Carphone Warehouse - Number Not Activated, Free Phone?

Toki

On the 29th of December I took out a new vodafone contract for my dad from the Carphone Warehouse via online site.

Deal was a free HTC Desire S which he received on the 4th of January. He also got a Vodafone SIM with a new phone number as his current number is with Orange PAYG and due to be ported over, PAC was supplied.

On the same day, I fitted the new Vodafone SIM in, but it wasn't activated according to Vodafone. I then contacted the geek squad who are sub contracted (I believe?) by CPW for support issues who advised that if Vodafone have no record of the new number or the PAC request, the phone is free and my dad can do what he wants with it and could take out a Voda Sim only deal for cheaper. He did say we could contact CPW and put things right to but it was up to us.

Ignoring the moral issues for a minute, what is the chances that the CPW will notice and catch up with my dad, either by taking money via the direct debit or by demanding the phone back? Checking with his bank, no direct debit has been started as of yesterday.

Currently my dad has his old Orange PAYG sim in the new phone with 3G data disabled.

What is everyone's thoughts? I'm slightly worried if he does take out a Voda sim only deal, CPW will start taking money, meaning he will be stuck with 2 contracts!

Thanks in advance.

grumbler

Only Voda can start taking money, not CPW.
For the time being, I'd avoid any other long-term deals and would use either PAYG or 1 month rolling contract.
The phone is unlocked and can be used on any network. Chose between:

• http://giffgaff.com/index/offer (o2)
• http://www.chitterchatter.co.uk/simonly.php (tmobile) - internet is a free booster that can be added
• http://www.talkmobile.co.uk/simple.html (vodafone)
• http://store.three.co.uk/SIM_Only/Voice_Pay_As_You_Go

robbies_gal

how do you know they have no record of your number they might have just misplaced the order to activate it

Toki

gabbyevs wrote: »

how do you know they have no record of your number they might have just misplaced the order to activate it

I contacted the geek squad and they said for me to check with Vodafone. I have phoned Vodafone twice and on both occasions they say that they have no record on their systems of the new number supplied of my dads current Orange PAYG which should be getting transferred over.

Toki

grumbler wrote: »

Only Voda can start taking money, not CPW.
For the time being, I'd avoid any other long-term deals and would use either PAYG or 1 month rolling contract.
The phone is unlocked and can be used on any network. Chose between:

• http://giffgaff.com/index/offer (o2)
• http://www.chitterchatter.co.uk/simonly.php (tmobile) - internet is a free booster that can be added
• http://www.talkmobile.co.uk/simple.html (vodafone)
• http://store.three.co.uk/SIM_Only/Voice_Pay_As_You_Go

May be an option of going with the Talk Mobile as the reception on Vodafone network is better for where my dad is. Thanks. Could go with the 1 month option in the short term.

EdCov

As I understand it, and I may be wrong, CPW send out the phones and SIMs on behalf of network and then get the cash for the phone as their commission from the Network. So CPW need to tell the Network who the Sim is for for the phone to work and to get their commission.

It looks like CPW have not contacted Vodafone, or Vodafone have not received/actioned it. Most likely someone will pick it up when CPW are not paid for the phone, but this may take a while to pick up.

Its a lot less stressful to be honest and most likely they will pick up on it, and pursue it.

mobilejunkie

It's not the first time they have stuffed up. Keep the phone, keep stum and worry about it if they come calling - but they won't.

Toki

EdCov wrote: »

As I understand it, and I may be wrong, CPW send out the phones and SIMs on behalf of network and then get the cash for the phone as their commission from the Network. So CPW need to tell the Network who the Sim is for for the phone to work and to get their commission.

It looks like CPW have not contacted Vodafone, or Vodafone have not received/actioned it. Most likely someone will pick it up when CPW are not paid for the phone, but this may take a while to pick up.

Its a lot less stressful to be honest and most likely they will pick up on it, and pursue it.

Thanks, I wasn't sure how it worked, CPW essentially work for Vodafone in this instance and get their cut from the contract. Really not sure what to do! Morally feel we should be honest, but for the sake of my dads wallet, go for sim only deal.

narika

one of my friends had similar experience with CPW 4 yrs ago. He then had got a £400 worth mobile for free and since then he never received any communication from CPW on this.

chanz4

tell cpw of their error once in writting, if they do nothing so be it but you must at least try once.

mobilejunkie

Says WHO??? Anyone following THAT course of action is a fool!