The Mobile Outlet: any good? (merged)

Paulee

I have intended taking out a third contract with 3 since my long standing contract with T mobile ended in September, but a lot of horror stories regarding sharp practices, leading to failed cash back, has really spooked me. I am currently sitting on the fence & trying to work out who I can trust.

I have used 3 for two years, via two dealers, for my kids phones. Both are full time students and I really do need the best and cheapest deal to help batter down my costs in funding their uni period. We have found 3 to be a very good network, but with the same occasional problems that I used to experience when One-2-One/T Mobile was being developed.The first dealer I used, Microline, was very good with a reasonable cashback system that paid out with no problems. The second dealer, The Mobile Outlet, was very helpful when I made initial enquries and answered all of my many calls & emails. I have received cashback from them for my first phone, with no problem, and I am currently waiting for cashback on a second that I applied for last week.

I must say that I do find their cashback system complicated (like most dealers) but it has worked for me (so far) and I am encouraged to see them actively participating in this forum. I did tell them that I would be seeking advice on their company from forum members when I was first considering using them and, at that time, not a lot was known about them. I assume, that due to their deals being very competetive, they have been expanding quite rapidly over a rather short period. This will inevitably lead to practical difficulties on the ground which may go some way towards explaining some peoples difficulties, as displayed in previous posts.

Rapid expansion of a young business can, however, be fraught with problems - cashflow being the obvious one. Many find that, even with the best of intentions, they cannot keep up and turn to ever more desperate practices to survive before, finally, crashing. I have no way of knowing whether MO faces these kind of problems, they appear to have around a 50/50 split between good and bad reviews, but they do seem to be trying to appease their critics on this site. I'll wait to see if I get my next cashback before I decide where to go but, to me, they are looking a reasonable bet at present compared to the rest and considering the deals available.

gulliblestravails

Poppy9 wrote:

Ok excitement gone!!

Did anyone see Watchdog tonight. They had an item on THEMOBS. They gone into Vol. Liquidation so no cashback for anyone there. An ex member of staff was saying how she was told to lie to customers.

Just checked on the BBC site and it would appear that it's a different company, the name of the business and the director are both different from Mobile Matters (UK) Ltd

However, I won't be surprised if MM does go up the spout any day; they are way overdue with their returns and accounts at Companies House; also I have had similar experiences to some of those above, ie they falsely said I had not met their terms.....I took them to court with moneyclaimonline........they didn't even bother to defend.....I have entered judgement but don't expect any satisfaction.

Jimboid

Hi all. I am on a Mobile Outlet cashback deal and, Sod's Law applying, my 3rd month bill never arrived. I ordered another one from Orange but it has "duplicate invoice" written on the first page. Will MO accept this? Orange say that they have never had problems with companies accepting duplicate invoices. This forum has made me nervous. Any advice?

.jim.

russfj

Jimboid,

As far as I understand it, a replacement bill sent to you directly by the service provider is still an original bill - it is not a copy since it was printed off directly by Orange, and therefore meets the defenition of an original bill.
If MO try to claim otherwise, I recommend you threaten them with legal action...although you may have to follow through with this if they call your bluff!

Poppy9

gulliblestravails wrote:

Just checked on the BBC site and it would appear that it's a different company, the name of the business and the director are both different from Mobile Matters (UK) Ltd

However, I won't be surprised if MM does go up the spout any day; they are way overdue with their returns and accounts at Companies House; also I have had similar experiences to some of those above, ie they falsely said I had not met their terms.....I took them to court with moneyclaimonline........they didn't even bother to defend.....I have entered judgement but don't expect any satisfaction.

Sorry I don't understand your post.Watchdog on the TV show said The Mobs also known as Mobile Solutions Online were no longer trading. I didn't mention this was the same company as Themobileoutlet. It was merely to advise MSE that Watchdog were talking about the cashback issues.

Is Moblile Matters the same company as Themobileoutlet as they have the same contact address?

The_Mobile_Outlet

Hi,

We would like to take this oppurtunity to clarify that The Mobile Outlet has nothing to do with The Mobs. They are a completely seperate company and have no links whatsoever with The Mobile Outlet.

Regards
Forum Query Team

The_Mobile_Outlet

Jimboid wrote:

Hi all. I am on a Mobile Outlet cashback deal and, Sod's Law applying, my 3rd month bill never arrived. I ordered another one from Orange but it has "duplicate invoice" written on the first page. Will MO accept this? Orange say that they have never had problems with companies accepting duplicate invoices. This forum has made me nervous. Any advice?

.jim.

Hi,

We have no problems in accepting a duplicate bill as part of your cash back claim.

Regards
Forum Query Team

DANTHEMAN_2

Recently I sent an email to Forum Queries stating

"Dear Sir/Madam,

Is this the way you look after all your customers?
I am sure that you would have few customers left & a very poor reputation if things carried on as in this case.

I have been impressed by your service, so much that recently I took out a second contract, which I now greatly regret.

I sent in a great deal of paperwork consisting of 9 bills, recordered delivery, & still you are not satisfied, saying CASHBACK INVALID. I think this is a stunt to get out of paying.

I CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE £367.50 IN UN-REFUNDED LINE RENTAL.

Why say bills "1-9" & "10-12" to send in. This could be taken both ways as there is a first connection bill of line rental in advance & then 12 monthly bills, making 13 in total.

If this is not resolved, I will never be a customer of yours again & also this will be posted everywhere I can possibly find on the net, saying how risky it is to sign up to a phone contract with your company, THE MOBILE OUTLET, & THE BIG RISK OF LOSING HUNDREDS OF POUNDS.

Your T & C's are misleading, & I have been to Trading Standards.
You are in breach of the Office of Fair Tradings "Plain Language Requirement".

I will be taking you to Court unless this is resolved,

Yours Faithfully,




They have emailed me back the next day stating

"Hi,

We have looked into your claim and payment will be issued within the next 7-10 days. Please accept our sincerest apology about the delay in dealing with your claim.



Regards

Forum Query Team"

I hope they keep to their promise, direct emails to their company said I had to apeal in writing. This is the first positive thing I have heard from this company!

Jimboid

OK. My mind is a bit more at ease now. Thanks to MO for the quick reply. Orange also claimed that printing the invoice off the web would be good enough as well but I was not so keen on that idea. Any comments?

.jim.

justwow

Hello all you guys out there, I have finally been able to claim my cashback from these people, if any of you had read my previous post….you would have noticed I had reached my wits end with these people and threatened to take them to the small claims court. But then I decided to call the direct number to exert some more pressure, after several hold on’s and threats to cut the line(from them) which they could not since I was recording the call, I was allowed to talk to a manger who after listening to my case said she will call back. She called after 30min saying it was a mistake on their part so my money would be paid into by bank account. Two days later bingo!!!! there was the £192 in my account. So thanks to all you guys who helped with advice and especially those who provided the direct number so I did not have to call there 0845 number. To all you guys with failed cash back claims never give up trying to get what is due you.
Cheers :T