]

it will just teach you to send it recorded next time, you have no proof that they have done anything wrong,

[Jim V]

Nor do they have any proof he's done anything wrong - I'm a bit unclear when a major multi-national is in some way allowed to be incompetent, but a user of their service has to always get everything perfect.

And if their contract doesn't say you have to send it recorded delivery there's no legal reason they should blame you for not doing so.

[HanHan]

im on the phone as we speak apparantly any failed claims invalidate any future claims.

Also - does it say this anywhere in the small print?? Sounds like a bit of a suspect 'rule' to me....:chin:

[Calvin]

Also - does it say this anywhere in the small print?? Sounds like a bit of a suspect 'rule' to me....:chin:

It probably is in the small print someone, printed in so small you cant read it.

[Renzo]

It probably is in the small print someone, printed in so small you cant read it.

It says it on the terms and conditions which i read through when i got it then forgot about. Just seems to be them covering their backs to me mind. They could have shredded it as far as i know. Its not my fault so i want my money. £180 isnt a lot for a big faceless conning coperation but it is for me. Considering if i got the money i would me much less into my overdraft.

[HanHan]

It says it on the terms and conditions which i read through when i got it then forgot about. Just seems to be them covering their backs to me mind. They could have shredded it as far as i know. Its not my fault so i want my money. £180 isnt a lot for a big faceless conning coperation but it is for me. Considering if i got the money i would me much less into my overdraft.

Hmmm...sorry to say it, but if they've physically put it in their T & Cs (and it's not just some blah blah bullshit line they've spun you over the phone), then you probably don't have a leg to stand on...it's not right, it's not fair, and a little understanding and a good will gesture on their part (like giving you your money back) would go a long way, but the point is, it doesn't sound like they HAVE to at all...:(

[Renzo]

Hmmm...sorry to say it, but if they've physically put it in their T & Cs (and it's not just some blah blah bullshit line they've spun you over the phone), then you probably don't have a leg to stand on...it's not right, it's not fair, and a little understanding and a good will gesture on their part (like giving you your money back) would go a long way, but the point is, it doesn't sound like they HAVE to at all...:(

I know. Covering their shredding of my forms i bet. The thing is its not MY fault it failed.

[Mushroom Boy]

Rather than whingeing about it, you should be active and do something about it.

Start by contacting Consumer Direct (http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/) or your local Trading Standards.

[Renzo]

Rather than whingeing about it, you should be active and do something about it.

Start by contacting Consumer Direct (http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/) or your local Trading Standards.

I have some something twice. Numerous phone calls and the letter. Im not sure if i can go as far as accusing them of purposefully destroying it though, i think its highly possible mind...

I can still try more though. It says nowhere on the forms to send it via recorded delivery but thats the first thing they ask about when you call them up about it.

[Mushroom Boy]

Keep at them about it. You don't get anywhere with robbing bastards like these by giving up at the first hurdle.

Be as much a pain as possible, because if you are annoying enough they'll give you a "goodwill" payment. If they're not paying you you should consider not paying the contractual money.

A professional adviser, such as at Consumer Direct, will probably be able to help you structure an argument against them.

[cocoonrecs]

it will just teach you to send it recorded next time, you have no proof that they have done anything wrong,

Helpful ?!

[Bri-namite]

Local trading standards is the way to go, they will help you with it.

The most important thing to remember is that your issue is with Phones 4U and not Vodafone, who don't seem to have done anything wrong, Your contract is technically with Phones 4U, and they're solely responsible for your cashback and other offers - so Vodafone are under no obligation to reduce your contract outwith their own Terms and Conditions.

Having worked for 3, I can assure you that you're not alone because Phones 4U are amazingly incompetent and do stuff like this regularly. Keep Vodafone on your side though, if you start ranting at them then that'll come over on the notes on your account and you'll look more like a moany bastard trying to wangle some freebies, rather than an innocent young Welshman who just wants his money ;)

[Renzo]

Keep at them about it. You don't get anywhere with robbing bastards like these by giving up at the first hurdle.

Be as much a pain as possible, because if you are annoying enough they'll give you a "goodwill" payment. If they're not paying you you should consider not paying the contractual money.

A professional adviser, such as at Consumer Direct, will probably be able to help you structure an argument against them.

Probably is that the money goes to vodaphone not phones4U. I'm going to give phones4U more calls tomorrow. Managers will be requested. My housemate had to do somethign vaguely similar to get anywhere when a comet van smashed into her parked car and they wouldnt pay up!

And yes local trading too. Thanks Bri. Im not that innocent though, or young! 21 now gosh.

[DG]

You've got to be well careful with cashback schemes - I came across one recommended from Money Supermarket in an email this week. First it was an affiliate link so they instantly get like £110 to £30 commission if you signed up from that email.

Then I read the terms and the mobile phone company has so many clauses it's near impossible to get everything to them on time for the cashback. 1 tiny mistake or lost document and you're stuffed.

There's only 2 companies I can really recommend for cashback deals and both are online.

If the company says only original documents will be accepted that's a bit alarm bell to me.

cos if they go missing at your end or theirs you can't claim back the money.