Cashback deals - are they worth it?

ianlawn

I was on a cashback about 4 years ago, I got all the cashback but decided to stick with the network I was on after hearing bad stories and gettin a good deal.

But i've looked at a few sites including onestopphoneshop which is part of carphone warehouse and e2save still about. I know they don't offer completely free contracts anymore but do they still offer big discounts? also how have people got on with them?

DarkConvict

I heard bad things on here and CPW and e2save, however im sure some people have got on just fine with it. The important thing to remember is if you cannot afford it without the cashback don't risk it and been left with a high month contract you cannot afford.

keith1950

Hi, if you want more reliable sites use buymobilephones.net/phones4u/dialaphone.

TREVORCOLMAN

I have a contract with Mobiles 2 Your Door and I must say so far they have been excellent. They are part of Phones4U.

Sent in my first claim at the end of July. Received cheque in 10 days (that was from me posting it - to me receiving cheque) I always send my Royal Mail Guaranteed Next Day Delivery.

They send your next claim form with the cheque which gives the date of said next claim on and is VERY simple - unlike some other companies mentioned on here. It even states on the form "CLAIM 2 of 4".

Dont forget to go via a cashback Web Site also such as Quidco to get extra cash. I use the quidco cashback to pay for the higher cost of the method I use to post the claim.

Simples.

:T

jon_r_2

dial-a-phone(phones 4u) excellent,used them for 3 years now and saved a packet via quidco.Just remember to write the redemption dates on a calender or even better in your phone!

wakeupalarm

Avoid CPW group, e2save, onestopphoneshop, thephonespot.

astralbee

I have had 3 different cashback deals and they always worked out okay in the end, but they were extremely stressful. I had one deal with Carphone Warehouse, and two others with E2Save.

Carphone Warehouse were the easiest to deal with. They told me the bills to send and how long I had to get the bills in (something like 30 days).

E2Save are part of the CPW company, but they act as a "catch-all" company for the group. In other words, if you dont want to pay CPW's normal prices, they suggest you go to E2save where you get better prices but deliberately worse service. Consequently they make the terms and conditions of the cashback more confusing. When E2Save twice refused my cashback claims (which under the t&c's negates all future claims too) I argued with them about technicalities and eventually they paid me out.

The average "all-in" cost of the deals was £7.50 per month. When my last cashback deal ended 2 years ago, I had had enough. I threatened to leave O2 Customer Services and they offered me £5 a month sim-only with 200minutes and 275 texts. Cheaper than any cashback deal, but no new handset.

O2 just told me that deal is coming to an end and customer retention wont offer me anything below £15 a month. I looked at current cashback deals on E2Save and the cheapest I saw that had any decent handset attached to it was £11something a month. I decided that the current '3' offer for a brand new handset and 500mix tarrif for £13.50 was far better value.

So in summary, I didn't have half the trouble that some people reported. They do work, but they can be hassle and if you search patiently there are often easier deals for less or not much more.

Hope this helps!

thommy

I´d echo most of the above! If you go into a cashback deal - with ANY company, do your research into them and all their repsective T&Cs, stay on top of all that you need to do to get your cashback according to those T&Cs, keep a record of everything to do with your contract and be prepared to fight for it if you get any ´technical difficulties´. The advice that it wouldn´t be the end of the world for you, if it went wrong, is good too.
I´ve taken to choosing deals that I can live with if the worst happens - not necessarily 100% cashback (largely, as well, because there aren´t that many good 100% ones about now), but a good proportion of it so that I still get good value for money in terms of minutes, texts etc..
I´ve had to fight for cashback on some contracts but I´ve paid very little for the contracts and phones I´ve had, making it very worthwhile, indeed.

DarkConvict

Importantly, if you can't afford the line rental without the cashback, don't take it out. Cashback is an added gift you can assume but not guarantee to get.

Don't forget for each cashback you have to send in is the cost of postage, maybe even record delivery to be sure.

jswaminathanuk

Diala a phone is reliable.
Gives you 60 days period
and you can track the due date / claim statusn on;line
Me and my friends are using it for over 6 years.