Phones.co.uk cashback - how difficult/reliable is it ? + other Qs

easy

Just coming to the end of my 24 month contract with O2, seen a deal for the bundle I want at £15.58 per month AFTER cashback (£22 per month payable) for an S3 (NOT mini) 300 mins, 500mb, unlimited txts.

Now, I've always shied away from cashback deals before, last time folk on here suggested it was really difficult and likely doomed to failure - but that was 2 years ago. Have things got better? Are Phones.co.uk better or worse than anyone else?
Would I be better going for CPWs £17 p/m, cos it's safe ??

Other questions - would the phone come from Phones.co.uk unlocked (I know CPWs are)? and how do I enter a new contract on O2 thru a vendor, but keep/move my existing O2 number to it?


Cheers Chaps, thanks in advance for any help

mobilejunkie

Was never difficult IF you know what you're doing. Phones4 used to be the best (deals and claims/payments etc) but I haven't used them (or their other site, Dialaphone) for about two-three years purely because the deals aren't there. CPW deals now are also rare (though I have managed to get back up to 8 concurrent contracts at present and watch over about 14-20 others for other people). CPW aren't that great right now (though that can also work to your advantage) so if you use any cashback dealer you really need to follow ALL the groundrules. When I last used Dialaphone (Phones4u nowadays) their t&c were vaguer than previously and (JUST like CPW) they sent out incorrect instructions which they changed when I immediately challenged them.

They are both "safe" if you understand the t&c (and get the right interpretation) don't get mislead by the occasional smokes and mirrors misinformation which often comes from them, simply because they are unlikely to go bust and IF you've followed ALL the groundrules you can enforce the contract.