Skyphones.org - charging an administration fee to return phone

triggerhappy_2

Posting on behalf of a friend...

Mate sent his iPhone 3G off to skyphones.org who have just gotten back to him to say they're now going to give him £23 less than originally quoted. He's not happy so has asked them to send the phone back, for which they'd like to charge him £12.

This administration charge, as well as being exorbitant, was never mentioned in their T&Cs and there is no great detail on what happens if they offer you less than they quoted anywhere on the site.

I'm guessing this is a pretty common tactic but I was just wondering if there's anything he can do?

Thanks in advance.

triggerhappy_2

*bump*

Anyone got any ideas?

unholyangel

Was the quote guaranteed?

triggerhappy_2

unholyangel wrote: »

Was the quote guaranteed?

I don't know, there doesn't seem to be anything on the site to say that, but there is no explicit detail on what happens if you don't accept their valuation either. Certainly no mention of an administration fee.

unholyangel

I'm looking at their site now and i have been awake for 52 hours straight but shouldnt the following be "passed" and not past? I'm trying to think but the hamster has dropped dead on the wheel in my brain
Sit back and wait for your payment to arrive.
Once we received your gadget and it has past our testing stage you will receive your payment within 48 hours.

triggerhappy_2

Ha ha, the site is absolutely riddled with errors - their T&Cs are ridiculous. They're kinda holding his phone hostage - lose £23 or lose £12, win win for them. I would have assumed that all these sites have a similar policy to Envirophone who send it back free of charge if you don't agree, or at least at reasonable postage costs.

Get some sleep!

unholyangel

From their T&C's:
GENERAL
Skyphones.org reserve the right to change the offer values of mobile phones on the website with no notice. But if you sell a mobile phone we will guarantee to pay the value on the date of sale.

---

What is the value today? Has it changed?

triggerhappy_2

They're saying there's a crack in the phone, sorry, forgot to mention that! That's why they're dropping the price.

There's no problem with that, if they don't want the phone that's fine. Just wondering what we can do regarding the hostage fee they're trying to charge to get it back? Given that they don't mention it anywhere on the site or in their e-mails when you sell a phone to them?

unholyangel

Morally i would be inclined to say they should pay for it as they changed the terms of the agreement. Basically the phone was sent on the premise that they would get price a for it. They have changed the terms and imo, should be liable for the costs incurred due to this.

However, i'd wait for someone with more knowledge as its possible in this instance your friend could be the seller and not the consumer. Although personally i would say that he has contracted them for a service so should still be covered in that respect.

triggerhappy_2

Thanks for your help - it's a bit of a muddy one isn't it?

I can see why they might charge an admin fee, but they really ought to say that somewhere.

unholyangel

triggerhappy wrote: »

Thanks for your help - it's a bit of a muddy one isn't it?

I can see why they might charge an admin fee, but they really ought to say that somewhere.

I thought i had read something about them needing to provide you with notice of charges incurred for cancellation BEFORE but i cant find it now. Alas i have shopping to do but i'll try find it if someone else hasnt been able to help you.

Try googling for it to see if there has been any similar instances with this company