Phoneboxdirect (merged threads)

andy5677

mobilejunkie wrote: »

andy5677:- Think about it realistically. It amazes me that the administrators have achieved so much in a very short space of time...

Yes I guess so. I just hoped that even though I have probably lost £420 out of it that I might at least have had the satisfaction of seeing them prosecuted

Ahhh well...the feeling of possible revenge was nice whilst it lasted :-)

Andy.

mobilejunkie

What would it have cost you to get the same deal without cashback? Being self-employed I know how difficult it can be to make things work - and it's not always predictable or within your control. I bear no grudge whatsoever to this company. Despite having to send (my first) LBA to get my money on time - I did. I went in with my eyes open and accepted the risk. I limited that risk to what I would accept. Much as I am disappointed (mild version) that they have gone bust I have no real gripe against them. I would have got my money of they hadn't - whatever they had done or tried to stop me. I simply cannot accept that all the people who come on here and call them crooks were quite content to go in blindly thinking they were going to get something for nothing without a clue of how this works. As far as I'm concerned it's their own fault - just as it was mine. But then that's human nature and if this could in any WAY be described as a "scam" it could only work because of the greed and stupidity of the people who clamoured at the door for their tenth free phone contract!

sickandtired_2

wilbur111 wrote: »

I spoke to T-Mobile and the guy stated categorically in a way that suggested he was reading from a prepared script (and thus covered all bases) that there was no way T-Mobile would lower the tarriffs, allow you to end the contract early, offer any kinds of deals or discounts or do anything helpful at all.

I guess one option for those who need it would be to cancel the direct debit from the banks end. You'd still owe the mobile company the money and they'd chase you for it but they'd give up after a while and sell the debt to a debt collection agency.

The debt collection agency would then chase you with threatening letters and phone calls but would be unlikely to ever take you to court. I don't think it's efficient to sue for less than about £800.

It's just another option.

i spoke to t-mobile yesterday(fri) and was told to ring back in 7 days, as they were waiting for trading standards to give them information. then they would see what they can do for me. the conversation seemed positive, but maybe im an incurable optimist.

sickandtired_2

mobilejunkie, greed or no greed.. we have to carry on paying because we have contracts. we had an aggreement with PBD that if we jump thru the hoops we will get our cashback. their terms and conditions contradicted themselves.no photocopies...then only good undoctored photocopies. i've done a cashback deal a few years back and it was much easier and with 1 claim at the end of 6 months. getting the cashback sorted was stressing me out much more than having to get t-mobile to reduce my tarrif.

mobilejunkie

Then why accept the t&c you signed up to? Of course WE have to keep on paying - that's the nature of the contracts WE signed up to! the t&c were actually some of the clearest I've used - and I've used TONS. Those who didn't do the very basics and copy and use the ones they signed up to are just plain lazy or stupid - or both. Perhaps some jumped in with both feet without thinking - they can't blame others if they don't think. As for jumping through hoops, if I can get a fantastic top of the range phone, 500 minutes a month, 250 texts, stop the clock etc etc a year FREE and paid for by the DEALER I think the so-called hoops were an absolute doddle. The only danger to me was that they went bust - and they did. I accepted that risk fully from the start - just as I would buying any other product or service. I have no truck with the moaners and blamers - especially those who exhibit complete ignorance, absolute greed and zero intelligence. All they can do is blame the people who offered them the chance in the first place - and I actually expect they are far worse off than any of their customers, despite what the raging masses would like to think (in order to feel sorry for themselves and blame everyone else). I say TOUGH. Next time open your eyes and ask questions before DECIDING whether to take the risk in order TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING!

sickandtired_2

im not moaning.im one of the stupid ones.. i didnt even look at the website or t&c before i rang them to order my 2 lines for my 2 kids. but then £35/ month works out roughly £1.16 per day, im on an off peak plan. if i call my kid 3 minutes per day peak i will pay£1.20. now she calls me.

mobilejunkie

An expensive lesson then? I always advise people NOt to do cashback dealers. With mobile phone dealers you can't take things at face value. You are signing a contract which will tie you in for a set period - and you can't really get out of it. I only started getting and using mobile phines when I found I could get the whole lot free - but before I actually took the plunge I read and watched for over a year. After that (until now) there was no looking back. However, by the time I decided to use this company I had lots of experience and had saved a fortune with much safer ones - so I regarded this one as a riskier excursion.

I'm sorry you (and many others) must have ben hit hard by their collapse. unfortunately, even PAYT isn't cheap. In your (and most) situations the best course must be to weigh up what you need and can afford without the cashback and try to find a cashback deal (if you decide to go that route) which isn't actually much dearer even if you fail to get the cashback. These companies can only offer such good deals if most don't succeed with their claims.

Micky

mobilejunkie wrote: »

... if this could in any WAY be described as a "scam" it could only work because of the greed and stupidity of the people who clamoured at the door for their tenth free phone contract!

There are two areas of concern regarding "scams":

1) Prolonged breaches of contract (moving goal posts, failure to issue payment)

2) Continuing to trade with substantial liabilities and a failed business model, but what was the turnover?

mobilejunkie

I don't think either of those qualifies as a "scam". If they did a LOT of other companies (far removed from mobile phone dealers) would need to be called that too. A "scam" is where a person or business sets up intending to deceive with no intention of providing what their marks agree to. In the case of Mobile Affilitates it's quite plain that up until the last few months they did provide customers with what was due - many now are repeat customers as a result. Not only that, but despite the loss of the cashback customers have still got a worthwhile product which they may onl have been able to obtain marginally cheaper without such a deal.

The company may well have had a failed business plan because it got it's assumptions wrong on the number of successful claimants, but is there ANY evidence to suggest this was intended four years ago when they set the business up or that they are living with their millions in Dubai as the idiots on here would unequivocally state?

Micky

I suspect that the intentional prolonged breaches of contract (scam) developed from late 2006 onwards, which is why I favoured two O2 retention deals for a small outlay in spring 2007 rather than risk PBD again. The issue of liabilities vs turnover is unresolved AFAIK. I have no knowledge of the whereabouts of any of the directors. In the greater scheme of things, the cashback savings I've achieved have been fairly paltry, perhaps £1.5k per annum, but tax free, which helps.

I can recall my early encounters with PBD, I was so impressed with prompt payment that I nearly recommended them to acquaintances.

Ho hum, is it time for a gin yet?