Phones4U - Ugh!!!!!!!

Melby

Hi,

Last week I went into my local phones4u store and told the girl I would be moving abroad in a few weeks but really wanted to buy the Motorola V220 before I went. She told me to buy the PAYG package (with Orange) and to get it unlocked by the "market man" and then I could use it anywhere. I did this on Saturday and whilst I don't have any problems making and receiving calls I cannot text. When I contacted Motorola I was told that the Orange service centre number is hidden in the software and there is no way I will be able to change it. I have therefore been sold a phone that I cannot use, with a different sim, either here or elsewhere in the world. Phones4u are of course refusing to refund my money (because the phone has been unlocked) and I am stuck with a phone that I can only use to make and receive calls. I feel duped by phones4u!!! I was totally upfront with them and they have sold me something that will not work in my circumstances. Any advice?

TIA
Melby

mike_paterson

Did it come with free insurance ???????? It is amazing how easily phones can be damaged accidentally.

Failing that I'd return it and tell them it was unfit for the purpose for which it was sold (namely to be unlocked and used elsewhere) and that you want a complete refund.

Melby

No, it didn't come with insurance. I had thought of that route, however.......

Have just spoken to Trading Standards and they said yes I have to argue the "fitness for purpose" argument and it doesn't matter that I had the phone unlocked subsequently, at the point of sale the phone was not fit for the purposes for which I wanted.

Taking back-up when I go in to see the "Store Manager" tomorrow!

Thanks,
Melby

andy88_2

It isn't clear whether you made a point of discussing the texts question.

I'm slightly surprised at what Motorola said, but not arguing too hard. I don't have great experience with different phones, but on the cheap ones I have the Service Centre number can be altered via the menu; I think some even have more than one profile for things like this; Nokia 3510i has two. Even my old Motorola mr30 (still going) has the service centre number editable. Check through the menu mesage settings again.

But if that turns out not to be the case, I hope they'll change it on a 14 day return and find you one that can be edited.

Melby

No, the question of texts didn't specifically arise. However, I believe if you asked most people these days they would expect that when they buy a phone there is a texting capability.

I've had three different people look at the phone to see where u can change the service provider number and it just isn't there. That's why I ended up calling Motorola. Even the guy in phone4u yesterday couldn't find it.

At the moment they won't entertain the idea of either of refund or an exchange - as far as they are concerned I am stuck with it! I have however been in contact with Trading Standards who have advised me that they are in breach of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 because at the "point of sale" the phone was not "fit for purpose" and the fact that I had the phone subsequently unlocked is irrelevant. So armed with this I am returning to the store tomorrow.

I went to them as the experts - I told the girl all my requirements and she either knowlingly sold me a phone that couldn't do what I needed or wasn't sufficiently trained in this particular product. Any reputable store would have admitted they made a mistake and rectified the situation.

Woby_Tide

The morale of the story is never trust Phones4U staff(apologies to the 5% who probably have actually got any knowledge of what they are selling and aren't just trying to get as much commission through mis-selling due to their complete lack of knowledge of their products)

Back to your original problem though, if you have got it unlocked, but are still using an Orange SIM then not being able to text is evidently a problem, if the Orange SMS centre number is hardcoded, then with an Orange SIM it should be working regardless. I'd go back and speak to them again and suggest they offer yo something fit for purpose as per your conversation with trading Standards.

mand1_3

Hi, just found this topic and hope to be able to help you. I have a V220 and thought I'd see if I could find what you needed. Press Messages, then the menu key (button with lines on), scroll down to Message set up and select, the service centre no. is then available to change. Hope that helps.

iceburn

One thing could it be argue that the "unlocking" process cause the problem. Like if you got it "unlock" offically the SMS centre number would be editable. not saying it made a different but maybe an arguement phones4u would use.

seaniboy

this is a problem with certain Orange Sagem handsets too ( how ironic Motorola just bought Sagem! ), you can change the number in the menu but even after saving it, it automatically defaults to the Orange hardcoded sms number