Denied sale as not listed on 192.com

Boozler

I had a somewhat frustrating week. I had finally settled on going to T-Mobile, but I am after a Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which is a handset that is only available through third parties due to the UK networks not liking how 'open' the phone is. But that's another rant for another day.

I found an online dealer with a seemingly good rep, and a great deal on the phone. I purchased, only to be told that I was denied, as even though my address and card checked out, I did not pass their 'six point security check' because I am not listed on 192.com. I discovered that this is because I opt out of the edited electoral roll. I am listed on there at my parents address, but I have not lived there for three years.

I then found a similar, but not as good deal on another website. This one again includes automatic cashback, but being wary, I noticed this would only apply 'subject to internal identity & fraud checks'. I asked this company if this involved me being listed on 192.com, and they basically said they couldn't tell me that, I would have to buy the phone and find out. I would treat the cashback as a 'bonus' rather than an entitlement, but still, this seems very odd.

Now, what I am complaining about here is not the phone deals themselves, but it's this disturbing trend that seems to be if I've not allowed my details to be sold on, people can deny me a sale, even when everything else checks out. I wonder if this applies to any other online shopping. I've never experienced it before but it is mighty frustrating. I am also concerned by the transparency of these organisations - why can they not tell me how they do their security checks on me? I don't want details, I would just like to know if they use x y and z database so I don't pony up cash only to know that I will be denied part of the deal.

Has anyone had any other experience with this?

robbies_gal

find it a bit odd wot sort of sellers do u mean?

antrobus

gabbyevs wrote: »

find it a bit odd wot sort of sellers do u mean?

The kind of cheapskate sellers that can't be bothered to sign up to a CRA to do proper credit checks?

About 40% of the population have signed up for the edited version of the electoral roll. You'd have to question the sanity of any retailer that decided to exclude 40% of the population as potential customers.

Boozler

Indeed, I do question the sanity of them! It seems very odd. They're clearly a cheapskate company - it was buymobilephones.net. I guess the price of getting 'a good deal, or at least a cheap one, is that they want your details. I don't like it one bit! The other company who refused to tell me what the checks they use involve was affordablemobiles.co.uk.

mobilejunkie

That's probably because Affordablemobiles has just been bought out by buymobilesphones.net. The latter has been around for years - as long as I've been doing cashback deals - and (apart from the cashback risk due to their size) I'm not sure that "cheapskate" is a fair desciption. After all, they generally offer the best deals over any given period.

Boozler

Indeed, the deal seemed really good - but unfortunately I can't buy from them. I suspect then that similar problems would occur with affordablemobiles.

Denied a good deal because I choose to opt out of being in a database.

Guys_Dad

Boozler wrote: »

Indeed, the deal seemed really good - but unfortunately I can't buy from them. I suspect then that similar problems would occur with affordablemobiles.

Denied a good deal because I choose to opt out of being in a database.

Find it all a bit strange myself, but, if you are right and know the criteria, then you need to weigh up what is worth more to you between opting out or dealing with some companies.

Remember that YOU do not need to buy but THEY need to sell.

Boozler

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Find it all a bit strange myself, but, if you are right and know the criteria, then you need to weigh up what is worth more to you between opting out or dealing with some companies.

Remember that YOU do not need to buy but THEY need to sell.

Indeed. Even if I opt in, I wont show up on the database until next january, so I don't see the point. I'll find a deal elsewhere or re-evaluate the handset I would like. Nothings ever easy, is it? haha!