Vodafone Buyback Scam

markbowden

I've upgraded my vodafone and send my blackberry bold back after receiving an off of £90 in Debenhams vouchers.

My Blackberry was in mint condition, flawless and to be honest if it wasn't December and Christmas I'd have kept the phone.

I gave the voucher card to my wife who took it to the shop to spend, only to fine just £22 on the card.

I called the buyback team only to be told that my flawless blackberry had white spots on the screen and was in poor condition so I could only have £22.

In disgust at such an obvious scam I've asked for my phone back. Not so easy though. I can only have a similar one. Forgive me for being mildly angry, if you can't give what you offered then send me back my goods surely.

I just want to take legal action now, does anyone know who this should be reported to?:mad:

jd87

They won't send you your phone back, only a similar one? That's disgusting!

Probably all in the t&cs though.

grumbler

• You received the offer for £90, accepted it and can prove this.
• You sent them the phone.
• They sent you £28 instead without your consent. They cannot prove that you accepted another offer.

Sounds like a straightforward claim through the SCC to me. Send them the Letter Before Action first.

jamys

Dear Supposedly Scammed,
I'm not trying to be rude & I don't work for Vodafone but I've used the service & have had two awesome experiences!!!

I'm not saying that your phone wasn't perfect when you sent it in, but YOU CLEARLY DIDN'T READ THE AGREEMENT YOU SIGNED and AGREED TO. And it also depends on if the package was PROPERLY packaged while in transit, it most likely was tossed & dropped several times, thus explaining the "damage"

I'm truly amazed at how we complain about things that are really our own fault! It takes moments to simply read & if you don't agree don't do it. Yet we don't and then want to complain about how we got "SCAMMED" :money:

thegoodman

jamys wrote: »

Dear Supposedly Scammed,
I'm not trying to be rude & I don't work for Vodafone but I've used the service & have had two awesome experiences!!!

I'm not saying that your phone wasn't perfect when you sent it in, but YOU CLEARLY DIDN'T READ THE AGREEMENT YOU SIGNED and AGREED TO. And it also depends on if the package was PROPERLY packaged while in transit, it most likely was tossed & dropped several times, thus explaining the "damage"

I'm truly amazed at how we complain about things that are really our own fault! It takes moments to simply read & if you don't agree don't do it. Yet we don't and then want to complain about how we got "SCAMMED" :money:

I agree. Some people just drop the phone in a postal bag without reading T&C. As soon as something go wrong blame the company.
Some people will never take responsibility or use common sense

grumbler

jamys wrote: »

Dear Supposedly Scammed,
I'm not trying to be rude & I don't work for Vodafone but I've used the service & have had two awesome experiences!!!

Congratulations.

... YOU CLEARLY DIDN'T READ THE AGREEMENT YOU SIGNED and AGREED TO.

Clearly? What exactly in the OP supports your guess?

And it also depends on if the package was PROPERLY packaged while in transit, it most likely was tossed & dropped several times, thus explaining the "damage"

Your crystal ball seems to work better than mine as again I don't see any reasons for using the word "likely", let alone "most likely".

I'm truly amazed at how we complain about things that are really our own fault!

You seem to be very easy to get amazed, but again, your guesses may have nothing to do with the reality.

It takes moments to simply read & if you don't agree don't do it. Yet we don't and then want to complain about how we got "SCAMMED"

Instead of keeping repeating the same you could have quoted some important part that the OP allegedly failed to read and that gives Vodafone the right to change the price without confirming this with the customer.

thegoodman wrote: »

I agree. ...

Interestingly, this doesn't surprise me.

thegoodman

It's not buyback scam
The terms state that new amount will be sent by email or text message, then op have three days to refuse otherwise the new amount will be sent.
Has op checked the email or text message?
http://vodafonebuyback.co.uk/Terms.aspx#

Also with all used products what you think is like new, others may not.

Many people send stuff without becoming aware of terms and then blame the company.

Buzby

Of the 6 different firms who offered 'recycling' schemes I looked at, the consumer was always ripe to be wrung out to dry if there was any conflict, and for this reason alone those that have the ability to sell the item themselves at auction are more in control than those who simply hope for the best.

The purchaser (the 'recycler') remains the final arbiter on the price to be paid, and the price offered is only ever indicative. You then have to hope (like credit card applicants) that the price offered - or APR - is subject to change). It is not a standard offer and acceptance, so any pursuit via small claims may be wasting even more money.

Indeed, some firms insist that to get your phone back (or one similar) will incur a charge and this will cost anything between £10 & £20, depending on what was agreed.

I'd suggest you learn from this, as your options are limited, and the chances of success not loaded in your favour.

dealer_wins

jamys wrote: »

Dear Supposedly Scammed,
I'm not trying to be rude & I don't work for Vodafone but I've used the service & have had two awesome experiences!!!

I'm not saying that your phone wasn't perfect when you sent it in, but YOU CLEARLY DIDN'T READ THE AGREEMENT YOU SIGNED and AGREED TO. And it also depends on if the package was PROPERLY packaged while in transit, it most likely was tossed & dropped several times, thus explaining the "damage"

I'm truly amazed at how we complain about things that are really our own fault! It takes moments to simply read & if you don't agree don't do it. Yet we don't and then want to complain about how we got "SCAMMED" :money:

LOL at scammer defending his scam.




And then you say

"

JB1977

Mobile Phone Xchange / Vodafone Buyback – Don’t touch with abarge pole (you’ve been warned)!

I can only echo the majority of comments I’ve subsequentlyseen on numerous internet forums. My personal experience of the Mobile PhoneXchange was nothing more than a SCAM. Pleasedo NOT bother with thiscompany!

Initially offered £74for my old Blackberry Bold 9780 and with the company affiliated to Vodafone (mynetwork for 10+ years) I thought that sounded like a reasonable offer. I was gobsmacked when a few days after sendingmy phone by special delivery costing me £6+, I received an email from the MobilePhone Xchange with a reduced offer at £17due to the display window having severe scratching. :mad:

I rang to ask for the phone to be sent back and wasimmediately offered £10 extra taking the total to £27 (I suspect they do thisbecause they can see that you have already paid for the delivery). Still £47 belowthe original offer (£53 if you factor in the £6 postage) I asked for the phoneto be returned.

My work colleagues looked at the phone when it arrived backand guess what? They all thought exactly the same as me - where was the severescratching?!

Why Vodafone would want to be associated with these guys is beyondme.

In the end I took it to a local phone exchange shop in townand they valued it there and then - £55 in cash!

My advice - just go straight to a local business which buys/sellsmobile phones and get a face-to face valuation. If everyone did this then we can rid the world of these internetscammers.

Quartermass

The issue here would seem to be that without advising you they've given you a reduced offer. Is it possible they sent you a letter with the gift card advising the reduced amount, which you've not looked at?

I'd imagine unless they've been very clear that it's a lower amount they're offering then they are not acting fairly and court is the way to go.

If on the other hand they advised you in a manner which is reasonable and you didn't pay reasonable care, so you didn't notice you may find it more difficult.

As to Jamys, I think Grumbler has picked up on most of the points you have made very thoroughly. One thing that wasn't made clear in his reply though was about T&C in general. Taking a very extreme example if a company slips a line in that says "Oh, and by signing this agreement you owe us £1,000 in hidden fees" then a judge may find against them if it's unfair - however it can be a very difficult route to pursue.