Phones4u - 14 day return policy instore?

Hi,

just picked up a Nokia N80 at Phones4U on a Three contract but after
playing with it for a bit I'm not that sure about the phone for a number of
reasons, also, about three quarters of the way through sorting out all the
paperwork for the sale the salesperson casually mentioned that the line
rental price they'd quoted me was only for 6 months and it then doubled and
that I couldn't change my tariff for 9 months, really should have walked
away then but as the process was so far through I just went with it,
thinking, it's only three months won't cost much, however on actually
sitting down and working out the figures it puts the cost of the phone for
the year above what I'd really like to be paying.

So anyway, because of those two things I'm considering using their 14
day returns policy, but reading the paperwork for it I'm a little unsure how
it works, I assumed I'd be able to just go back to the shop, return the
phone and cancel the contract (just paying the few days line rental for the
time I've had the phone), however, reading the paperwork seems to suggest
that I can either swap the phone or the network but not both and that I can
just cancel the lot. Is that correct? The terms and conditions on their
website suggest that the whole thing can be cancelled but I'm assuming that
applies to websales which are covered by the distance selling regs and not
neccesarily instore.

Can imagine that just changing either the phone or the network would be
a complete nightmare, as obviously, changing the network and tariff
presumeably changes the price of the phone, which could get complicated, and
alternatively, changing the phone gets awkward because I'm limited to what's
available on the network plus again the price situation will get messy and
also, if I'm tied in to the contract there's no room to negotiate on the
phone price so I'll end up paying full whack for it.

So anyway, can anyone put my mind at ease about what the situation is
and what exactly I'm entitled to do? Both with Phones4u's policy and my
consumer rights?

---

› See More: Phones4u - 14 day return policy instore?

Obviously meant to say "Can't just cancel the lot" rather than "Can just
cancel the lot" in the second paragraph!

"Neil Alford" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> just picked up a Nokia N80 at Phones4U on a Three contract but after
> playing with it for a bit I'm not that sure about the phone for a number
> of
> reasons, also, about three quarters of the way through sorting out all the
> paperwork for the sale the salesperson casually mentioned that the line
> rental price they'd quoted me was only for 6 months and it then doubled
> and
> that I couldn't change my tariff for 9 months, really should have walked
> away then but as the process was so far through I just went with it,
> thinking, it's only three months won't cost much, however on actually
> sitting down and working out the figures it puts the cost of the phone for
> the year above what I'd really like to be paying.
>
> So anyway, because of those two things I'm considering using their 14
> day returns policy, but reading the paperwork for it I'm a little unsure
> how
> it works, I assumed I'd be able to just go back to the shop, return the
> phone and cancel the contract (just paying the few days line rental for
> the
> time I've had the phone), however, reading the paperwork seems to suggest
> that I can either swap the phone or the network but not both and that I
> can
> just cancel the lot. Is that correct? The terms and conditions on their
> website suggest that the whole thing can be cancelled but I'm assuming
> that
> applies to websales which are covered by the distance selling regs and not
> neccesarily instore.
>
> Can imagine that just changing either the phone or the network would be
> a complete nightmare, as obviously, changing the network and tariff
> presumeably changes the price of the phone, which could get complicated,
> and
> alternatively, changing the phone gets awkward because I'm limited to
> what's
> available on the network plus again the price situation will get messy and
> also, if I'm tied in to the contract there's no room to negotiate on the
> phone price so I'll end up paying full whack for it.
>
> So anyway, can anyone put my mind at ease about what the situation is
> and what exactly I'm entitled to do? Both with Phones4u's policy and my
> consumer rights?
>
>
>

[email protected] declared for all the world to hear...
> So anyway, because of those two things I'm considering using their 14
> day returns policy, but reading the paperwork for it I'm a little unsure how
> it works, I assumed I'd be able to just go back to the shop, return the
> phone and cancel the contract (just paying the few days line rental for the
> time I've had the phone), however, reading the paperwork seems to suggest
> that I can either swap the phone or the network but not both and that I can
> just cancel the lot. Is that correct? The terms and conditions on their
> website suggest that the whole thing can be cancelled but I'm assuming that
> applies to websales which are covered by the distance selling regs and not
> neccesarily instore.

You can just cancel the whole thing and then start again.
--
Regards
Jon

On Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:47:45 +0100, "Neil Alford"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>just picked up a Nokia N80 at Phones4U on a Three contract but

[snip]

>really should have walked
>away

Indeed, but you didn't. Not to worry. You can return the thing and
cancel the contract. I suggest that you try the phone and network
within those 14 days so you can make an informed decision about
whether the mistake was:

1. The deal
2. the tariff
3. the network
4. the handset

I suspect the mistake was 1, 2, 3 and maybe 4 as well.

--

Iain
the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones
http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html
Browse now while stocks last!

> >just picked up a Nokia N80 at Phones4U on a Three contract but
>
> [snip]
>

Tell you the best thing about P4U's returns process. (I left their
employment a month ago after 3 years)

They have their own in-house retentions team. Go into the store and
say you wish to cancel the whole thing. The store will probably try
and blackmail you into staying on that deal by offering a Gesture of
Goodwill cheque. Ignore this and state you wish to return the phone,
don't tell them that you dislike the phone. Play ignorant, give no
reasons to the store staff.

They will then ask for you to speak to their customer management team
(retentions). Again play hardball with them. They will begin making
crazy offers to you involving large amounts of cashback. I've seen
customers walk out of the store with a years free line rental on number
of tariffs.

Make sure before you go in that you have chosen a phone which you do
like. That way you know what you are aiming for and helps you play the
game in a stronger way.

Yesterday I got my N73. Buying experience was:

The Link

£25/month for 12 month on O2, £80 for phone, no price flexibility. I
stayed 5 mins and left.

Phones4U

Recommended a £25/month contract, then told really £50/month and I
could reduce tariff after 9 months; also then told it was an 18 month
contract not the 12 months I asked for, which made the deal really
expensive. Then supervisor offered me £100 is cash if I signed up. I
asked to see the contract I would sign, and they didn't have one
available - they were surprised a customer would want to read a
contract. I just felt very uneasy about the whole experience and
walked out having wasted over 30mins of my time.

Carphone Warehouse

Went in, guy approached me and I explained I was after N73 on a 12
month contract at £25 month max. He offered the O2 deal and said
phone would be £80. I said more than I expected (trick is to always
say more than you expected to pay). He said how much do you want to
pay, so I said £20, expecting to negotiate and settle on £50, but to
my surprise he agreed! As the company had prior deal on their system,
no ID needed and we concluded deal in 15mins. A very satisfying
buying experience.

I don't trust phones4u


On Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:47:45 +0100, "Neil Alford"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Hi,
>
> just picked up a Nokia N80 at Phones4U on a Three contract but after
>playing with it for a bit I'm not that sure about the phone for a number of
>reasons, also, about three quarters of the way through sorting out all the
>paperwork for the sale the salesperson casually mentioned that the line
>rental price they'd quoted me was only for 6 months and it then doubled and
>that I couldn't change my tariff for 9 months, really should have walked
>away then but as the process was so far through I just went with it,
>thinking, it's only three months won't cost much, however on actually
>sitting down and working out the figures it puts the cost of the phone for
>the year above what I'd really like to be paying.
>
> So anyway, because of those two things I'm considering using their 14
>day returns policy, but reading the paperwork for it I'm a little unsure how
>it works, I assumed I'd be able to just go back to the shop, return the
>phone and cancel the contract (just paying the few days line rental for the
>time I've had the phone), however, reading the paperwork seems to suggest
>that I can either swap the phone or the network but not both and that I can
>just cancel the lot. Is that correct? The terms and conditions on their
>website suggest that the whole thing can be cancelled but I'm assuming that
>applies to websales which are covered by the distance selling regs and not
>neccesarily instore.
>
> Can imagine that just changing either the phone or the network would be
>a complete nightmare, as obviously, changing the network and tariff
>presumeably changes the price of the phone, which could get complicated, and
>alternatively, changing the phone gets awkward because I'm limited to what's
>available on the network plus again the price situation will get messy and
>also, if I'm tied in to the contract there's no room to negotiate on the
>phone price so I'll end up paying full whack for it.
>
> So anyway, can anyone put my mind at ease about what the situation is
>and what exactly I'm entitled to do? Both with Phones4u's policy and my
>consumer rights?
>
>
--
John Perry

http://www.redoak.co.uk
http://www.eze-buy.co.uk