Mobile phone "scam"

earthstorm

MissKeith wrote: »

do not have to register a PAYG phone in order to use it

you did when they first come out then this was forgotten, you can still register a PAYG phone, but its not a requirement. But some operators do require you to register your PAYG phone. I recently moved to three from o2 and i had to register my phone and the sim on the three website before it was activated.

MissKeith

earthstorm wrote: »

you did when they first come out then this was forgotten, you can still register a PAYG phone, but its not a requirement. But some operators do require you to register your PAYG phone. I recently moved to three from o2 and i had to register my phone and the sim on the three website before it was activated.

That's why I said in many cases, not in all cases. Nice edit there.

Storck

BobQ wrote: »

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?

If the average top up is correct, and I've no reason to disbelieve you, then the average balance will more likely be less than the £20 you claimed. Most people top up when their balance is nearing zero, so the average balance will be below the average top up.

As for the figures of how many people die compared to the number of PAYG phones you have not factored in that more old people die and they are less likely to have a phone whereas a number of younger people will have more than one phone on the go.

Lastly even as executor of the estate you should have followed the will when giving the credit to charity or you could have broken the law by distributing the estate against the wishes of the will, and did you include the amounts in the tax return?

BobQ

MissKeith wrote: »

How do you propose they refund consumers if the phone has been forgotten about out of interest? In many cases, you do not have to register a PAYG phone in order to use it so how do they know where to send the cheque to? How would they prevent fraud? (little Johnny pinching grandma's phone and asking for a cheque to be issued to himfor example). How would they refund you? Cash, cheque, voucher etc. I think there's too many grey areas and complications, I think the suggestion of sending texts to a charity seems the most simple solution.

Not sure if this is addressed at me.

However, I do not see its a problem as the onus could be on the firms to pay unused credits to a range of charities. If the credit is less than a designated amount (say £10) it could be paid automatically by them when they cancel the number. This would make it unnecessary to repay trivial amounts that were uneconomic to process. If the sum is more than the designated amount they could hold the sum for a further 90 days and repay it if requested by someone who has proof of purchasing the SIM or if not requested could donate the credit to charity.

Lip_Stick

Aren't mobile phone companies quick off the mark to claim money owed when a person dies?

BobQ

Storck wrote: »

If the average top up is correct, and I've no reason to disbelieve you, then the average balance will more likely be less than the £20 you claimed. Most people top up when their balance is nearing zero, so the average balance will be below the average top up.

A fair point, you could be right. I suspect this is true of younger people's use, but older people are more likely to leave a reasonable balance on the phone I suggest. For example, the phone I keep in my car for emergencies has just under £20 on it because I know that if I breakdown it will be of no use to me if its only got 50p on it.

As for the figures of how many people die compared to the number of PAYG phones
you have not factored in that more old people die and they are less likely to
have a phone whereas a number of younger people will have more than one phone on
the go.

Why are people so keen to disprove my rough calculation? OFCOM state that 51% of over 75s have a mobile phone. So Yes they are less likely to have one but still a sizeable number and I said half a million die, half of these are on PAYG and half of these have a phone. Its still a significant sum!

Lastly even as executor of the estate you should have followed the will when
giving the credit to charity or you could have broken the law by distributing
the estate against the wishes of the will, and did you include the amounts in
the tax return?

At no point have I asked for forum advice on this issue, neither do I need it and neither have I broken the law.

Frankly this is all missing the point. If you do not care that a significant amount (whatever it is) is being confiscated by mobile phone providers then ignore my post - it was for information.