Phones4u upgrade- failed O2 credit check?

HistoryGirl_3

I'm currently on Orange I have an HTC Hero which I've had enough of and want to change my network provider and phone to Samsung Galaxy S2.

I was contacted by phones4u in first week of August as my contract is due to end on 31st October. I agreed to changing my phone and network provider to O2 it all seemed fine, said I'd receive the welcome pack. So here we are a month later, no welcome pack no contact about it. So I emailed them and they have sent me a reply to say

your upgrade order has not been successful on this occasion, as it has not met the network’s credit criteria

I don't/never have had a credit card would this be why I failed? It was a good deal and I'm a bit hacked off, because they could told me this 3 weeks ago. I had to email them for them to tell me I was unsuccessful.

Any suggestions? Would I be better off just going into the shop?

grumbler

It's not just about credit card(s). There are much more factors involved and different lenders have different requirements.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/credit-rating-credit-score

Also, small errors in details cam make a big difference.

HistoryGirl_3

Had a look at the quick credit checker stupid question do student loans count? I don't have any store/credit cards only a tesco/nectar card

grumbler

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/student-loans-repay

The impact on credit files: None whatsoever. This type of student loan is not included on credit files. However when applying for a product you may be asked whether you have loans, plus the fact your take-home pay is reduced may be taken into account (see the Credit Rating guide).

Tesco/Nectar are loyalty cards and there is no point in reporting them to CRAs

HistoryGirl_3

OK thanks for the info

Guys_Dad

There seems to be something very strange here.

You are on Orange till end of October - 2 months from when P4U contacted you. You are, therefore, tied into Orange till October 31, at least financially.

Look again at the message they sent you "Quote:
your upgrade order has not been successful on this occasion, as it has not met the network’s credit criteria"

Well, moving to a new network isn't upgrading.

It looks like they got it confused because you could upgrade early with your current network, but if they had signed you up to another, then you would have been double paying in September and October.

Just wait till end of September, ask for your PAC, then go get the best deal you can either on-line direct with a network, through a cashback dealer or even a cashback site like Topcashback and one of their signed up cashback dealers.

grumbler

I noticed this too, but decided to ignore because p4u are know to offer 'buying-out' from the current provider in order to sell a contract with a new provider. I thought they just called this 'upgrade'.

HistoryGirl_3

They offered to pay half towards remaining months of my current contract. I was told everything seemed ok and I'd receive the welcome pack then had to wait and contact them to get the email. Lesson learnt won't be using them again.

Guys_Dad

If you want to set your mind at rest, you could go into an O2 shop and see if they would pass you for credit.

It's always easiest for P4U or other retailers to blame "the network" rather than admit that, on reflection, they didn't like the figures if they bought you out.

My view is if they were serious, if O2 had really rejected you on credit grounds, they would have suggested another network rather than lose the sale.

HistoryGirl_3

So I could go into the shop say I want to change to O2 what about the deal I was offered previously? Could I get that?

Guys_Dad

HistoryGirl wrote: »

So I could go into the shop say I want to change to O2 what about the deal I was offered previously? Could I get that?

No. Go in and pick any deal and say you would like to be sure you would be credit checked ok for when your Orange deal runs out in 2 weeks' time! Get them to go through the check.

Just tell them that you want to be absolutely sure so that when you decide to change, there will be no problems.

No need to tell them you probably won't be buying through them. I don't think O2 shops do the best deals.