Simply 3G (merged threads)

Holiday

Just contacted "3" via their website e-mail. Had a call within 30 mins. Very non committal but registered my interest. They said while Simply3G were trading they would do nothing but might re-consider if they went under.
It is a BIG "might"

sarahh112

I have just sent this through to '3'. I doubt it will do any good - but I am willing to try anything to try and get my money back. Am going to send something very similar to Vodaphone (especially as I am now 9 months into my contract with them). Will let you know if I get any sort of response.

I would like to make an official complaint against yourselves and one of your '3' resellers. A company called Simply Communications UK Ltd who trade under the name 'Simply 3G'.
I signed up for an upgrade with Simply 3G in July 2007 and was promised a 12 month cashback (via redemption) deal on the VTT 700 tariff and a Motorola v3x phone. It has been brought to my attention that (just as I am due to make my first cashback claim) that Simply 3G are no longer paying out on valid cashback claims as they 'cannot afford to.'
I understand that the cashback deal is with Simply 3G not yourselves
but I do feel that you (as a company) should take some responsibility for the situation that Simply 3G and its customers are currently experiencing, as at the end of the day it was yourselves who actively encouraged these resellers to offer such attractive offers to its customers.
If I had known that Simply 3G would default on the terms and conditions of the contract I have with them I would have selected a tariff with a better quality phone, or even amore attractively priced contract with a different company and network provider.
I notice that you are still allowing Simply 3G to sell your products at this time (although with much more realistic and unattractive deals).
Could you please explain to me what you intend to do to make this company uphold the contract it has promised me and thousands of other people who have been falsely 'recruited' as customers.
I would like to make you aware that I am currently taking legal advice in an attempt to recoup some of the £420 that I will be owed by Simply 3G through the contract I hold with yourselves.
Regards
xxxx xxxxxxxx

mobilejunkie

Although it's a fair letter and you MAY have nothing to lose, complaints to the networks are quite likely to have only one result; they pull the plug on the dealer and seal your fate. They are extremely unlikely to do anything about your cashback with the dealer since the only thing they can do is actually pay you on their behalf. Some networks (especially Vodafone) have devrloped a very helpful approach to cutting tariffs etc. AFTER a dealer HAS gone bust, but not if they are still in existence. Of course, maybe that could change - but I wouldn't hold my breath. It's a very difficult choice, but if the dealer IS trying to in some way trade out of this and pay cashbacks later if it succeeds I can see such pressure on the networks having the opposite results. This is speculation on my part, pure and simple, but it is not entirely a "safe" course of action. On the other hand, if they were to definitley go bust you might then have more chance of reducing your tariff with the networks - though I'm not sure 3 has a great reputation there even though Vodafone now does.

sarahh112

Had a phone call from 3 this morning - who are promising to investigate. She seemed very nice and helpful.

The way I see it at the moment is that Simply 3G have taken our money and broken the contract. As it stands they seem to just be delaying the inevitable.

I would not be quite so annoyed if they actually kept to their word! Has anyone received the email they promised us on the 10th December to actualy let us know what was going on? If they kept us informed it I would be more inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt - but at the moment their 'ostrich approach' just makes me more and more angry.

Mobile Junkie - do you really think there is any chance of Simply3G willingly paying the cashbacks? At the moment I am just trying to minimise my losses and get '3' and vodaphone to reduce the tariff that I am tied into.

My complaint was also directed at the mobile phone providers as well.If it had not been for them encouraging companies such as Simply 3G to offer these (very) attractive offers while reassuring them that a large proportion of customers would not claim - companies like Simply 3G would not be in the situation they are in and we would not be worrying about the money that we are owed.

mobilejunkie

I know. It's difficult. Apart from when a dealer actually disappears the networks don't seem to do much - apart from stopping their agency. It will be interesting to see if they do anything for you directly.

sarahh112

I received this from Vodaphone this morning. I have just checked simply 3g's website and it seems that they are still trading though and are selling on behalf of Vodaphone - so i dont know whats going on. Have sent another query off to Vodaphone to confirm that they should still be selling Vodaphone products.

Hi Miss XXXXXX,

Thank you for contacting Vodafone Customer Services regarding the loss of cash back.
Miss XXXXXX, yes, it has been brought to our notice that Simply Communications UK Ltd have been placed into administration.
Vodafone is aware that a number of independent dealers offer consumers Vodafone contracts with a redeemable cash-back claim. Any cash-back agreements remain entirely between the seller and the customer; it is not Vodafone that is offering the cash-back element.
We know that many of our customers have taken up contracts through such dealers and to help them out we are arranging for calls back from a special team handling these issues. Customers are not entitled to end their contracts with Vodafone and remain committed to their minimum term commitment made at the time of purchase.
Let me tell you that we have assigned a team to contact the affected customers. I have arranged for a call back, which you'll receive within 3 days.
I'm glad to have advised you and if you need us Miss XXXXX, please feel free to get in touch at any time and we'll do our very best to help.

I've also attached a short customer feedback questionnaire and would really appreciate your thoughts to help us improve our service and I can ensure you, this will be treated in confidence. Just click here to start.

Kind regards,
Farnaz Sayed
Vodafone Customer Services

GunJack

Don't know how significant this is, but.....

I ordered from simply3g in August and November via quidco. There was no problem with the August payment, but what with everything going on reported on here, I thought that the quidco payment for the November order was severely in doubt. However, I can report that they have paid quidco and quidco are paying me this month !! Maybe all is not lost for the cashback just yet.........


oh yeah, and a happy new year

[Deleted User]

The following is an email sent out on 13th Dec 07 to a friend of mine -

Dear Customer,

We would like to first of all thank you for your custom and apologise for the poor service and delay in processing your cashback claims which you are experiencing.

You are entitled to know why these delays have occurred and this is why we are writing to you. We have been trading for more than 3 ½ years now and we prided ourselves on good customer service and excellent offers. The models we built our business on were sustainable and worked for thousands of our customers and we have paid out several million pounds in claims. Earlier this year we recognised the cashback model was no longer sustainable and chose to withdraw from heavy competition and no longer offer heavy cashback deals, which in turn made us uncompetitive affecting our source of revenues. We believed we were acting responsibly in the current climate so that we could focus on delivering quality service and good offers that would be sustainable for the years ahead. Whilst this was a positive move for us we did not anticipate the high levels of redemptions at a time when we were pulling away from cashbacks. We have been focusing on new revenue streams and lower margins so that we can honour our commitment to our customers. In addition to this we have already made significant savings and cuts across our operation including making 80% of our staff redundant and closing one of our offices. This is why we are no longer able to operate a telephone service, but we do have and will continue to operate our email and online enquiry service.

We have been in discussions with Trading Standards informing them of our situation and will keep our discussions open and transparent with them.

During this time we ask for your patience and understanding as our sole objective is to pay you as soon as we can. If you insist on immediate payment our only option will be to place the company into administration and cease trading. If you allow us the time to find solutions to the issues we are currently faced with, this will allow us to focus on getting your claims processed and paid as soon as possible. We do understand and respect your frustrations at this time for which we sincerely apologise.

Our primary focus in the coming months is to ensure we get our customers cashbacks paid as soon as possible. We are currently working on a solution which we hope to have in place within the next week and once this is confirmed we will communicate this to you.

Kind regards,

Simply3G

---

If you go to http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/b8f8c34cec89e0e10e780426a4a5849a/compdetails

which is the listing for Simply3g at Companies House - you can see that their status is still Active - meaning they have not been put into liquidation.

However - I don't know how quickly Companies House update their records but to comply with the Data Protection Act I imagine it would be as soon as they are told (presumably by the liquidiator?).

Simply3g still have what appears to be an active website inviting people to take up offers and buy phones etc hence we must assume they ARE still trading. I am pleased they have withdrawn their cashback offers and it would appear from the above email that they intend to honour outstanding cashbacks.

I too have a vested interest!

Many people will recall the rumours about the possible folding of mobileshop.com and maybe some people are still waitin for their cashbacks from there too - but to my knowledge they paid out all their cashbacks - even though they were late with a lot of them - but they are still trading.

I have used both companies and my cashbacks with Simply3g are also overdue.

I think suing a company already in trouble is tantamount to just pushing them over the edge and Simply 3g have stated their intention to fold if people do sue. However it's a tricky situation when they continue to trade yet don't pay out.

Perhaps if they could be more open in terms of WHEN they may be paying out - even if they only pay out a partial payment initially, to all those owed - it might help.

I shall be contacting them myself after today (presumably there is no one there today anyway) with a view to asking them to issue some sort of statement regarding paying out and perhaps this might go some way towards helping people to be a patient for a bit longer whilst giving them some sort of reassurance.

strawberry*

Hello

My family have two mobiles on 3 bought through simply 3g with nearly £500 worth of cashbacks outstanding. I have emailed simply 3g demanding my money back with the threat of an LBA before legal action. I have not recieved any response. I know other people have issued LBA's to simply 3g and want to do the same but have a few questions -
1 - Can I issue the LBA for all outstanding cashbacks whether they are overdue or not, on the basis that they have broken their contractual obligations?
2 - Where can I find a good example of an LBA?
3 - Has anyone had any responses to an LBA or legal action from them?
4 - Am I able to issue one LBA and then one small claim form for both phones (they are in different names)?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

sarahh112

I am totally fed up. Why is it a company can just ignore you and carry on like nothing has happened.

Am due to issue my MCOL today as the deadline was 31st Dec and have been trying to get some information as to whether Simply3G are worth spending £60 on. Have tried Consumer Direct who know nothing (even though apparently Simply 3G are in talks with trading standards). The insolvency service don't know anything either, and neither do Companies House.

Part of me feels like driving up to Bagshot to see if there is anyone working in the office at all (but sods law I would end up getting arrested or something - even though they are the crooks).

What do I do? Do I throw another £60 away on an MCOL or kiss goodbye to £840? Mobile Junkie/Quentin what do you think?

Also as I have two separate contracts do I need two MCOLs or will one suffice.

Thanks in advance