mobiles.co.uk cashback

OneADay

Lynsey wrote: »

I know what you mean by the final bill, but my final bill (March 2013 - able to print or send 3rd March) will take me from March 2nd to April 1st inclusive. I'll send off the March bill showing the full 18 months have been honoured, but I'll ask for the PAC code on say the 3rd of Feb and port on the 3rd March. T-Mobile will then need to give me back almost a full month fee (minus a day or 2 depending on when it exactly gets ported - never checked for weekends etc.). It will only cost a few pounds and will be worth it to have a proper final bill intact. Remember, my March bill will be for the 19th month of an 18 month contract and will show the 18th month (Feb 2nd to March 1st) has been paid with no arrears.

Hope that makes sense.

Lynsey

Oh I see your problem - you should be able to use PAC code on 1st March or 2nd March and still get your March bill. That will be the final bill as t-mobile charge for the previous month, not one month ahead.


Not got that problem myself - my bills arrive on 29th of each month, contract ending on 23rd Oct, getting Pac code on 23rd Sep, using PAC code in October from t-mobile. Final October bill towards cashback, job done.

Do have to be careful though - to ensure you do not get billed one extra month by using the PAC code before the billing date because t-mobile charge whole month line rental then. i.e. Allow a couple of days for transfer to happen before the final contract end date. I had that experience once and complained to get my money back.

mobilejunkie

Mobiles cannot rely on an unfair condition which prevents you from claiming the final cashback instalment. I never over-run or transfer an existing number so if the timings were as yours Lynsey we would have an interesting dispute - which they would lose. However, the only reason for making it thus when it was crystal clear and neither ambiguous nor contradictory beforehand is clearly to confuse and mislead; cpw like to do that for obvious reasons. Indeed, there cannot be any other reason for so doing!

People embarking on a cashback contract with this dealer now really need to understand the particular effects and t&c individually; it is certaily not as simple as some obviously think - and advise. Playing the cashback game requires a full understanding of the rules - and what to do based on those should the payments not be forthcoming. A false understanding of the t&c based on reassurances on here from people who should know better could put people into a situation where they lose.

Lynsey

mobilejunkie wrote: »

Mobiles cannot rely on an unfair condition which prevents you from claiming the final cashback instalment. I never over-run or transfer an existing number so if the timings were as yours Lynsey we would have an interesting dispute - which they would lose.

I understand now (I hope) that you (probably) go ONLY for the 18 months and NOT a day over. Is that correct?? In that case your final bill may not be for a full month (depending on billing cycle and bought date). All that should matter is that you can show you fulfilled your contract of 18 months (using 18 months as an example - could be 12 or 24 months).

I wait for the final FULL month to be created and they would just think my contract is ongoing past the 18 months. A day or two after the last bill has been created, I port (having already asked for and received my PAC, slightly after 17th month bill). I do have to juggle a little and pay for an extra couple of days (actually have to fork out for the full month and wait for refund), but saves having to explain anything. Happy with what I/we have achieved and move on to the next one.

With e2save/OSPS, I can port straight after my 17th month bill and simply lose some/most ofthe last months usage, or just give 30 days notice and end - I prefer those options, but the best value deal was with Mobiles.co.uk this time.

Lynsey

OneADay

Safer bet is to give 30 days notice, ask for number to be turned to pay and go at end of contract and ask for PAC code too.

If PAC code is not used within 30 days, the number is still there as pay and go. And you can get a new PAC code. The final contract bill will be produced for the right month to be used for the cashback.

Lynsey

An option OAD, but I will have new contract already taken out just ready to port. Just done one and will do another on 10th Oct.

Lynsey

OneADay

Lynsey wrote: »

An option OAD, but I will have new contract already taken out just ready to port. Just done one and will do another on 10th Oct.

Lynsey

Oh I see. I guess it depends on if the new contract /network allows late ports in then.

But I would do what I just suggested just to be on safe side, T-mobile are the issue for me as I say, if you go one day into an extra month of the contract, they wallop you with full one month line rental. I was lucky I got a refund (had two contracts with them and one was still active so guess it was a loyalty thing for them to let me off). Plus the fact I ported out from t-mobile to O2, only to port back to t-mobile with a new cheap contract.

mobilejunkie

OneADay wrote: »

Safer bet is to give 30 days notice, ask for number to be turned to pay and go at end of contract and ask for PAC code too.

If PAC code is not used within 30 days, the number is still there as pay and go. And you can get a new PAC code. The final contract bill will be produced for the right month to be used for the cashback.

On this I could be wrong - since I never port a number. However, I have read several times on here from people who have more expertise in this area that if you give notice AND request a PAC code the notice is cancelled - and if the PAC code isn't used within 30 days the contract continues. If that IS the case your advise would cause people who followed it without using the PAC code to end up payng at least an extra month's rental for no benefit and it is the opposite of "safe".

OneADay

mobilejunkie wrote: »

On this I could be wrong - since I never port a number. However, I have read several times on here from people who have more expertise in this area that if you give notice AND request a PAC code the notice is cancelled - and if the PAC code isn't used within 30 days the contract continues. If that IS the case your advise would cause people who followed it without using the PAC code to end up payng at least an extra month's rental for no benefit and it is the opposite of "safe".

And if you read my so called advice - it states asking for move to pay and go!

"Safer bet is to give 30 days notice, ask for number to be turned to pay and go at end of contract and ask for PAC code too".

mobilejunkie

Lynsey wrote: »

I understand now (I hope) that you (probably) go ONLY for the 18 months and NOT a day over. Is that correct?? In that case your final bill may not be for a full month (depending on billing cycle and bought date). All that should matter is that you can show you fulfilled your contract of 18 months (using 18 months as an example - could be 12 or 24 months).

I wait for the final FULL month to be created and they would just think my contract is ongoing past the 18 months.Lynsey

Almost - but you have a red herring. The new terminilogy created by this dealer is obviously confusing in more directions that I already anticipated.

The final bill can be for one day - some networks don't charge a full month and then credit back the over-charge (or issue a so-called "final" bill). The point is that you wouldn't get a bill at all in the final claim month in certain circumstances. That is, assuming mobiles ignore their own definitions and try to get the month 13 bill, which then wouldn't exist. However, if month "0" and month "1" are applied as defined you would be using your month 12 bill to claim the final installment (all based on a simple 12 month contract - same applies to other durations).

e.g. Buy and connected on 5th January; first (full + part) bill on 10th January. final bill on 5th December (on some networks there wouldn't be a January bill) covering 5th September - 4th January (I ALWAYS have to fight the networks not to pay the 5th a second time). In this instance, month "0" and month "1" would be January and month 12 December - hence December's bill. HOWEVER, if Mobiles.co ignores its own new definitions and tries to apply its example (which contradicts its own definitions) you would send the January bill - which (in some cases) won't exist.

All this is without the obvious problem/potential for sending the wrong bills in between.

Like I said, the t&c are NOT simple and clear AT ALL. They WERE - but now they certainly aren't and will lead to problems in months to come (which must be exactly what they are designed to achieve).

Had I been writing them (as was once suggested by the dubious "Ben") - or anyone with half a brain (which many have not) I would never had produced such a mess unless I wanted to trip people up.

Lynsey

Think of getting a PAC code as your 30 day notice to terminate your contract. Your contract will end once the number has been ported to your new network. If you fail to use it within 30 days then your contract will continue. I try and port ASAP after my final bill has been produced, I know I'll be charged for another full month, but will get a refund on unused days (normally pay £1-£5) - need to check what day porting will take place and weekeds/Bank Holidays etc.
Obviously porting is different to cancelling as cancelling is definite (unless change of mind). I use both methods now, but was a wee bit scared of porting initially - much better now as timescales regarding getting a PAC and porting have been tightened up.

Lynsey