Cashback Guide for Dummies

albo2002

deano23285 wrote: »

try this site, ive just used them and didn't have any issues

which one, there are three mentioned!

Robie

deano23285 wrote: »

try this site, ive just used them and didn't have any issues

What site?

mobilejunkie

Whichever site it is (and it looks like Affordable Mobiles) is pretty irrelevant. 1) I've had many contracts with some of these companies and a few good experiences are lost when you get a bad one! 2) "just used" may mean recently ordered. If it's that then cashback issues haven't yet appeared - and in some cases may already be inherently flawed.

Exhortation

I don't understand why this thread has never been made a 'sticky'. The advice in it is excellent.

mobilejunkie

thanks. I've been wondering that for the last three years, but requests from others and myself appear to fall on deaf ears. I wonder how many people could have avoided the the problems they encountered as a result of not finding this thread!

mobilejunkie

Methinks it's about time I summarised things as they stand today. There aren't many cashback dealers (with the best deals) left after the market was decimated a couple of years ago. New players appear to be emerging slowly (very) and the best cashback dealer by a million miles han't offered a decent deal in over a year. Nonetheless, things can and do change (remember that one!?) so for the uninitiated (or out of touch) my current analysis is as follows:-

Mobiles2yourdoor

Whilst they were offering great deals they proved to be head and shoulders above the competition in terms of fairness, reliability, making it easy to claim AND actually being available when they are contacted. Should they start doing good deals once more (provided they are as good as they were of course!) this is the first place to go. In fact, they ARE the second place on my list:-

Phones4u

Although I prefer the Mobiles2yourdoor website, this is the same company and offers the same degree of confidence - unfortunately though no great deals for more than a year again.

Dialaphone

Used to have a fantastic cashback reputation. I never managed to use them (their deals weren't entirely free when many others were; besides, I really can't stand their website!). They are also now Phones4u, having been taken over about 18 months ago as I recall. In theory, they should therefore be as reliable as Phones4u/Mobiles2yourdoor and I would use them; it's academic though, since they also have no decent cashback deals (well, my little guide IS all about cashback deals, after all....!).

E2Save

Far, far less trustworthy than the above. Nonetheless, being the largest dealer - in Europe, profitable last time I heard and even in the FTSE 100 at one point or other - cpw meet one of my fundamental criteria. Those of you who have followed my scriblings and read this thread will know what that is; they are likely to still be around to sue if (and quite possibly) when needbe. My latest dealings with them indicate a definite improvement over the depths they ploughed a couple of years ago. It would need an awful lot more before they accrued the same trust as Phones4u, but before they decided to be totally dishonest they were actually the best dealer (a LONG time back now!). They appear more efficient, pay as fast as Phones4u (and that is a LOT faster than anyone else!!) and have decent t&c - at one time better than the next dealer. Another site, Onestopphoneshop, IS now E2save (just as Mobiles2yourdoor IS Phones4u by another name) and both sites offer good cashback deals. Just make certain you follow all the groundrules. Another cpw site (lessor known) - The Phone Spot - used to be at least administered by E2Save and as far as I am aware it still is (if not also E2Save). I also used them extensively at one time.

Mobiles.co.uk

Another cpw dealer (after being taken over by them about three years or so ago) but separately run to the others. They have proved themselves beyond any doubt (even to those who gave it to them for an incredible duration) to want to possess the mantle that E2Save has recently (apparently and perhaps) thrown off. In other words, they change their t&c and then deny certain wording in previous ones (and I not only know that for a fact but have pointed it out many times), take forever to pay (even E2Save didn't take THAT long at their worst), are usually almost impossible to communicate with (by email or phone) and do deny legitimate cashback claims (but not in the volumes YET that E2save concocted). They have added another dirty trick; they tell you to claim using their on-line system but (since it doesn't work) the claims are never received, assessed or paid - SO DON'T USE IT!!). They also resorted to putting an excuse for a rep on here for a time; as when E2Save used that tactic in the dim distant past when they first started to reject valid claims, the "information" he gave was misleading at best and definitely untrue at times. After he vanished a while back another rep popped up; unlike the first, they at least appear to only be on here to deal with (ok, firefight) when problems are aired publicly, as opposed to doing a thinly veiled PR job with damage limitation (which in fact had the opposite effect) of the previous apparition.

Why are they on my list? I use them extensively even though I (and the people I look after) have experienced two denied claims (totally incorrectly but very quickly reversed when the appropriate action was taken). Again, you may ask why? The answer is the same; they are always likely to be around to sue (and I'm always happy to do that when a dealer "requests" it!), they are one of the few places where good cashback deals are available and I have LOTS of experience with them so know how to play any game they may care to invent (apart from the obvious existing ones they occasionally employ). Many people have ended up on here with problems, quite a few with rejected cashback claims. If you use them, make sure you use all the groundrules and are prepared to take the appropriate action when if and when required. Those who have only one or two contracts may well get through them without a problem; just don't assume you will, because over a number of contracts you almost certainly will hit a brick wall at some point!

Buymobilephones

As far as I am aware, this is the only dealer apart form the two big ones (cpw and phones4u) to come through the massacre of cashback dealers two years ago; seemingly unscathed. That is actually quite creditable. They also made their cashback t&c MUCH clearer and fairer than in the first two-three years I followed them - during which time I didn't use them for that reason. They also offer some of the best deals - actually ALL the line rental; one of only two companies I know who currently do that. They are therefore very tempting. They take forever to pay (ALMOST as long as Mobiles.co.uk, which definitely holds the record despite spouting that "no other dealer pays cashback cheques so fast", or some nonsense to that effect!) but pay directly into the same bank account used for the contract direct debit and (up until quite recently) have few black marks. HOWEVER, they come further down my list (despite being higher up in reliability than Mobiles.co.uk) simply because they are MUCH smaller and therefore riskier for obvious reasons (if you don't know what THOSE are you still shouldn't even be considering ANY cashback deal in the first place!). Apart from that, there was an instance recently reported on here where they denied a perfectly legitimate claim (only one that I am aware of). The claim was eventually approved but there was absolutely no excuse for denying it or requesting different bills to those which had been sent. That brings back unpleasant memories of E2Save's tactics during the dark ages (for them!). They also had a week recently when they paid all (or a lot given the feedback on this site) claims a week late - despite allowing themselves an age to pay claims anyway. Not a good sign. Personally I haven't experienced such problems but when you follow what goes on as closely as I do you can distinguish between the dealer's errors and the claimants!

Affordable Mobiles

This site currently has the best cashback deals available. The name of the real company should immediately send warning shots, however; "Shebang". Its sister site is Beepy. Having researched this lot as far as I reasonably can, I rapidly came to the firm conclusion that they are to be avoided. Almost nothing but bad feedback, just about every problem under the sun. Nonetheless, you've guessed it - I decided I'd give them a run for my money (and so now have direct experience). Despite a (very) fleeting initially positive experience all I will say - I never give out too much details for obvious (to those with half a brain!) reasons - is that everything I had heard about them has proved to be TRUE. AVOID AT ALL COSTS - unless, like me, you like a fight and follow every groundrule to the letter from number 1 onwards. Oh, and you are likely to need to enforce your cashback or kiss it goodbye more quickly than I could have ever believed!

And finally....

Well, that's me done for now. I've been thinking about adding this update for a while - the subject has popped up once in a while and those silly questions on new threads that ask "has anyone used "x"... will no doubt continue. I believe having it all clearly on one thread (which I do think should have been a sticky as long ago as three years when I first laid out my guide) is something that can remain to be studied by those in need. I would add that not a lot fundamentally has changed in the last three years; t&c have become more friendly, the very best deals have become more sparse, the choice of sources has declined - yet the groundrules hold fast and have the very same potency they had on day one!

I would add one thing; as far as I am concerned, anyone failing to get their cashback has only themselves to blame. If you embark on a cashback contract don't blame the network IF the dealer goes bust; it is written that your cashback is then lost. YOU chose the dealer and should KNOW what happens should they go bust; accept the risk or avoid the deal. If a dealer denies your claim; that's your own fault, because I have tried to ensure (as I do with my own claims and those of people I ride shotgun over) that you are perfectly able to cover yourself every step of the way (now more than ever before). If you CHOOSE not to by rushing in, making assumptions (read SO many "I thought they'd be relaible because they're part of cpw" posts etc etc!!) ignoring the groundrules and/or being frightened to enfore your legal rights under YOUR contract, it's YOUR choice!

Happy Hunting!

Lynsey

Excellent stuff mj. I also think the T&C's are easier now or should I say more friendly. Probably been forced on them and good to see that missing one claim doesn't invalidate all future claims as it once did.
Maybe you could add a piece about "vouchers" and the need to keep them safe, especially with BMP's.

Happy hunting to you as well.

Lynsey

mobilejunkie

Always! Great fun too!

I believe the voucher issue should be covered in the original groundrules on page 1 - it all goes back to reading, copying, understanding, following and enforcing the t&c. In those days there was no such thing as a claim without a voucher system! However, it certainly does no harm for you to mention that to the unwary (we both know of one this week who was!).

As for the "improvement" or easing of the t&c; why do you think there are fewer deals and dealers? Could it be that by helping others we shoot ourselves in the foot and the great crusaders who don't know how to play the game have succeeded in spoiling things for those who do? After all, we all fought the same battles but not everyone threw themselves onto those bayonets...

Lynsey

I fully agree that if it was harder to claim there would be more deals as more would fail. The same as advising others I assume, the more success for us, the less profit for them.
There are still some great deal out there, you just need to know where to look - but not as many as before, especially for decent phones.

Long may it last, 17 months free on an 18 months deal does me, especially with £30-£50 cashback, though those 18 months free on an 18 months contract are the "business". Bringing back the 12 months free on a 12 months contract would top it all, but sadly that has now gone.

Lynsey

mobilejunkie

That's a sentiment I fully agree with... ah, those were the days....!!