o2 Recycle refusing to return my phone

MrMister

I recently ended up with a high value cex voucher which I couldn't really spend, so I decided to purchase a 2nd hand phone from cex, and trade it in at o2recylce.co.uk to get the cash.

o2recylce have said that the handset has a 'red flag' on it and that they wont pay out, but also can't return it to me.

Alarm bells immediately rang, and I thought I'd bought a phone that had been reported stolen, so I did my own report on this handset via checkmend, and there is a red mark on the report, saying the handset is subject to a current finance agreement. I've emailed o2 back, saying that the handset is fine, but there is finance on it, and they'd like it returned. They've then said that they can't see what the red flag is, only that the handset has a red flag on the checkmend report. They are not budging, and say that I need to contact checkmend to get the red flag removed. Checkmend are saying that only the original finance compay can get it removed, and wont even tell me who they are.

I fully understand, if the phone is stolen, or has been subject to insurance 'job' then o2 should keep the thing, or return it to the insurance company who now own it. But can they keep it, just because there is outstanding finance on it ? After all aren't most handsets subject to some sort of finance or contract ?

Any help or advice is appreciated, I don't want to be out of pocket for £300

Silk

You need to go back to CEX and show them copies of the report.


I would imagine the phone would have been blocked anyway by now making it useless.

MrMister

Hi Silk, thats for taking the time to reply.

Why would the phone have been blocked ?

Silk

MrMister wrote: »

Hi Silk, thats for taking the time to reply.

Why would the phone have been blocked ?

It happens when a phone is reported stolen, not paid for etc. so that it's unuseable

MrMister

cex have flatly refused to refund my money unless I can return the phone to them, I need to get it back from o2

Silk

MrMister wrote: »

cex have flatly refused to refund my money unless I can return the phone to them, I need to get it back from o2

Does the paperwork from CEX show the EMEI number for the phone ?

MrMister

unfortunately not.

d123

Silk wrote: »

It happens when a phone is reported stolen, not paid for etc. so that it's unuseable

A phone should never be blacklisted just for non-payment. Networks are only supposed to blacklist for lost, stolen or fraudulent connections.

d123

Silk wrote: »

Does the paperwork from CEX show the EMEI number for the phone ?

MrMister wrote: »

unfortunately not.

Yes, they do. The IMEI is listed on the receipt as "serial number".

MrMister

d123 wrote: »

Yes, they do. It's listed on the receipt as "serial number".

I bought it online, and it only came with a delivery note, no receipt.

d123

MrMister wrote: »

I bought it online, and it only came with a delivery note, no receipt.

Ask them to supply the receipt again, they would still have a record of the sale, have you checked the email address you used to register with them? The full receipt would have been attached to your original email confirmation/acknowledgement.