Cashback from Phones2UDirect and MobileRainbow

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Isis - 16 Nov 2006 17:21 GMT

I had contracts with both these companies and have been
struggling to get them to issue the promised cashbacks
following sending in the required documentation -
Phiones2UDirect simply did not answer emails and MobileRainbow
just send back emails promising payment within 10 days - but
doing so again and again to any challenge - the politest
emails I think I have ever received even when I was
threatening quite drastic actions, but, no money !

Anyhow I got thoroughly fed up with all this and after reading
the forums in http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ that several
people had succesfully extracted payment through the small
claims court actions (or threats of same) I decided to go this
route myself.

A little research suggested sending a registered 'Letter
Before Action' to warn of the intention to sue - I sent
Phones2UDirect a copy by post and a copy by email - they paid
the required sum into my account yesterday - MobileRainbow
were emailed a copy and I was going to send a postal copy
registered today but checking my account revealed a payment
was recieved this morning !

I have to say that I am very surprised !

Cashback promotions are just a game really and I have always
appreciated that they rely on many people not claiming their
money for one reason or another to work - I am on my 3rd year
of completely free contracts, my partner likewise - I think
that now I have found what seems to be a workable method I
shall not be chasing either company by email in future bit
will issue the LBA immediately the payment is overdue. I am
also now in the fortunate position of having done the legwork
of producing the letters required - they just need the dates
changing for future use.

I hope I am not being overly complacent - we shall see.

Hope all of you with similar cashback problems will take heart
and maybe try the LBA, Small Claims Court route.

Good Luck and thanks to all the people who put together the
cashback lists available especially Reestit Mutton.

Regards and Best Wishes to All

Reply to this Message

. - 16 Nov 2006 22:09 GMT

>I had contracts with both these companies and have been
>struggling to get them to issue the promised cashbacks
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>emails I think I have ever received even when I was
>threatening quite drastic actions, but, no money !

I saw on someone's office Dilbert calendar last week a board meeting
where he said they should advertise something as $29. That is charge
$1,000,029 with a $1M cashback.
He said it would only take 1 person to default and they could all
retire.

Reply to this Message

Alan J Robertson - 16 Nov 2006 23:02 GMT

> I had contracts with both these companies and have been
> struggling to get them to issue the promised cashbacks
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>
> Regards and Best Wishes to All

Similar story here (fingers crossed!). I e-mailed P2U on Saturday
making clear that if I didn't hear back by the 15th (yesterday) I would
issue them with a 'Letter Before Action' and then proceed to issue court
proceedings (so I guess I effectively sent them a LBLBA!) - they phoned
me today and said a cheque would be in the post for my first two
cashback claims (still one to go in a couple of months). Hopefully it
should soon arrive but depressing that it required the threat of legal
action to bring it about.

Alan

Reply to this Message

Isis - 17 Nov 2006 12:34 GMT

>> I had contracts with both these companies and have been
>> struggling to get them to issue the promised cashbacks
[quoted text clipped - 52 lines]
>
> Alan

Only my personal opinion, but maybe this is really what it is
reasonable to expect ? I am not saying that people should not
stick to their contracts with each other or that companies
that break their agreements but I think we have to face the
fact thqat this is a game - if this were the business model
for all phone sales it simply would not work - we, careful
(mean !) people want to take advantage of a free phone and
some of us are prepared to stick the course longer thatn
others - the whole scheme only hangs together if some people
fail !

As I say I have now adjusted my attitude - I am not going to
get mad or frustrated but I am prepared to put the minimal
amount of work in to achieving my goal - getting the money out
of them !

I will in future move direct to the LBA 3 days after the money
should have been in my account and I will issue proceedings 7
days after the LBA if I get no joy. I am not expecting any
real further trouble, but I will let you all know how I get
on.

Regards and Good Luck

Reply to this Message

Reestit Mutton - 17 Nov 2006 14:42 GMT

> Only my personal opinion, but maybe this is really what it is
> reasonable to expect ? I am not saying that people should not
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> real further trouble, but I will let you all know how I get
> on.

Hi Isis,

Can I suggest another possible game plan...when the time comes to renew
your contract, find a potential new package and then throw that at your
existing supplier as your reason for moving on, not forgetting to
request your PAC to take your number with you (if you're changing
network). It's amazing how much your provider is sometimes willing to
discount their renewal offer to keep your business if you spend in the
region of £30+ per month (inclusive of line rental). They just need to
be given a good reason to do so as no business is likely to throw money
at you unless they feel that they really have to.

Of course, you may have to accept an initial refusal to budge (and
request either a cancellation or your PAC in any case) and wait for
their "outbound" department (or equivalent) to phone you back within the
next 48 hours or so as it is often only these people that have the power
to negotiate as much as you would like.

Okay...so it will never match the cost of a brand new package (after
cashback) but if you value your time at all and fancy a relatively
stress-free year, you may be willing to treat the extra cost
(occasionally it can be as little as £50-£100 relative to the equivalent
best cashback option) as a worthwhile expense.

Only if you can't get your current network supplier to discount their
deal enough should you then say, "what the hey" I'll just go for another
cashback deal then.

Saying this could well be detrimental to my website income but I'm
nothing if not honest. I dare say that you won't see any other mobile
affiliate openly advising such a course of action.

HtH
Reestit Mutton

Signature

http://www.reestitmutton.co.uk
Contract mobile phone price comparison made easy

Reply to this Message

Alan J Robertson - 22 Nov 2006 11:50 GMT

> Hi Isis,
>
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> HtH
> Reestit Mutton

Well said, Reestit. Given the hassle I've had with p2u I'd certainly
prefer low hassle in the future. However it does depend on the network
and what phase they seem to be in at that point in time. I was with
Orange and wanted to upgrade to the K800i after being a couple of months
out of 12-month min term contract. They really could offer me nothing
more than the phone for free. When I asked for my PAC they just said
'fine' and posted it to me (my av. spend was £30-35/mo). I moved to an
O2 deal with OSPS with 7 months free line rental + free phone - about
£245 cheaper than Orange's deal (and with an unlocked unbranded phone!).

Cheers

Alan

Reply to this Message

jgosrani - 29 Nov 2006 19:58 GMT

Isis Wrote:

> A little research suggested sending a registered 'Letter
> Before Action' to warn of the intention to sue - I sent
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> registered today but checking my account revealed a payment
> was recieved this morning !

Hi Isis,

Any chance of letting us have a copy of the letter (LBA) that you did?

Ji

--
jgosrani

Reply to this Message