Mobileshop.com and cashbacks - lengthy time to get the cashback

[Deleted User]

I sent off the first of 2 vouchers and got the email confirming receipt on 2nd Nov.

However - they do not pay out until 'within 45 days of the expiry date of the voucher' - in my case it will be sometime within 45 days of 4th Feb 06!

Why not pay out now? They have the voucher.

virgo17

Deleted_User wrote:

Why not pay out now? They have the voucher.

They have a business model which takes into account cashflow. I imagine that this is also factored against the comission paid to them by the network which obviously forms partly profit and partly your cashback.

They do state the time period you will have to wait when you receive your cashback vouchers.

I am in the same position as you at the moment. I submitted a voucher some weeks ago and my cashback is due on 18th December. Having dealt with Mobileshop before, I'm as certain as anyone can be on this sort of deal that all will be well.

[Deleted User]

Thanks.

I was not really doubting they would pay out for Voucher 1 - just wondered why it takes so long.

My second voucher means payment will not be until 45 days within the 26th June 06 - but as my 12 month contract will be finished by then - I presume I am still free to go elsewhere after the 12 months I contracted for are up?

I have asked them this and still await a reply.

There is a niggling and very ambiguous sentence on the rear of the voucher that says -

Claims are subject to you remaining on the same pay monthly tariff as you were originally connected.

What does this mean exactly?

I signed a 12 month contract - which will be fullfilled on 25th May 06.

I will send my second voucher after this date, complying with the cashback criteria - yet they will not pay out until 'within 45 days of the expiry date of the voucher - which is 26 June.

If my 12 month contract expires one month earlier - surely they will honour the second voucher even if I have gone elsewhere for a new contract?

For some reason - I cannot get them to answer this question.

Yet.

virgo17

Hi again.

With some networks you can downgrade your tariff after six months. It was an old dodge to take out a cashback deal and after six months switch to the lowest cost tariff that the particular network offered. I guess nowdays Mobileshop will be have some form of clawback of commission by the network if a person was to do that.

On the subject of the 12 months. You are quite at liberty to cancel at month 11 and give one months notice to the network, thus ending the contract at exactly 12 months. All Mobileshop need to have is a bill (usually your eleventh) to show that you have remained connected for 12 months. The eleventh bill will show the line rental paid in advance until the 12 months are up.

It sounds a bit complicated but really it isn't and I have used Mobileshop over the years for these sort of deals without a problem.

Provided you send in your final network bill within the fairly narrow time window they give you it should be OK.

Hope that helps.

EdCov

I agree.

It is a case of reading the small print, you think it is six months and twelve months, but actually by the time you get your cashback it will be 8 1/2 months and 14 1/2 months (45 days end of 30 day period).

Buyer beware!

bobsa1

I'm just about to send off my first claim, I know I have to send the latest bill, should I send a copy or the original.

Many thanks

virgo17

bobsa1 wrote:

I'm just about to send off my first claim, I know I have to send the latest bill, should I send a copy or the original.

Many thanks

I sent off a photocopy of the two pages of the bill.

My payment date was 18th December and sure enough a cheque arrived a day or two either side of that date.

No problems.

V.

chuckles1066

They are notoriously slow although in an industry where companies come and go, they're one of the more stable.

Their official line to me when I queried why it took so long was that it was to enable them to check with the network the status of claimants' accounts........utter rubbish of course, the Data Protection Act prohibits that but I guess that's the line they'll use if you ask.

[Deleted User]

I still cannot get them to reply to my question about their very ambiguous statement on the rear of the voucher - as I posted above on 8th Dec.

EdCov

I'm sure it's just a matter of cashflow and profit, the longer they have the money and earn interest on it the better for them.

As I understand it the networks pay out after someone has been connected for six months, and therefore it may be to make sure they have the money from the network before they give you yours.

However I'm sure they simply like to keep your money and earn interest on it, it's a business with low margins and therefore every penny counts.

charlie12

Deleted_User, I had exactly the same concerns regarding the ambiguity of the T&Cs. I certainly won't be keeping the contract after the 12 months is up, but I have every faith in Mobileshop and I'm certain that the latest bill I receive (even if it's dated before the 12 months is up) within the claim time window will be sufficient.

It would help if their T&Cs were a little clearer though.