If you’ve ever wanted to recycle your mobile phone, the chances are you’ll have come across a website called Cash4Phones. When you use those phone recycle comparison websites, looking for the best price for your phone, they’re the ones who usually come out on top as offering the most money.
However, before you leap straight into accepting their offer you should read what really happens, or at least what really happened to me and a friend of mine when we both sent our phones off to Cash4Phones at the exact same time. I’m not suggesting this is how Cash4Phones deals with every customer but, according to the reviews I have read online and the identical way both myself and my friend were treated, it’s a fair assumption.
I entered the details of my iPhone 4 on their website, to be presented with the offer of £131.02. This was higher than any other mobile phone recycling website was offering, so I accepted their offer and waited for their stamped addressed envelope to appear through my door. Sure enough, this came within a couple of days. I must confess, I was a little surprised to see the envelope being so thin (just a piece of plastic really) and offering no protection for a phone whatsoever.
Still, I sent my phone off (recorded, as they suggested, so I paid to send it) and waited for the money to land in my bank account.
I didn’t have to wait long before I received an email from Cash4Phones stating my handset was damaged, and they were now only offering me £45.85 – a fraction of the original offer.
Their email also contains the line:
If you feel that there has been a mistake with your Order, please do give us a call.
Of course there has been a mistake! However, there is no phone number in the email, and no phone number on the website. Alarm bells were ringing, and I felt pretty stupid for not Googling Cash4Phones before accepting their offer. Their website still doesn’t have a phone number on today, which is a clear sign they’re not to be trusted. Luckily by Googling I was able to track down a number on various other websites, where stories of their business practices were ringing in my ears. Their number, should you need it (and I suspect you do) is 0845 4601064.
I telephoned them immediately (recording the call, obviously) and this is what happened.
So, Cash4Phones offers the highest amount for a phone, then makes up ‘damages’ to your phone and reduces their offer, which you can either accept or refuse – paying them £10 to get your phone back. Was this a one off? No, because my friend had the exact same reduced offer for fictitious damages. Funny that eh?
Esther, from Cash4Phones, did indeed call me back about my phone. This is what happened.
Naturally I didn’t take that increased offer either. I’m not being ripped off by these crooks (and yes, I’m using the word ‘crooks’ because that’s what they are). It’s funny how they had made a ‘mistake’ with my phone and, strangely enough, the exact same thing happened with my friend’s phone too. Another mistake, and their offer was increased as well. The bloody crooks.
What’s even worse, and I’ve seen online this has happened to a number of their victims (sorry, customers) – when I logged into their website to ‘decline’ the offer I found it had been approved. Not by me it bloody hadn’t. That’s right, they automatically accept the offer on your behalf, before the deadline, and keep your phone anyway. The bloody crooks.
I phoned them back fuelled with a renewed anger and was amazed, and perhaps slightly disappointed, to find they caved and offered me the full amount for my phone.
It seems if you record your calls and broadcast them on YouTube, you’ll get results. Don’t use Cash4Phones, they’ll rip you off. If you have made the mistake of using them, call them and record it. Keep at them and don’t let go. They will cave.
Tell them Mr Daz sent you.
I’ve heard too that Cash4Phones is on BBC Watchdog tonight. That should be interesting, and it’s about time too. If you’ve come here after using Cash4Phones, or after watching Watchdog, tell me about your experiences. What happened? Did you get your full amount or your phone back?
@karengfenn @BBCWatchdog I’ve written it up http://t.co/tGEfVSIO7V #cash4phones #scam
“@epredator: Oops cash4phones busted on #watchdog” not before time http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@HannahWBA me too. Record your calls. It works http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@station2000 they’ll get what they deserve http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@matdicko they don’t always get away with it http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@gwladboy you were right not to use #cash4phones http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@StaceLou23 that would have been great wouldn’t it? #cash4phones #bbcwatchdog I beat them though http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@kaylaelsmore what happened? Did you call them and record it? http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@westwoodtj they sure are crooks. Need to hammer them to get your money as I did http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@toneagency I like to take them down http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@thomasfoster_ @BBCWatchdog they trying to rip you off. Call them and record it! http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@RoseLewis96 @BBCWatchdog many did I’m afraid. You can beat the, though http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@MisterDaz @BBCWatchdog this was a while ago they obviously still have the same attitude sold the phone for what it was actually worth since
@MisterDaz used Fonebank in the end. Slightly lower price but money paid next day.
@MisterDaz @BBCWatchdog I certainly did beat them after months of emails and phone calls they finally offered me a dissent amount!
@MisterDaz they said they never received my blackberry torch but they did, which they were meant to give me £80 for so I got nothing
RT @MisterDaz: @RoseLewis96 @BBCWatchdog many did I’m afraid. You can beat the, though http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@MisterDaz red handed it would seem. That many “mistakes” are more than accidents it would seem
RT @MisterDaz: @WhichConvo including me http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk #cash4phones #bbcwatchdog
@toddyb45 @BBCWatchdog yeah, it’s on here mate http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@baileygang4 @BBCWatchdog have you called them? The number’s on here http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@MisterDaz @BBCWatchdog thanks will attempt to call them tomorrow couldn’t find a number on their website convenient eh?
@Cash4PhonesUK I hear ya! Don’t forget to share this, went live today http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@MisterDaz Done 🙂
RT @MisterDaz: @Cash4PhonesUK I hear ya! Don’t forget to share this, went live today http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
Please read and share this if you’ve had or are having problems with Cash4Phones. Pass it on to friends 🙂 http://t.co/RwZmI34bMz
RT @MisterDaz: If you’re watching @BBCWatchdog tonight and want to know more about #cash4phones – http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
RT @Cash4PhonesUK: Please read and share this if you’ve had or are having problems with Cash4Phones. Pass it on to friends 🙂 http://t.co/R…
RT @MisterDaz: @HannahWBA me too. Record your calls. It works http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
@MisterDaz class!It was a yr ago & I had ‘cracked&damaged back casing’ I called to reject the offer&had the full amount as it was an ‘error’
I have to wonder why you expected anything better from a company called “Cash4Phones”.
RT @Cash4PhonesUK: Please read and share this if you’ve had or are having problems with Cash4Phones. Pass it on to friends 🙂 http://t.co/R…
RT @MisterDaz: @Cash4PhonesUK I hear ya! Don’t forget to share this, went live today http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
RT”@MisterDaz: @BBCWatchdog #cash4phones @chrishollinsTV they used that ‘mistake’ excuse with me. recording http://t.co/5cKihTWFjJ“
RT @karengfenn: RT”@MisterDaz: @BBCWatchdog #cash4phones @chrishollinsTV they used that ‘mistake’ excuse with me. recording http://t.co/5cK…
@MisterDaz @toddyb45 @BBCWatchdog going mad! Constantly on hold, if I could get hold of them I would kill them!
DON’T USE CASH4PHONES. Disgusting customer service @Cash4PhonesUK http://t.co/APXDhwBR2l
RT @Cash4PhonesUK: Please read and share this if you’ve had or are having problems with Cash4Phones. Pass it on to friends 🙂 http://t.co/R…
RT @Cash4PhonesUK: Please read and share this if you’ve had or are having problems with Cash4Phones. Pass it on to friends 🙂 http://t.co/R…
RT @MisterDaz: @Cash4PhonesUK I hear ya! Don’t forget to share this, went live today http://t.co/KzctkI5lFk
i posted my sony xperia arc to cash4phones on the 18th sept, they reduced my offer form £70 down to £53 due to excessive wear and tear and phone not working, when i challenged this by email they changed it to just wear and tear but didnt change the offer. i didnt accept there offer but they emailed me saying that i had and i would receive my £53.00 within 10 working days. Im still waiting, they no longer respond to my emails and i have now found a 0845 number which i have been on hold for 1 1/2 hours.
Has anyone got a working email address them or a non premium phone number?
So I have tried sending emails to the address on the website…they won’t send. Been on hold for hours to their 0845 number and when trying to log in to my account, my pack barcode is no longer recognised??
I have the same problems as Beckey, nov 13 10.31am…I have not been paid since June,,price was reduced due to wear and tear,,,now my email address is not accepted,,,ID ref number is not recognised and my password is invalid,,,can you help me please?????
Hi can anyone help.. I sent iPhone 4S to “cash4phones” they received my phone on 29th November, took them a long time to say they had received my phone to which I emailed them..(which they have never replied too) I have checked my account with with them again and says on the 9th December my phone passed the checks and my payment is pending… It is now 16th December and I have still not heard a think or had any money. I have tried to email them again but when I put my barcode/packcode number it says they already have a email from me and will get in touch!!! So I can not email them again.. I have found an 0845 number which I am calling in a que and just get a repeated message saying “all representatives are busy please hold and calls will be answered on order it was received” I not actually holding out hope that I will ever get my money back or anyone will actually answer the phone.
Please can anyone help