Skyphones.org - charging an administration fee to return phone

Money__3

Hi there,

Wish I had read this before I sent my phone. My boyfriend recommended it as he used it with no problems. I sent my iPhone away on Friday and recieved an email Monday morning at 4.05am (like someone else on this thread) saying they had recieved the phone and it was going through testing. I contacted them today for an update(took a few times to get through). I finally got through and spoke to someone they said, they collected my phone from the post office as it was recieved and returned during office closed hours. They said it takes 7 days from recieving the phone to check the phone and make payment. I also asked about the bad reviews, he also said, this was their competitors giving bad reviews so people would not use them, he then assured me I would recieve payment by Monday. I shall keep you updated

Money__3

Money_ wrote: »

Hi there,

Wish I had read this before I sent my phone. My boyfriend recommended it as he used it with no problems. I sent my iPhone away on Friday and recieved an email Monday morning at 4.05am (like someone else on this thread) saying they had recieved the phone and it was going through testing. I contacted them today for an update(took a few times to get through). I finally got through and spoke to someone they said, they collected my phone from the post office as it was recieved and returned during office closed hours. They said it takes 7 days from recieving the phone to check the phone and make payment. I also asked about the bad reviews, he also said, this was their competitors giving bad reviews so people would not use them, he then assured me I would recieve payment by Monday. I shall keep you updated

Recieved my email today informing me my phone has passed testing and my payment is being processed. It's a bacs payment so will let you know if it arrives in my account

khare

juliagw wrote: »

New to the site, so hopefully this will post in the right place.....
I to sent off my phone to skyphones a few weeks ago and received the email saying that there were scratches on it and that they were dropping the price, but decided to go ahead with the payment anyway. I haven't heard a thing and despite getting through on the phone to someone called Michael, I have still not received any money.
My concern is less about receiving the cash, but more about the fact that I have given all my bank details to someone who clearly isn't running a legitimate business. Any suggestions about how to protect myself from someone now using this info? Or am I stuck waiting to see how they'll scam me next?
Wish I had read the thread before sending the phone!
Cheers

I too got an email saying there were scratches on the phone. I threatened them with legal action for breaching their contract and I demanded full payment (Only £8, they offered me £6, but money is not the issue in this case), or the return of the phone free of charge. If they fail to reply in the next few days I will be opening a case with county court and the police. As someone had mentioned already in page 2, the guy behind this is a well known scammer and has been in prison various times.

Let's see what comes out of this, hopefully skyphones.org is shut down in the not too distant future.

Traceyp

I too wish I'd investigated this "company" before sending my phone off to them. This is the sequence of events in my case:-

10/9 - email to say item arrived and being tested

17/9 - email to say that phone does not meet requirements for full payment (this seems to be a standard thing from what I have read). They said that there were scratches on the screen and dents in the body.

17/9 - I email back saying that I wasnt happy but would accept their offer. The phone is 18 months old and there is no significant damage to it. There certainly were not any dents or any major scratches to the screen.

20/9 and 21/9 - I receive two emails saying that the payment is being processed.

24/9 - I ring to chase payment. Phone constantly rings so I email.

28/9 - I email again. Their turnaround time for replying to emails is supposed to be 24 hours and for payments is supposed to be 7 days.

30/9 - I get an apology email saying that payment will be made today.

2/10 - Still have not received money so I chase again giving them a deadline of end of play on the 4th. I threaten Trading Standards.

4/10 - I receive another email saying that they will ensure that payment is made within the week!!

I have now gone hammer and tong at these people in emails which they have not even replied to. My final one this morning is telling them that I am going to sue them for breach of contract and theft. They seem to be very unscrupulous people and the more that I read the more I think they are complete and utter scammers.

I am going to Trading standards and posting on sites such as this in the hope that people stop using this "company". As someone suggested earlier I am reporting them to watchdog also. As point of interest, there is alot of information on the sellmymobile facebook page. It seems that alot of us are in the same situation.

kevspearson2010

Has anyone used skyphones i have and im still waiting for payment 3 weeks after anyone got any advise cant get through to them and get no reply from emails thanks Kevin

Traceyp

Update! I have FINALLY received my money however was directly paid into my bank account via a branch rather than via BACS.

Kevin - I would suggest keeping on to them, threatening them with legal action etc. I have reported them to sellmymobile.com which has registered my complaint with them. They are keeping an eye on them and if they do not drastically improve their service they will be taken off the comparison site which I think we would all like to see. I also reported them to watchdog and trading standards. This seems to be a totally cowboy "company". Hope it gets sorted soon but in the meantime keep hounding them!

hazzabhoy

im the same as everyone here , got the standard your phone is damaged email in august and am still waiting ! no emails answered no way to get through on phone ! trading standards are no help either!

adrobbie

Hi guys

This is my first time posting on a forum so please bear with me. I've recently had the misfortune of dealing with Skyphones. I consider myself to be quite internet and scam "savvy" but I let my guard down with this one. I found an old Blackberry Storm in a drawer and decided it would be more use making me some money. I carried out an internet search to sell the phone and was directed to the sellmymobile comparison website.

I entered the details of the phone and Skyphones offered the best price. All I can say is PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not be fooled by this. They confirm receipt of the phone, "test" it and then offer a lower price claiming that the phone has significant cosmetic damage. They reduced my offer from £63 to £58. The phone was in PERFECT condition, cosmetic or otherwise. It was barely used because I hated it.

They then said if I didn't accept the offer, I would need to pay a £12 Admin charge (info on the site but NOT clear). I decided not too bother with the hassle and didn't reply which, as stated in the automated mail, is deemed to be an acceptance of the lower offer.

I receive automated e-mails claiming that my "payment is being processed" and would be with me shortly.

Despite promises of speedy payout, nothing appeared in my bank account. I became concerned and did a little research and found forums such as these with people relaying EXACTLY the same kind of story. Which is why I am certain that this is standard practice for Skyphones.

I sent 5 E-Mails. NO reply

I rang the number given on the website approximately 120 times over 5 days. Either rings out OR is connected to an answering machine saying that you cannot leave a message??????

I contacted sellmymobile.com by E-Mail. Took no action.

I contacted Trading Standards in their local area. They left an open case file.

FINALLY....... I asked a Police Officer friend (genuine) to contact them. On the occasion that he did, it just so happened it was was connected to the answering machine where you could leave a message. He left his details (although a civil matter, it did lend weight). Lo and behold, they responded to him and told him a pack of lies saying that they had responded to the mails (they did not) and phoned me. Lies lies lies.

Guess what??? 1 hour later, amount paid directly into my bank account for the original amount of £63. They had my phone for nearly three weeks after I had sent it special delivery.

Perseverence was definately the key here BUT a lesson learned for me is stick with the traditional, well known organisations and you can't go wrong. AVOID AVOID AVOID. They are lying swindling crooks. I apologise for the lengthy post but I do it just incase somebody has got the good sense to research them before using what is laughingly called their service. MAZUMA ALL THE WAY!!!!

nb790410

Oh no I thought these guys were good, they were rated top in cash for mobile phones when I did a search.

I sent my phone off 15 days ago, I was told on their website it was worth 54.00, I have had an email to acknowledge they have rec'd it but that was ages ago on the 6th, Ive heard nothing from them, when I try to ring them it either just rings or is constantly engaged.

The phone has no damage to it at all, so I hope they pay up, otherwise I shall be really upset.

omen666

edgex wrote: »

http://whois.domaintools.com/skyphones.org




Reverse Whois: "Laura Naleskova" owns about48 other domains

Email Search: is associated with about 51 domains



scam artist anyone?

Nope she is not. She is just the admin at a Media/Website creation website. If you do a WHOIS now you will see all transferred