Promised £100 for my mobile phone then it turned out to be £25!

jaylee3

Has this happened to anyone else?

I went to a certain phone shop (won't say which one as it's resolved now,) and I renewed my contract because I wanted a different phone. So I bought one off them for £120 (a new version of my old phone,) and they bought my old phone for £100. Then I signed a new contract. They said they would pay my £100 into my bank account within 10 working days.

2 weeks later, I find that they only paid £25 into my account! When I challenged the phone shop, they said that when the 'third party' that gets the phone and makes the payment, got my phone, they said the screen was cracked, and only gave me £25!

I said this was bullpoo as the guy who took my phone signed it off as in very good condition, and said that the offer to me was £100. I had the original receipt and the document saying they were due to give me £100.

So they didn't have a leg to stand on and had to give me the extra £75.

But has anyone else had this happen? Sold your phone to them, and they promised you a certain amount, and then reneged on it?

I wonder if they try this on with lots of people, in the hope people won't notice, or will be too embarrassed/shy/awkward to say anything?!

Bloomin' con merchants! They never let ME know that they were only going to give me £25. Good job I noticed and challenged them!

[Deleted User]

Well done on challenging them, great that you had documentary evidence that the 'phone was in good condition when you handed it over. I wonder when the mysterious "crack" appeared (or if there ever was one)?

A lesson to us all when trading in.

jaylee3

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Well done on challenging them, great that you had documentary evidence that the 'phone was in good condition when you handed it over. I wonder when the mysterious "crack" appeared (or if there ever was one)?

A lesson to us all when trading in.

Hmmmm, well there wasn't one when I gave it to them! I reckon they were trying it on!

And I almost laughed when someone at the phone shop said 'give her the money (the £75) as a 'goodwill gesture!' LOL, it was MY money that they promised me. What a bloomin' cheek! :rotfl:

As I said though, I wonder of this has happened to anyone else???

Nodding_Donkey

jaylee3 wrote: »

Has this happened to anyone else?

We don't know until you tell us who it was

kwikbreaks

Maybe one of the phone shop employees "repaired" a friends phone.

If they agree prices then that should be paid and there shouldn't even be a mechanism linking their disposal price back to the customer.

I say name and shame.

bod1467

The phone recycling companies try this on all the time, pretty much every time. They entice people in with one offer, then allege the phone is faulty/cracked/scuffed/whatever once they have the phone in their hands and make a much-reduced offer. The problem is ... they have your phone and won't return it unless you pay them, and then you have the concern about whether it is actually your phone they return.

Some tips:

1/ Make a note of the IMEI number and serial number of your phone. (Basically any identifiable info you can find).

2/ Take lots of photos of your phone before packaging.

3/ Take lots of photos of your packaging, whilst putting the phone in and then of the complete package.

That way you'll be able to a) prove the phone was adequately packaged, and b) prove it is your phone if/when you get it back.

In the OP's case the recycling was done in person at a shop so there was a documented audit trail to support the claim. Many other people will try to recycle online, and that's where the above tips become mandatory.

Fosterdog

When I traded in my last phone I did it in store at a phones4u (i know they have closed recently so this won't help anyone else). They offered me £125 for my old phone after seeing the good condition, I compared it to some online phone trade in which was a maximum of £135 with one company and selling myself on ebay would have got around £150.

P4U offered me cash on the day, after reading some of the issues people have had with online companies I'd rather take slightly less and have the cash in my hand on the day that deal with the hassle of sending it away.

HopScotch

bod1467 wrote: »

The phone recycling companies try this on all the time, pretty much every time. They entice people in with one offer, then allege the phone is faulty/cracked/scuffed/whatever once they have the phone in their hands and make a much-reduced offer. The problem is ... they have your phone and won't return it unless you pay them, and then you have the concern about whether it is actually your phone they return.

I had a similar experience but was lucky enough to get my phone sent back with no questions asked.

They give you one quote on their website and then start picking at issues that don't exist as soon as they have it with them.
I even had them ring back once I declined the offer, giving me a much better price that was still much lower than originally quoted.

stevemLS

bod1467 wrote: »

The phone recycling companies try this on all the time, pretty much every time. They entice people in with one offer, then allege the phone is faulty/cracked/scuffed/whatever once they have the phone in their hands and make a much-reduced offer. The problem is ... they have your phone and won't return it unless you pay them, and then you have the concern about whether it is actually your phone they return.

Some tips:

1/ Make a note of the IMEI number and serial number of your phone. (Basically any identifiable info you can find).

2/ Take lots of photos of your phone before packaging.

3/ Take lots of photos of your packaging, whilst putting the phone in and then of the complete package.

That way you'll be able to a) prove the phone was adequately packaged, and b) prove it is your phone if/when you get it back.

In the OP's case the recycling was done in person at a shop so there was a documented audit trail to support the claim. Many other people will try to recycle online, and that's where the above tips become mandatory.

I have now sold 3 ex-phones to online companies with absolutely no problems.

jaylee3

So it seems like it is fairly commonplace then.

Thanks guys.

I will be on my guard more next time!!!