Mobile phone cashback scemes

[Munro]

My mobile phone contact is coming to an end (o2 500mins/500txt ?25/month) and I've been looking for a new phone and a new network.

I've not had a look at buying a new contract or phone for about 3 years so I was quite surprised to see most of the new phones at Carphonewarehouse and the like are 'cashback' deals.

Now am I being silly or is this a little dodgy? I've seen deals such as this one advertised everywhere giving you 12 months free on a 12 months contract. This of course is dependent on you paying ?40 a month and claiming cashback in the form of checks. This is done every 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th month by posting your bill off to the company and they send you a cheque back. This is the end gives you a completely free phone and completly free calls.

Whats the catch?

 

[Rapstah]

I thought this was an ad for a moment.

 

[Kester^]

The catch is they have a metric-****-ton of small print of ways of catching you out so they don't have to pay you.

I'd shop around at the tarrif companies (o2, orange, vodaphone, etc) and not the middle men (carphone warehouse, phones 4 u).

Personally I'd always go with an o2 online package (their website has deals you can't get in the shops), they have almost total coverage of the country, great customer service, and some great packages.

 

[lePobz]

Why do you need a new network? I think o2 offer the best service for your money. Even more so for me, with my 50 percent staff discount... teehee.

 

[Munro]

They keep messing me around every year. Takes 4 months of phone calls just to get on a package that I asked for, having to ask for constant refunds and all.

 

[Harryz]

This of course is dependent on you paying ?40 a month and claiming cashback in the form of checks. This is done every 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th month by posting your bill off to the company and they send you a cheque back. This is the end gives you a completely free phone and completly free calls.

I don't know the exact details, but I wouldn't go ahead with it. I was going to do a similar deal, from a friend who knew a guy who owned a mobile shop, in the end I didn't go ahead with it due to the dodgyness.

Couple of months later, the mobile shop was on the front page of the local newspaper, claiming bankcruptcy and he fled the country. Since he fled the country, the mobile users had to pay the bills out of there own pocket (and were threatened with lawsuits by the mobile network if they didn't pay).

I'm not saying this is going to happen with you, just make sure you've heard of the company before. I would personally go with a normal contract, saves any hassle etc.

 

[Uriel]

HOLY CRAP! Look at the carrot!

 

[Hazar]

lol @ image sig

 

[Instinct]

The link you added seems pretty dodgy to me. For one, the only mention of a secure connection for transfer of money seems to have been written onto the website. No little safe padlock thingy..

If I were you I'd be suspicious of anything 'free'

One thing my dad says .. theres no such thing as a free lunch ..

 

[CyberPitz]

I call it phony bologna!

 

[simonjedi]

great bump /sarcasm

 

[Citrus]

I payed 20 p/m for my Sony Ericsson. Got 200 texts & 100 minutes a month. At the end of the year, they returned all the money, and now I get to keep the phone.

YES, these things work, but if you forget to claim back, You're SCREWED

 

[Dekstar]

There is nothing free my friend... nothing

...
*Dekstar looks at Baumann's sig*

I see.

 

[lePobz]

Yeah, one of the worst bumps in history. This should be outlawed immediately.