Mobiles.co.uk - Confused claiming cashback?

djl208

@M721

I used the link on their website, and then followed it up 3 days later with a mail to the facebook address given above. All very smooth so far, let's see how long it takes for the cheque to arrive.

Chunks

Thanks MJ. There's me thinking mobiles.co.uk had become all fluffy and lovely ........... but you have confirmed my experience. Windfall gain for them and two (and a half) fingers for us. Since your personal experience spans a period of both VAT decreases as well as two increases you are in a strong postion and if you are contemplating 'appropriate action', good luck. I will also be taking measures too.....

cheers,

Chunks

mobilejunkie

I know of a few others who may be doing the same. It's even more blatant ewhen for more than six months prior to the increase they knew exactly WHAT it would be and WHEN, yet made clear offers of so many months free on an average of so much per month knowing full well they had no intention of delivering what they promised because they were not going to adjust cashback payments accordingly. That breaks the terms and conditions fo the cashback contract (though they claim not, quite wrongly) and is simply not acceptable. I've had this response from others, but always get my money. This lot of crooks will be no different; they just don't know it yet and (in their case) it will take longer AND cost them even more than they are trying to steal.

Guys_Dad

The problem - as I see it - is that the choice of cashback sites that are likely to be there for the duration of the 24 month typical contract currently still seems to be down to the big 2 - CPW companies and Phones4U and their subsidiaries.

Now at this present time, MJ advises against the P4U sites because of their t&c. CPW have the reputation of being a bit sharp on their settlements and, of course, their customer services.

So where to go and what to do? Well obviously if mobiles.co are using "tails we win and heads you lose" on the VAT issue, then that produces a rotten smell in the nose. Obviously one could recourse to the regulator , law or see if Anne Robinson is interested, but it all comes down to business in the end.

If they offer the best deal with a reasonable chance of settlement, then sup with the devil - albeit with along spoon. Just from reading this forum, I tended to agree with chunks. Recently - over the last 6 months or more, it appeared that they had made strides to clean up their act. Companies do change - some better (think Skoda) - some worse (think Quidco) over time. And of course there has been little information on the standard of their Customer Services as compared with 18 months ago.

I don't know if all the CPW companies are following the same line re VAT, but it certainly seems to have set mobiles.co.uk's reputation back again.

It's all a great shame as it looks like there is no one cashback reseller that stands head and shoulders above the rest and there seems to be problems with all of them.

I look forward to reading of MJ's success with sorting them out in due course.

mobilejunkie

A reasonable summary. Actually, I don't know of any dealer who voluntarily coughed up the extra VAT; but all the others I am currently using apart from this one did. One had actually seen it coming and changed their t&c in September to stop people getting the increase. They quoted the t&c to me but I immediately pointed out they weren't the ones I signed up to, so they agreed to pay. Another cpw paid as soon as I raised it without any dispute. THIS one sticks its head in the sand and tries to claim the t&c preclude paying the extra - which is utter nonsense. Do they really think others would have paid if they could get away without - one even tried it but failed. The fact they used a downward VAT change to their advantage in the not too distant past rubs salt in the wound.

I have been waiting for this ever since the VAT increase was announced last June - and anticipated it. I've even ordered contracts since expecting to get paid the extra VAT. Even the day before the VAT rise came into effect Mobiles.co were flogging cashback contracts with a two year term knowing they were resolutely going to refuse to pay what they promised. THAT is unacceptable.

Whilst they do now pay as per the t&c (so no longer have to pretend they do and/or that the t&c AREN'T t&c) it is never wise to assume fair and proper treatment from ANY cashback company.

Personally, out of the bunch of them, E2Save is currently about safest and the most efficient, reliable and fair. Buymobilephones is very efficient BUT allows forever to pay and is higher risk because of its size. I do use others; I would find it hard to greatly praise any of them, as I used to praise Phones4u. Still, excepting the risk of insolvency I DO expect to get paid - one way or another!

Silk

Guys_Dad wrote: »

I don't know if all the CPW companies are following the same line re VAT, but it certainly seems to have set mobiles.co.uk's reputation back again.

What tickles me GD is that they have logged in twice since this was posted and failed to respond which is typicle of them !!!

They are quite happy to resond with the spin and easy stuff but when it comes to anything serious about their behaviour and buisiness tactics they ignore it

Disgusting in my book and says a lot about the company ...pathetic !!!

Guys_Dad

I appreciate your history with them, but I think that we need to be objective about companies' performance and accept that, over time, with different philosophies and management, bad companies can become good, and vice versa. It's no good always living in the past.

In fairness, over recent months, complaints about mobiles.co.uk had definitely subsided and it seemed that maybe things were on the turn. (It's impossible to tell over a short period, but it does seem sensible to keep things under review. For example, MJ sang the praises of Phones4U internet companies, but picked up the change in their t&c and, therefore, "downgraded their rating", so to speak). Certainly there have been a few positive comments from MSE members prior to this thread.

But certainly this business on VAT seems to have set back any objective views on seeming improvement in mobiles.co.uk's business ethics.

As for comments from their rep, it is very difficult to defend double standards and, perhaps one thing they may have learned from the in-print spats with Ben, is that "No comment" is more likely to see this thread cease quicker than if they did go into print!

Silk

Guys_Dad wrote: »

I appreciate your history with them, but I think that we need to be objective about companies' performance and accept that, over time, with different philosophies and management, bad companies can become good, and vice versa. It's no good always living in the past.

Hi GD,
I would agree that companies may change over time however I have yet to see any changes, a change of management might work but has there been any ???? I doubt it !!!

Guys_Dad wrote: »

In fairness, over recent months, complaints about mobiles.co.uk had definitely subsided and it seemed that maybe things were on the turn

It could be lots of reasons for lack of complaints on this forum as has been mentioned before maybe members have become wise to them and not deal or maybe they do but know how to deal with them due to experiances of other members ...who knows ???

The complaints are certainly there on the world wide web

For example in the last week two reviews as posted here .....

Today 9th April
http://www.reviewcentre.com/review837754.html

Placed the order on April fools day. Today 9th and still waiting. On the website next day delivery claim only for the consumption of gullible customers. Most of their offers too good to be true and usually it is. They are no where near sites like Amazon and they are long way away to learn online business.
My advise to everyone "Keep out of this site to avoid lots of hassle afterwards!"

7th April
http://www.reviewcentre.com/review833320.html

It was all fine till their courier DHL despatched my mobile phone on the next day of placing my order.... but now 7 days on, still my phone hasn't arrived and I received a bill from new network charging me since 6 days ago!!! I am phoning Mobiles and DHL to sort the delivery out, but they have been rubbish. Unless you can be at home all day everyday waiting for delivery, DO NOT BUY FROM MOBILES!!!!

I could go on as theres lots of them and they crop up all the time and I'm quite happy to accept that it's not always the case that something goes wrong because they wouldn't still be in buisiness but the problem is that if you have to be lucky to get away with it
If you are not lucky and someting goes wrong you are up the creek without a paddle no mistake !!!

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Certainly there have been a few positive comments from MSE members prior to this thread.

Yes there has, by lucky ones who have got away with it and the "I'm alright Jack" attitude speaks volumes.....They have no idea whatsoever the hoops you have to jump through if something goes wrong because they haven't experianced it
I'm quite happy to accept that most of the time things go ok but people should be aware of the risk they take when it goes wrong !

Guys_Dad wrote: »

As for comments from their rep, it is very difficult to defend double standards and, perhaps one thing they may have learned from the in-print spats with Ben, is that "No comment" is more likely to see this thread cease quicker than if they did go into print!

First of all I'm convinced that it's still "Ben" who posts on here and I'm also sure that they have learned a few lessons in that the "Spin" doesn't work when put to the test ...hence the cherry picking for replies

minhp

I tried to reach you through the phone provided 01923804444 on mobiles.co.uk many times but it was put on wait quite very long. I am writing to query about the cashback claim as I wish clarity. I entered Orange contract with a Samsung Galaxy S via mobiles.co.uk last month. However, my partner happened to like the phone so she took it and I will use my old phone.

The confusion is when I read the cashback page of mobiles.co.uk. It states "Cashback will not be paid if you do not remain on the original tariff with the original handset (if you have ported your existing number this will not affect your claim)." Does this mean that I have to use the original tariff with the Galaxy S in order to claim cashback? Is it possible for me to give the Samsung Galaxy S to my partner and I use the original tariff with my old phone? Will this affect my claim? I am stills on the Orange contract and make payment on time. Could you please verify this - by which I am gratefully yours?

--
Minh

Mobiles.co.uk_company_representative wrote: »

Hi,

@ pmday2013,
If your total cashback is £100 or more, and you are on a 24 month contract, the first bill you need to send us is your bill dated April. So April will appear at the top of your bill but the call charges (If your bill is itemised) will most likely show dates across March and April. We hope this makes it clearer for you.

@djl208
The Received and Booked-in email simply means that we have received your bill and will be processing it over the next 10 working days. Unfortunately it does not mean we have authorised the payment yet. The cash back team are currently working within the 10 working day time scale but if you'd like to e-mail your order number to facebook@mobiles.co.uk we can make sure everything is ok with the payment for you.

Thanks

grumbler

minhp wrote: »

The confusion is when I read the cashback page of mobiles.co.uk. It states "Cashback will not be paid if you do not remain on the original tariff with the original handset (if you have ported your existing number this will not affect your claim)." Does this mean that I have to use the original tariff with the Galaxy S in order to claim cashback? Is it possible for me to give the Samsung Galaxy S to my partner and I use the original tariff with my old phone?

The tariff has nothing to do with the handset. Nobody cares what handset you use as long as you pay your bill every month.
Your bill doesn't have any information on the handset(s) you use.