The Mobile Outlet: any good? (merged)

patricia1066 · 31 July 2006 at 10:25PM

/I am contemplating going for one of these deals (possibly more and putting them on ebay??) and seek a simple answer from those who have had past experience: to deal or not to deal?/

Mobile Outlet terms

17.2 Contract/Pay monthly customers must stay connected to the network for a minimum of 12 months as agreed. If you disconnect before this time and we receive a 'disconnection report' from your network you will be charged the full RRP of the handset via your credit/debit card.

17.3 When you buy a contract/pay monthly package from us you must use the provided sim card with the provided phone. If we receive a 'non usage report' from the network that you are connected to, you will be charged the full retail price of the handset via your credit/debit card details.

As to whether its worth it - ask me in 12 months. CPW promise to match other deals - why not try them as at least they have retail premises.

itstomhi · 6 August 2006 at 2:22PM

Can anyone tell me if there is any way for the network provider to find out what phone you are using? I intend on using the provided sim card but not with the provided phone. Can they tell?
Would really a preciate a quick reply from anyone who knows.

Cheers

bassman · 6 August 2006 at 4:35PM

itstomhi wrote:

Can anyone tell me if there is any way for the network provider to find out what phone you are using? I intend on using the provided sim card but not with the provided phone. Can they tell?
Would really a preciate a quick reply from anyone who knows.

Cheers

See this thread I started a couple of days ago,

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=2624179&posted=1#post2624179

bassman

s71hj · 8 August 2006 at 7:03PM

When it comes to sending in the cashback claim form, is it necessary to go for special delivery, or is recorded signed for sufficient in people's experience. Also is there anything else I need to be aware of, as I'm about to send mine and my oh's 6month 1st instalment claim in, and therefore have £360 dependant on me getting it right!!

bassman · 8 August 2006 at 9:07PM

s71hj wrote:

When it comes to sending in the cashback claim form, is it necessary to go for special delivery, or is recorded signed for sufficient in people's experience. Also is there anything else I need to be aware of, as I'm about to send mine and my oh's 6month 1st instalment claim in, and therefore have £360 dependant on me getting it right!!

Normally I would have said Recorded would be ample, but although Dialaphone themselves have acknowledged receipt of my recently posted (by recorded delivery) redemption form, I am unable to track it on the Post Offices website, indicating that the postman didnt get a signature......so have relied on Dialaphones honesty rather than the so called safety of the "Recorded Delivery System".....If you do decide on Special Delivery.........I still dont think you can claim from the post office if it is lost, as the insurance doesnt cover consequential loss......as really the letter itself is worth nothing, but the consequences of it not being delivered are £360.....

Check at your PO for "consequential loss" insurance

PS....make sure you photocopy everything you send...just in case.

and another thought....are you ok to send them both in the same envelope....read your T and C's

bassman · 13 August 2006 at 10:27PM

s71hj wrote:

When it comes to sending in the cashback claim form, is it necessary to go for special delivery, or is recorded signed for sufficient in people's experience. Also is there anything else I need to be aware of, as I'm about to send mine and my oh's 6month 1st instalment claim in, and therefore have £360 dependant on me getting it right!!

Just found this re my above post on "consequential loss".......... when using "Special next day delivery"

Consequential loss

If you send an item that could be costly if it is lost, damaged or delayed in transit, then take advantage of our consequential loss cover of up to £10,000

What it costs Maximum compensation
£1.25 £1,000
£1.60 £2,500
£2.10 £5,000
£2.60 £7,500
£3.15 £10,000

Hope this helps..........

SaverDude_2 · 14 August 2006 at 3:13AM

11.3 If your cash back entitlement is more than £201 for a 12 month contract, you have to claim your money back in a 5 stage process. This cash back offer is conditional upon you complying with the exact terms of this clause. The steps in point 11.1, 11.2 only apply to contracts where the cash back entitlement is £200 or less. To claim cash back in cases where your entitlement is £201 and above you need to comply with the following 5 stages listed below. If you do not comply with the exact terms of each of these stages you will loose your entitlement to your cash back. If any one stage is not complied with, you will loose your entitlement to claim the whole of the cash back. If there have been any late payments made on your account at any time this will result in your application for cash back being void.

It is your responsibility to ensure that the relevant documentation reaches us within the relevant period. The stages of claiming the cash back are:

In month 4 of your contract you will need to forward bills 1through to 4 to us within 21 days of the issue date on bill number 4.
In month 7 of your contract you will need to forward bills 5 through to 7 to us within 21 days of the issue date on bill number 7.
In month 9 of your contract you will need to forward bills 8 & 9 to us within 21 days of the issue date on bill number 9.
In month 11 of your contract you will need to forward bills 10 & 11to us within 21 days of the issue date on bill number 11.
In month 12 of your contract you will need to forward to us bill 12 within 21 days of the issue date on bill number 12.

Looks like they will be asking us to jump burning hoops next with this 5 stage cashback plan!!! Not only that, but by the time your bill has been issued and you receive it, it only gives you a 2 week window for it to land at MO HQ!! Also no mention whether you get your cashback with this lovely offer at the end of month 4, 7, 9, 11 & 12 or one lump sum.
This better be a well co-ordinated affair and your diaries alarmed with precision as more stages means more possibilities to stuff it up and lose the whole amount.
On the face of it, it looks like a great deal but at least with e2save and OSPS you can send in copies of your bills. Is it worth the risk?

jadejie · 14 August 2006 at 10:14AM

personal experience, don't go with mobile outlet unless you are too bored, and would like some trouble... here's my experience...I signed up a contract with them in Feb,firstly,it took two weeks to check my credit...then phone arrived with a funny depathed note(say it's from mobile matter...) anyway, then i phoned them up,waited 30 mins then the guy said he'll send the depatched note with my contact on... right....everything is fine....then 3 lost my first two bills as they entered my address wrong, so i called 3 and ask them to certificate it....then they did....so i called mobileoulet and ask them if it's ok, and they say i have to ask 3 to say they'll take the full responsibility....then i called 3, this guy at 3 is very nice, and told me it's not their fault to got the wrong address as mobileoutlet give them my address, so he called mobileoulet with me on the phone line, and you know what, the customer service just kept saying 'i don't know'....then we asked to speak to the manager, then she said no...no manager is available since they've just been back from holiday....anyway, she said wrote to cashback team and they'll get back to me....mind you i sent them a e-mail about a week again before that phone call.....then i didn't get a reply until after that phone call and told me thanks for letting them know,they'll consider it when i apply for my cash back.......right......knowing they're bad, i still wrote to them and sent by recorded mail.....first letter.....2months ,no reply.....then again.....with a little bit threatening....then they did.....say ok they'll accept the copies for cash back.....right.....relief! but unfortunately they didn't keep their promise, when i just applied for cashback, they said i couldn't again!!!!!!!!!!!!since i didn't meet their t&c.....nasty, nasty,nasty, i'm fighting with them,will let you know.......if it turns out bad,i'll take them to court,my £367.5!!!! they can get the money just by talking and bufffing.....i have to work hard to earn it.....anyway, advice, don't go with them unless you can be bothered all the trouble....

tulips · 14 August 2006 at 11:02AM

SaverDude wrote:

.....11.3 If your cash back entitlement is more than £201 for a 12 month contract, you have to claim your money back in a 5 stage process.....

It is your responsibility to ensure that the relevant documentation reaches us within the relevant period. The stages of claiming the cash back are:

In month 4 of your contract you will need to forward bills 1through to 4 to us within 21 days of the issue date on bill number 4......

Exactly where/what address you need to send the claims to is a little vague too.

The only address in the Ts&Cs (http://www.themobileoutlet.co.uk/Information.asp?txtMode=8) is the complaints one (Customer Relations, Suite 3 - 4, Riverdale House, Dockfield Road, Shipley. BD17 7AD).

Is this the address to use?

SaverDude_2 · 14 August 2006 at 12:10PM

19.3. As we are primarily an internet based Mail Order Company we endeavour to give as accurate information as possible. Similarly we cannot be held responsible for any claim of inaccurate information given during a telephone conversation/order.

hey jadejie, thats very poor coming from MO as they messed up with your address in the first place. Looks like they are making it up as the go along as they can't seem to honour the promise made by their customer service team over the phone and have built it into their T&C to cover their @ss.

I wonder what percentage of cashbacks are actually rejected, as only one error would invalidate the whole process? Judging from their tactics, quite high it would seem.

The Mobile Outlet: any good? (merged)

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