Mobile Phone “Upgrade” Scam
Posted under: I just had a (witheld number of course) telephone call that I thought I’d share with you.
Caller: Hello, is that Mr xxxxxx?
Me: Yes it is
Caller: I’m calling from the upgrade department on behalf of 3. Your contract’s coming up for renewal shortly and we can offer you a free handset upgrade and give you a better deal on your tariff.
Me: Really? That’s great. Remind me, what tariff am I on again? When’s my contract up?
Caller: Erm.. Erm… we can offer you 200 minutes to any network, unlimited text and internet and free calls to other 3 mobiles for only £20 per month, with a free Nokia E71
Me: And you’re calling from the upgrade department at 3?
Caller: That’s right. Would you like to go ahead with the upgrade?
Me: Could I take your name and number and I’ll get back to you?
Caller: This offer’s only available today. All I need to do is take some details and I can get your phone despatched right away.
Me: So give me your name and number and I’ll call you back later today if I want to go ahead
At this point the caller hung up.
What’s clear here is that the caller was NOT calling from 3. If they had been, they would have known:
- When my contract expires (not for another year)
- What tariff & handset I have (exactly the same as they offered me)
If I’d given them the go-ahead I would have landed myself with a completely separate contract to my current deal with 3 along with the associated line rental for 18 months, so I’d have been paying 2 lots of line rental and been stuck with it.
Never agree to a mobile phone upgrade unless you have contacted your mobile service provider directly through a telephone number that you know to be genuine. You may well end up with a shiny new phone, but you’ll also probably be stuck with higher bills.
Communications regulator Ofcom said “Of all mobile phone related complaints in 2008 (51,400), we estimate that around 10,600 complaints may include mobile mis-selling issues (up from 9,000 in 2007). On the basis of market research and information from independent retailers, we estimate the current ongoing value of financial harm to consumers from general mis-selling at £21million a year, from cashback mis-selling at £8million a year and from the cost of time spent dealing with mis-selling and cashback problems £3million per year.”
Ofcom implemented a new General Condition on Sales and Marketing practices that applies to all Mobile Service Providers (MSPs) which came into effect on 16th September 2009, which includes a requirement that MSPs do not engage in “Dishonest, misleading or deceptive conduct and to ensure that those selling their products and services do not mis-sell”
It seems that not all retailers have gotten the message yet.
We now have a great range of PC and Home Security products available in the Scam Detectives Security Supplies online store (powered by Amazon).
I’m on 3 and had had the same call a number of times but the weird thing is that the first time when i gave some wrong details, they knew that it was wrong and had the correct ones!
a scam or not – i keep telling them not to ring but they keep ringing and are incredibly rude too!
the last time they rang yesterday I asked the name of the company which he eventually said was “Mobile Phones Today” or something – I don’t know if the company exists but they need sorting out!
I got scammed over four years ago, they had all the correct details for me and sounded very genuine ( I am in telesales myself) I was offered a new phone to finish off the last 6months of my 18month contract and agreed as it was a better handset (apparently) 3 weeks after the call, I recieved an antiquated handset and I was a bit gutted. however my handset had actually broken between the call and the old “new” phone arriving so I thought sod it and just started using it. To my horror at the end of the months I recieved two bills. When I tried to speak with 3, I was told that it was too late to cancel the second contract that I “purchased” I asked for copies of the call recordings to prove that I agreed to a new contract and they simply replied that in using the phone automaticly verified the new contract. I was completely stung!! So I told them very politely to naff off and said that unless they cancel only ONE of the contracts I would go to OFcom etc etc. Basicly, from then on as soon as 3 realised it was me on the phone, I would be put on hold indefinitely and soon gave up trying to speak with them and eventually forgot all about the damned company – That was 4.5 yrs ago. Three weeks ago I recieved a letter from a vicous debt recovery company demanding £700!!! AARRRGGGHHHH!!! Back to square one!! and I have not got a leg to stand on!!!!
Ignore debt recovery agencies, they make too much money in their ‘fees’ to bother taking anyone to court. If the debt is that old then you would probably be quite sucessful defending based on that.
A debt collector cannot effect your credit rating and cannot enter your property.
Eventually they will get the message and stop contacting you.
Hello, I think my dad got one of these calls an thinking it was 3, he agreed to the contract. I phoned 3 and they were none the wiser. Does anyone know a phone number so I can contact them and cancel this?
Thanks