Cashback Guide for Dummies

mobilejunkie

I have repeatedly warned that blindly following whatever it says on your on-line account with this (and other) CPW dealers is asking for trouble - despite the repeated simplistic encouragment by some to do just that and "everything will be fine".

I thought a concrete (and current) example from an existing contract might illustrate this since nothing else gets through to some.

On a current contract it states in the on-line account that I need to send in the wrong bills and the amount payable is an incorrect figure. Naturally, I ignored all of that and claimed in the correct months. Despite some other bizarre responses along the way I have received my first few claims. However, the latest payment is drastically wrong (in their favour) and based on a different claim month (i.e. the correct one) rather than the one stated on the account. It is also even more drastically different to the figure stated on the account for each claim.

Of course, they will pay the correct amount one way or the other - but it is exceptionally foolish to assume that whatever they tell you is correct. Often, quite simply, it's completely wrong - in emails, on-line accounts, printed instructions with the phone and so on.

It's always back to the groundrules (page 1). Know what you're doing based on the agreement at the point of sale and stick with that - regardless of whatever they may do or say later. They have a LONG history of this. If you feel lucky, follow the on-line (or other - often contradictory) instructions. If you'd rather rely on what you're actually entitled to without being tripped up, make absolutely sure you know what you're doing before you order and cover yourself every step of the way.

mobilejunkie

I normally pick up new problems (or ones which occurred in the past but which are appearing again) more quickly than most on here, judging by the usual long pause between my own experiences and those reported on here as "new". It is therefore timely to warn people to check their CPW payments very carefully, since I have now encountered multiple payments for incorrect amounts on various contracts with them. One has been in a mess since the start, another now appears to be following a similar (though not identical) path.

Again, make sure you know what you're doing and how much (as well as when) you should get paid. This involves basic (VERY) maths but if neglected there is the possibility that CPW will pay you less than they should.

mobilejunkie

If you check you'll see it's often been months between my posts. The problems are quite fun, in fact - as long as you can deal with them. As for the volume, it's not new; I run dozens of contracts with these companies at any one time, so I am much more likely to detect things going awry. Of course, people could always stick their head in the sand and listen to you if they wish!

Quentin

thegoodman wrote: »

This is a nice way to bring your post UP every two to three weeks.
Look at your other post you seem to have a problem with cashback a lot.

Why you carping?

50,000 views - should be a sticky!

It's his thread, and he has updated with more recent info. Not a cynical bump as you are nastily trying to say, presumably just to be inflammatory.

murabi

question for mobile junkie - I am coming to the end of my mobile contract with e2save, 18 months done - I was paying 0.99 a month - an have successfully claimed all the cash back

but am I being dunce - I cant seem to find anything as good as that in terms of CB, the cheapest i've found is 5.98

mobilejunkie

Depends on the bundle. I grabbed a deal in the last week which works out at just over £2 p.m. with a decent Android phone. Deals aren't always easy to find; as with cashback, you have to put the legwork in to extract the most from what's on offer. This deal wasn't on any of the comparison sites which I use and even vanished from the initial place where I found it within a couple of hours - but was still there when I looked around another way. I don't broadcast the best deals; another of my people may well find this particular one ideal and (as you've found) they aren't that common nowadays!

There are totally free deals with just 100 minutes and basic phones though - and they are relatively easy to find if that would suffice. I also grabbed one of those for myself recently; but that was for the profit, not the phone or bundle.

latecomer

try looking at refurbished phones - there were some good deals with those on mobiles.co.uk

Guys_Dad

mobilejunkie wrote: »

I don't broadcast the best deals; another of my people may well find this particular one ideal and (as you've found) they aren't that common nowadays!

Why not? That would actually be very helpful to MSE members who don't have your experience or the same abilities to see a good deal. Many other MSE members do give heads up to others on this and other forum. I take it on board that the deal may only stick around for a short while, but it would still be keeping in the spirit of the forum to bring any particularly decent deals to others.

mobilejunkie

I have helped an army of people on here in many ways over a long period of time. Making cashback more certain doesn't help people like me who end up with worse deals because fewer fail to claim. I order a lot of deals and search without fail every single day for good deals. When they are rare I think it reasonable to keep them to myself rather than broadcast on here and see them disappear in minutes. I have secured some excellent deals that way. Anyone can do it if they put the legwork in. Why should I do the legwork, hand it to those who don't and then lose out myself - or the people I order for lose out?

Given the flack I've received from some quarters from people who play at cashback deals and offer very poor advice on here I feel absolutely no obligation to to provide information which harms my own interests to that extent. I also never give out certain phone numbers or contacts I am aware of which would vanish as soon as people used them en masse but which can be very beneficial to me. Similarly, I give out some information about my own contracts and experiences (and those of the people I order for) to flag up likely problems but will never be specific enough to harm their (or my own) interests. Anyone who does is a fool and only helping the first one who uses the information rather than all those who might.

Guys_Dad

I understand and totally respect your answer about not wanting to jeopardise your own interests. I am with you 100% on that.

However, I was thinking along the lines that, after you had made your purchases on a particularly good deal, you might give a heads up to this forum so that others might benefit as well. As you had made your purchase, I couldn't see how that would harm your interests.