mobiles.co.uk cashback scam -- small claims? trading standards? watchdog?

mrtibbs1999

Hi

If you want to get anything out of mobiles.co.uk, then send them a letter before action, which they will ignore. Once the letter has expired, file a MCOL. I did and they filed with the court saying they were going to defend the claim and on the same day sent me a check for the whole claim.

What is, in my opion, not worth doing is getting upset or questioning why they do it, or getting drawn into a long argument with them about it.

Just stay calm, sue them and get paid. It doesn't need anything more than that. Economically speaking, they cannot afford to defend your claim. The filing fee for you is £25 or less and they cannot cliam costs against you. For them, they will need to have a solicitor defend the claim costing hundreds if not thousands. It is just cheaper for them to pay.

If you decide not to sue however, you will not get anything, it is just their business model and they know it works for them.

Either way, know this. Getting upset will not help your claim of your health. Sue or move on, that's my motto now I suppose.

In the last year I have sued 5 large companies and all have settled.

Lynsey

mrtibbs1999 wrote: »

In the last year I have sued 5 large companies and all have settled.

Thanks, I was thinking of suing the National Lottery for missing out on a triple rollover.
I asked for a lucky dip and the numbers they gave me were completely useless, not a single one came out - and that's out of seven numbers!!!!!!!!!!
If they had given me the correct 6 numbers required I would have won, do you think they will settle out of court also??

Seruiously, well done and it is as you say the route they take and is probably their "business model".

Lynsey

mobilejunkie

Generally I agree. HOWEVER, it has been known (more than once) for CPW (which is who you are actually suing) to go all the way to court. As one who will be suing them in due course (again!) I will only do so if I know I have a watertight case; in order to know that you have to understand in detail how cashback schemes work AND be able to prove that 1) you adhered to the t&c and 2) that they didn't. If you do end up going all the way to court it will cost you more then the figure mentioned - although you will get that back provided you win.

With this important proviso the advice is quite sound!

I might add that I sued Thomson holidays twice and won both times. They didn't settle and by the time they did made an offer it wasn't acceptable to me - so I went all the way and won significantly more than their (blood from a stone) eventual offer. As with "follow the rules and you'll get paid" the "sue and they will settle" is a dangerous scenario.

grumbler

Just wonder: do you not have to pay for submitting a claim to MCOL? If you submit and pay, do you lose the money if the company settles out of court?

Lynsey

grumbler wrote: »

Just wonder: do you not have to pay for submitting a claim to MCOL? If you submit and pay, do you lose the money if the company settles out of court?

You do pay to submit but it will be added to the amount owed and if you win it all will be paid back. Even if it goes through more stages and you pay extra costs, these will also be piad back if you win.
You lose all costs though if you lose.
Like mj says, make sure your case is watertight before suing.
Only ever submitted once (non mobile) as all other issues were settled at LBA stage. I went through 3 stages of payments though before negotiating a settlement I would agree with - all charges were also refunded.

Lynsey

grumbler

And what happens if they just send you a cheque after you submitted?

mrtibbs1999 wrote: »

...Once the letter has expired, file a MCOL. I did and they filed with the court saying they were going to defend the claim and on the same day sent me a check for the whole claim.

Does this mean that the 'whole claim' has to be the disputed cashback plus the submission cost?

Lynsey

You would give a deadline date with your LBA and file if you haven't received your money by your deadline date. Any payment after the deadline date would need to include costs. I always inform them of this in my LBA and would file immediately the next day after deadline.
Only ever sue if you are sure, ie: a breach of contract and you can provide you did everything correct.

Lynsey

Surreystarlet

Silk wrote: »

You may find that will change when you use mobiles.co.uk :rotfl:

Stick to the post and make sure it's recorded

Just an update - I successfully claimed and received my 1st cashback cheque from mobiles.co.uk in December. Sent it off (including an e-mail ensuring they knew I had ported my number) via the website, made a quick phone call a couple of weeks later to ensure they had received it (got through straight away, chap on the phone was very helpful) and received my cheque the following week.

Will make my next claim at the end of this month. Just wanted to update the thread as not everyone has problems claiming cashback and I got a fantastic contract with phone for £3.67 per month!!!!

Silk

Surreystarlet wrote: »

Just an update - I successfully claimed and received my 1st cashback cheque from mobiles.co.uk in December. Sent it off (including an e-mail ensuring they knew I had ported my number) via the website, made a quick phone call a couple of weeks later to ensure they had received it (got through straight away, chap on the phone was very helpful) and received my cheque the following week.

Will make my next claim at the end of this month. Just wanted to update the thread as not everyone has problems claiming cashback and I got a fantastic contract with phone for £3.67 per month!!!!

Good of you to update ...whilst you are one of the many lucky ones who have managed to get a deal without problems theres far too many IMO who do have problems.

It's not just the cashback problems it's the fact that even small issues get transferred into major trauma's by them and theres lots of very poor reveiws from unlucky customers all over the net

Theres lots of threads on here showing the awful CS thats still non existant ...not just this section either consumer rights for instance the other day https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/50838405#Comment_50838405

Theres lot's of reveiw sites with very poor reports such as this one ....
http://www.mobilefonereviews.co.uk/mobile-phone-shops/mobiles-co-uk.aspx

Even their own Facebook page makes a shocking read with threads such as http://www.facebook.com/mobiles.co.uk/posts/358151547531236

In fact I see the latest problems with bouncing cheques arn't just an issue on this forum they even get reported on their Facebook page such as http://www.facebook.com/mobiles.co.uk/posts/349439518402439

Nothings changed with them as far as I'm concerned and in fact it even seems to have got slightly worse

Guys_Dad

Was a bit bored, so followed up your Facebook links. Got to say that they seem t have the "Airline" problem that EASYJET had when Stellios thought it a good idea to get in a film crew.

Lots of real appreciation for mobiles.co.uk, but, regrettably, from themselves!! Every other post seemed to be showing frustration from disappointed customers.

Mobiles.co.uk do seem to have inordinate faith in their on-line form and their cs reps ringing customers back. More fun waiting for Godot!