Mobile phone "scam"

System

I imagine after claiming back the phone credit you then drain the petrol from their car and quickly use up the perishable food in their fridge

hollydays

BobQ wrote: »

Whether you like it or not it is a statistical fact that 40m people have mobiles in the UK, its also a fact that more than half of them are on PAYG tariffs, and its a fact that half a million die a year. Its also a fact that the average spend of those on PAYG is £15-20 so it is plausible that the average credit is about this.

As I said above "I agree" with you (REPEAT "I agree with you" )that its unfair to expect small refunds of that size. I do not agree that the firms should keep whatever amount the credit is.

I posted this for information not to get into an argument about the issue or accept abuse from apologists for the mobile phone industry (you know the people who rip us off with indefensible roaming charges!).

Statistically, people who use the word plausible are misusing statistics.

hollydays

BobQ wrote: »

Yes it did, so I suppose that those of us who leave a PAYG in the car etc in case of emergencies and then never use it can lose out too.

This is the same thing as people who buy a gift card and don't use it within the stated time period- they lose it. They should have read the t & cs

earthstorm

Kite2010 wrote: »

Did it also mention that if you don't use the phone within a certain period, the number is lost and the credit disappears?

Yes with o2 it is six months, you have to use your phone ( make a call or send a text) at least once in every 6 month period or you will get disconnected and lose all the credit.

just think back when mobiles first started any topup only lasted 30 days, so if after 30 days you still had credit it was lost

Zedicus

I've a Tesco mobile 'emergency' phone that I hadn't touched for over 9 months until I checked today and it's still working and in credit.

Do they batch these things up so that you may get over six months?

fluffnutter

I'd hate to get a recycled number. What if it was on every database going? You'd get continual spam calls and PPI texts. What if the number was previously used by someone with loans up the ying yang and a terrible credit rating? Answering the phone to debt collectors calling 20 times a day is not my idea of fun.

I wonder if you have any redress with your telecomms provider if this happens? Personally I'd be asking for a new number sharpish - one that had never been used.

BobQ

hollydays wrote: »

Statistically, people who use the word plausible are misusing statistics.

Statistics is ideally based on fact but sometimes can only be based on assumption. I have given you facts and a plausible assumption. You on the other hand have rubbished the assumption but made no attempt to explain why its wrong.

Do you have any evidence as to what the average credit is on a mobile phone?

BobQ

goater78 wrote: »

I imagine after claiming back the phone credit you then drain the petrol from their car and quickly use up the perishable food in their fridge

Sarcasm is of course the very lowest form of wit!

BobQ

Zedicus wrote: »

I've a Tesco mobile 'emergency' phone that I hadn't touched for over 9 months until I checked today and it's still working and in credit.

Do they batch these things up so that you may get over six months?

I think Tesco are one of those with the longest period for cancelling numbers.

custardy

earthstorm wrote: »

when my Gran died all we did was give her phone to another relative, so they could use what credit was left on the phone, even if the phone companies did refund any unused credit for users that have passed away, then the only person that could claim this back would be the executor of their estate.

I would expect this to be the norm for many