Rob,

I took out a contract with Phoneboxdirect in March this year that promised: "12 months free line rental on a 12 month contract".

I submitted my first cash back claim in July via Royal Mail Special Delivery, that was successfully received.

Needless to say I have not received the first cash back cheque yet despite several emails from myself to Phoneboxdirect.

At one point I was told "We can confirm your claim is currently being processed, we are advising customers that due to the unforeseen volume of claims we are currently receiving we are now taking around 45 working days to process the claims received as per our terms and conditions".

The final response from Phoneboxdirect informed me that "We can confirm we have received your first claim and it is currently in the final stages of processing and the cheque is due to be despatched to you shortly"

This last and final email was sent to me on 4th October and I have sent 2 more emails since then asking when I should expect my cheque, but they have stopped responding to my queries.

I wonder if you have any advice on what I should do next, as I'm worried that my cash will not be coming back...

 

Hi Barney

 This company went into administration yesterday (14.11.07)

Well, I guess that's that then. It would explain why they are not replying to my emails anymore.

I have 5 months remaining on my contract with Vodafone. Do you think there is a chance they will let me cut my losses and cancel my contract before the 12 months are up?

Hi Barney

I suggest you contact your network directly. I assume they will be aware of them going bust. They should be able to help you as best they can. The networks are usually good with stuff like that.

Also, seek legal advice.

But I will keep everyone updated once I know who the administrators are and what the contact details are. Of which I should find out within a few days.

 

Good Luck :@)

Cheers Anon.

Just to update you, I have explained my situation to my Network provider (Vodafone).

I have another 5 months of my contract remaining @ £35 per month and they have offered to reduce my tariff to £20 for the remainder of the contract. I have therefore decided to cut my losses and taken a reduction in tariff.

 No more cash back deals for me. I will Pay as I go as soon as March comes around.

Hello:

 
I had exactly the same problem, but I wasn't as lucky as you: £35 per month with Vodafone. The letter I sent to Mobile Media Systems was returned to me yesterday saying that "the addressee has gone away"!

I read your post and decided to call Vodafone too to explain my case. They said the only thing I could do was cancel my contract (but they would charge me £175 as I still have 5 months left) and they won't let me change my price plan because I haven't been a Vodafone costumer for at least 9 months... so I am stuck with my tariff. :-(

 
Does anybody have any suggestions!?

Thanks a lot!

M
 

Sorry to hear that Maria.

Maybe you could call them again and hope that you the vodafone representative you talk to is more sympathetic to your situation. It seems unfair that they would offer me a reduced tariff and not allow you the same option.

Don't forget to inform Vodafone in writing when you want to cancel your contract. They need 30 days notice, otherwise you will be suck with an extra months line rental

Will give it another try. Thanks very much! (Like you, I've learned a lesson for the future).

Maria
 

Hi All,

Found this forum this morning when I was searching for Phonebox Direct as they weren't answering their phone. Know why now!!!.....I've got 2 mobiles with them, and stand to lose £500, but just knowing other people are in the same boat and supporting eachother like you all have done, is great.

Just wanted to say thanks for all the info. I probably wouldn't have contacted my mobile company as I did not take the contract out with them, but after reading all your postings, I have been in contact with the 3 Network and Vodaphone, who have both said they would try and help and come up with some sort of arrangement with me. Can't tell you how much calmer I am now than first thing this morning!!

Thank you all, and will keep you posted of my results.

Lucy

Very important for anyone who has been / is being ripped off by ‘cashback scammers’!

There is a petition on the Downing Street petition board taking up the political point that government action is required to make the networks face up to their obligations – and yes they should be made responsible for the actions and contracts of those who acted as their agents.  Certainly in the case of CSS - another Bradford outfit that I took out a contract with -I have copy of their website at the time of my contracting which clearly says that the deal was a ‘reduction in tarrif’ rather than a dealer incentive.  The networks agreed with the Regulator (Ofcom) to monitor and vet their dealers . . . did they do so . . . the evidence clearly says no, did they prevent dealers holding themselves out as 'agents' . . . the evidence clearly says no.

The terms of the license for telcos should follow normal practice of making those granted a public license to make money at the top of the ‘food chain’ responsible for the actions of their agents.  The Code of Practice agreed by the networks with the Regulator clearly states that they (the networks) should satisfy themselves as to the financial health of their agents – after all they then sit back and enforce their contracts don’t they?

The petition is at:

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/MobilesCashback/

Numbers decide these things, petitions need not only be signed by those scammed but may also be signed by their friends, family and others who sympathise with their plight and also agree that this should be stopped!

So get signing and get other to sign. 

Also, copy the text of the petition and send it with a covering note to your own MP where you normally live and ask them to press the Government to act mentioning the amount you have lost, the problems that it is causing you and the failure of Trading Standards, the Regulator (Ofcom), the Police and the service provider network – name and shame your network at this point – to protect the consumer and the public from massive fraud.  If this were a few thousand in political donations they’d all be jumping!

If you are not very good at drafting a letter click on my profile, send me a note and I’ll send you a draft to paste in return.  I’ll also send you a draft of a letter to Ofcom and another to send to your local paper. 

Two words of warning, don’t compromise the petition by using false names or addresses to boost numbers, they do sample checks and we don’t want the Government to have an excuse to discount us and don’t put it to one side and fail to act as at the end of the day political action is the only thing that will force large corporations to back down.

Regards to all

Funforus

excellent stuff fun

I am extremely upset with this situation and am already doing all i can to not be liable for the rest of my contract

I and my wife have another 400 or so£ to pay
I am not happy with the offer of reduced rates when i was already on a basically no cost contract

I do not believe that i paid the selling agent (mobile media ltd/phonebox direct) whoever they maybe (probably a vodafone subsiduary!) and as i have a contract with vodafone that was advertised as" cost to you free" i believe there must be some recourse

I have spoken with vodafone, who will not take calls direct after intially being told "i wouldn't jhave to pay anymore of the contract" , "yes it is ok to cancel your direct debit" and "yes i will recieve my reimbursements"
I have now had the courtesy call that suggested i was liable for the contract and would be pursued for any outstanding debts by debt collection agencies

I have spoken with otel, ofcom,trading standards and any other agency i can for advice, with very little luck at all

I intend to write an open letter to the national papers
I have contacted watchdog

I would like as many others to join in fighting what was advertsied as a free contract (by cashback offer) and now is a very expensive contract
Vodafone have an oblgation to support there sales agents and if they feel their product is being misold they should not use the agency

I have written to vodafone and they are "taking the atter very seriosuly and will provide a full resolution soon" they also suggest trying to get my cashback from the recievers ... like that will work, and i paid vodafone.. not an agent

Anyway, the point is dont just accept being done over , write to vodafone and call ofcom amd all the other regulatory bodies
The more of us the better
maybe we can get enough to start some form of group action against vodafone

Andrew

Well done Andrew. Good to see small fish fighting these big companies, but I'm afraid they will find a clause in our contracts saying that Vodaphone are not liable. I've often wondered, as I'm sure a lot of you have, how these companies survive. Mobile companies must pay them such a good whack to get the contracts for them, so the only way these "brokers" can make any money is to hope and pray that we dont make claims. On my contract with Mobile Media Systems, if  I made ONE little error, i.e. sent a copy instead of an original or dated it wrong or ANYTHING basically....the WHOLE years' cashback became nil and void. I'm sure they must employ people just to find a clause where they didn't have to pay us. It was never easy getting the cashbacks either. I had to more or less beg to get the money back, with numerous phone calls everytime I claimed.

I also was aware if these companies went bust that I would lose money, so I'd be happy for Vodaphone to at least come up with some arrangement to get some of it back. I know you will think I have a defeatists attitude, but its not, its a realistic one. There will be a clause saying Vodaphone are not liable, so if they make some contribution, I guess that's the most I can hope for. But I won't settle for anything I do not feel is fair!! I went in with my eyes wide open as have been dealing with these cashback companies for the past 3 years, so knew my luck would run out one day. You don't get anything for nothing in this world, but at least I did for a few years.

These mobile companies have to take some responsibility for who they deal with, as, afterall, they got a lot of contracts through them, so I hope they will do the decent thing, if nothing else, to keep their reputations, and help us.

Good Luck All

Lucy

Hi all,

 

Please see hot topic css mobile or do a search. We have been having same issues and this we all dedicated to e-mail watchdog and also look for the funforus link to number 10 website for cashback issues. I urge you all to do the same as more ppl who complain especiallly to watchdog etc then the mobile operator will have to listen.

 

Good luck here.

 

Oh by the way it appears our re-seller has gone into administration today as well:-(

Hi All,

Just an update......After about 8 calls to vodaphone, they finally got in touch and all they could offer was to reduce my bill from £35.00 a month to £17.50. I would have been happy with that had it been from day one, but im 4 or 5 months into my contract and wont get any of the £150 or so back that I've already paid....Its from midnight tonight. so all in all. I lost around £300. Still think they should take more responsibility for who they deal with. But alas, its not a perfect world. They told me to claim the rest from Media Mobile Systems....Yeah...like thats gonna do any good!!!

Not happy, but the best im going to get.....Good luck rest of you.

Lucy.