3G Contract Scam?! Advice, please.

lauraaurora

Met up with one of our friends last night, and he told us an awful story. It was a bit late in the evening, and he couldn't fully tell us the details, but it goes something like this;

He had a 3G pay as you go phone. Someone from 3 phoned up to ask if he'd like to go on to contract for £35pm, and so he said yes. They sent him a new phone.

A few weeks later someone else phoned up and said the phone he had was of a batch that had problems and they needed to send him a new phone, put him on a new contract. When he received the new phone they would cancel the old contract.

Two weeks later, the same guy rang and told him the same story. A little suspicious by now, our friend asked him to ensure the old contracts were cancelled properly.

Each time, once he agreed to being sent a new phone, they put him through to the confirmations department. Here he was asked did he agree to the new contract, to which he answered yes.

As I said, it was late last night, and I didn't fully understand everything that was being said; I'm certain the above is all true, but I obviously missed a bit out, as the crux is this;

Our friend ended up with four contract mobile phones with 3G. He only wanted one. He didn't realise until a few months down the line, so when he phoned up to complain they said he was too late. When he asked to speak to a supervisor, they said he needed to get a lawyer. Apparently the phone calls he received were made by an agent of 3G, and when he agreed to signing up to a contract, they put him through to a 3G call centre where they have the recording of him agreeing to sign up to a new contract. They don't have the recording of the previous conversation where he was told his new phone was faulty and the current contract would be cancelled. He is now paying over £120 pm for four phones. He only uses one number. I also believe this has now happened almost a year ago as he can cancel two of the contracts next month.

Has anyone heard of a similar story? I had a search, but couldn't obviously find anything. I'm really, really annoyed with my friend for being so trusting and naive, but it's too late to have a go at him, but I'd love to get some money back for him; he's never used any of three of the contracts. He has loads of other money problems, and it mainly comes down to him being a bit daft. But this really seems awful to me. This only came out cos he got a bit drunk last night. He didn't tell us before because he's so embarrassed.

LeeSouthEast

Not uncommon. Never take anything from anyone who phones you up.

dvs

Sounds a little odd to me!

lauraaurora

LeeSouthEast wrote: »

Not uncommon. Never take anything from anyone who phones you up.

dvs wrote: »

Sounds a little odd to me!

I agrees with dvs, it seems really odd to me that 3G would accept that their agents play such dirty tricks.

LeeSouthEast, when you say it's not uncommon... in what way? I (and most others) know never to buy anything from those who phone you up. But have you heard of other individuals having it done 3 or 4 times over?

LeeSouthEast

It's a regular occurance unfortunately. I'm on a phone forum and this has been going on for years. People think they're getting an upgrade but it turns out to be a dodgy retailer pretending to be their phone provider just giving them a new contract. Unusual to get it 4 times mind you!

Buzby

Considering all the networks offer 3G - sounds as though it could be a scam by anyone flogging phones....

chriswatts

Oldest con in the book, in the past I've had calls from my phone provider (landline and mobile), Sky and various insurance companies companies who claim I'm with them. Basically the telephone is probably far more risky doing business over than the internet, any calls I receive on my phone I just reply sorry I don't do business over the phone. Also over the phone you'll probably get a worse deal and won't get cash you can get from a cash back site.

lauraaurora

Thanks to everyone for responding so far... But, you have to understand, it's not me who agreed to the contracts, it's our friend Steve. The question is whether 3 mobile would be likely to accept any responsibility for 'their' agents who are selling on their behalf?

The fact being they phoned Steve, he agreed to a new phone and contract, they then put him directly through to the 3 mobile confirmation department. Surely some random scammer can't do that without 3 mobile knowing who they are?

I'm well aware Steve's shouldn't have dealt with anyone who phoned him, and I've drummed the message home now, but... If anyone can come up with any bright ideas on how to stop the excess contracts/ get some money back I'd be eternally grateful

LeeSouthEast

3 won't accept any responsibility whatsoever. They just provide the service. Whoever signed them up is one of the responsible parties. He could try the mis-selling route if he can figure out who rang.. but that is likely to be difficult!

chriswatts

Not some random scammer, it's more likely a dodgy company called a boiler room scam. Named because they employ a lot of people in a small room and usually if you listen carefully you can hear them giving the same spill on other calls. Taking into account they get anything from £40 to £120 pound a new contract signup you can see why they try.

lauraaurora

chriswatts wrote: »

Not some random scammer, it's more likely a dodgy company called a boiler room scam. Named because they employ a lot of people in a small room and usually if you listen carefully you can hear them giving the same spill on other calls. Taking into account they get anything from £40 to £120 pound a new contract signup you can see why they try.

But who do they get the £40-120 from for getting all these signups? Presumable 3 Mobile?

Like I said, it's not how/ why it happened that's bothering me. It's whether he has a chance of holding 3 mobile responsible for the actions of their agents. LeeSouthEast says categorically not, so unless anyone else has any objective, constructive advice on this point it's best to let the thread lie.

Thanks.