Recycling mobile phones – it’s not always rewarding

Yes Cash4phones gave me the runaround recently. The original quote for my Nokia was halved due to ‘excessive wear and tear’ which was manifestly not the case. When challenged the offer was doubled but then I got thephone back and the £8.95 postage charge was made. I complained again but no reply. I am now trying Carphone Warehouse which SEEMS more honest. We’ll see. I gave the other phone away.

I’ve still got my first and only mobile ‘phone. It’s analogue and was on the BT (Now O2) network.

When the analogue service was phased out, or arbitrarily switched off as I prefer to put it, I was so relieved that I was once again free from people being able to contact me anywhere and everywhere at any time of my life, that I never bothered to get another.

Result!

It does not surprise me that companies will offer very little for a second-hand mobile phone. They will have to provide some sort of warranty if they sell it and take the chance that it has a fault that might not be apparent from a brief inspection.

I have not been lucky with mobile phones and have never had anything worth selling or giving away.

Myself and my family have used envirofone and mazuma mobile a couple of times in the last few years and have yet to have a problem. In fact, one phone I was sure would be marked down for wear and tear got approved no problem. Maybe we’re just lucky?

I’ve used these companies before, well one of them, Fonebank. It helped to shop around first for the best price. I found them honest and they paid the valuation originally offered with no problems at all.

I always carefully wrapped and protected the phone to make sure it reached them in the same condition it left me and I’m sure this helped.

I actually have had a very good experience with Carphone Warehouse for another phone, quite the opposite to Cash4Phones: quick and no quibbles. Mind you I don’t know if what I got was true value!!

The re-cycling of used mobile phones for charity or other causes is a bit misleading.
I don’t know how much research people do on these matters but if you research the re-cycling of used mobile phones, I’m sure you’ll find that the dismantling and recovery of precious metals including gold has quite a lot to do with it.
And before anyone decides to jump up and down about this, just think about what has happened with the price of gold recently and then remember how many “cash for gold” shops have sprung up all over the place.
It’s as bad as those adverts on TV offering cash loans and flashing the interest rates up for a Milli second in a washed out white text that you cant read. If you knew it was 1745% you’d think it was a mistake but I kid you not, that’s the exorbitant rate some of these companies charge and it really annoys me that governments do nothing to protect joe public from these sharks.
Disgusting.

Money Saving Expert has a great tool that will tell you which recycling company will pay the most for your old phone.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/mobile-recycling

Once you know who will pay the most it’s worth seeing if you can get any cashback from a site like Quidco http://www.quidco.com/

Craig, I didn’t although I was offered my phone back but it would have cost over £20 to do this So put it down to experience!!

Not all cell phone recyclers are scammers. Companies such as http://www.sellmycellphones.com in America claim to only compare the prices on offer from America’s most reputable recyclers so maybe comparison sites are the way forward.

I have been using moneyforyourphone.com over the last 4 years. They seem to have consistently offered the best prices for iphones/blackberries and HTC. Their service is smooth and they always fulfill their promise.would highly recommend MFYP

Mobilephonerecycling2day offered £42.14 for my used working phone, i get an email saying “its in poor condition” and they’re now offering me £14.14 or to send it back £9.95, it’s ridiculous, i’m more out of pocket than i was before, they don’t even pick up their phone or email me back ffs. Fricking furious!!!

[This comment has been edited for breaking our commenting guidelines. Thanks, mods.]

I can only confirm what wahidazzlar said. Sent a phone to Mobilephonerecycling2day which was valued £59 as working. Once they received it, they offered £21.83 instead because of “excessive wear and tear”, while the phone was perfectly working and had no major scratches. I sold it just because I upgraded to a new one.

Even worse, they never replied to a message sent to them using the form on their website.

PHONES 2 POUNDS, I sent this company 2 iPhones in pristine condition and waited for my payment of £251 as promised. I then received an email stating the phones were scratched and in poor condition offering less than half the payment. I emailed them stating I wanted the phones returning and heard nothing. I have sent numerous emails and lost count of phone calls if have made and they have never got back to me, so if your thinking of using phones 2 pounds don’t, I have lost my phones and I don’t think I will ever see them, or a payment ever again, fran

Phones 2 pounds

I have sent phones2pounds a iphone4s. At first it said they would give me £99… great! Sent it to them and then got an email saying they will offer me £65 or £10 admin charge to send it me back. I just agreed to the £65… its better than nothing. Anyway the problem is I still havent recieved any money! It says same day bank transfer for the payment. Its nearly a month since I emailed saying I would accept the £65. I have sent 5 emails and phoned loads of times but it appears you just cant contact these people! So annoying that they can do this to you!

I sold my phone to buyandsellphones.co.uk. They received the phone on 22nd December 2014, it is now 28th January and I have still received no payment. I have exchanged numerous emails with them asking for my money but as yet I haven’t received it. I gave them my paypal address and my bank details for them to pay but still nothing. I have a receipt to say they received it. What can I do to get the money I’m owed?

I sent my Samsung Galaxy S2 to phonerecyclers.co.uk, the company was mentioned on The Gadget show on Channel 4 because it offered better prices than most other phone recycling companies. Indeed, they offered me £82 for my used phone, better than Mazuma or O2 recycle.
About a week after I had sent the phone, carefully wrapped in two layers of bubble wrap and special cushioned envelope, I had an email from them and a revised offer for £48.60 which I accepted as the phone did have a hair line crack at the bottom on the screen by the menu button. Within an hour, I had an email telling me that funds would be in my account within 48 hours. No money has landed in my account, I have sent them 2 polite emails requesting an update, no answer back. Today, I have tried to ring the number listed on the website and email, no answer. I have sent an other, more assertive email today, demanding an update or requesting that my phone should be sent back to me ( I did specify that I had photographic evidence of the phone before I sent it). I have in the past sold a used BlackBerry on Ebay and wished I had done the same thing for this phone as having read a few forums about phone recycling companies, I have the feeling that I have been duped and that I will never see my money or my phone ever again. Has anyone else had similar issues with Phone Recyclers??

fonehub.co.uk

I would not trust this site and company. I sent in my HTC One mobile phone and it was valued at £70 but they came back and said it was £40 worth. I have requested them to return phone. It has been two weeks – no cheque in the post or phone. They are not answering my calls or emails. BE AWARE!!!

Be very careful about the company you are dealing with, the one I have sent my phone was just a scammer (Phones2Pounds), they always do the same: they gave you a pretty good evaluation but when they have received your phone they always say that your phone was damaged, basically they them gave you 2 choices: accept the new ridiculous quote or pay a fee of 10 pounds! Be really careful and avoid those people!

I have just received a quote £17.50 less than agreed (phone ,charger and original box £167.50)
from “phones 2pounds” because of scratches on the screen and a “pink tint”.
My phone went straight from the box new into a lunatic tactic case with Rhino glass and was pristine when I sent it. I certainly do not recommend this bunch of shysters

Do not use phonerecyclers! They offered less money than originally stated, but the worst is I am still waiting for payment 3 weeks later. Luckily it was only a 2 and a half year old Samsung. Should have given it to Charity!

Phone Recyclers.co .uk….UPDATE: Have now reported to Action Fraud – suggest all those also affected do the same. Will also be paying a visit to my local Police station to report this as theft of phone.

I sent my phone off after receiving a competitive quote online. I packed the phone in its original box so it could not get damaged during transit. However, I have received an email from them saying the the phone has the following damage:

Back Cover Colour Fade
Deep Scratchs all over screen
Dents all over body

I can categorically state that the phone was in a like new condition having had a screen protector on it from day one and kept in a cover. There was absolutely NO damage or fading to the phone – they have offered me a much lower price which I have rejected and asked them to send back the phone – it had better be the one I sent them or I will be taking further legal action.

My advice is to go elsewhere!

This company is full if lies and are cheats! They offered me £280 for a brand new £720 phone only one month old and never used. Once they had the phone they downgraded my price and then never paid me of returned my phone. I have had the phone blocked and now seeking legal advice. DO NOT USE PHONE RECYCLERS! They are LIARS and CHEATS! Avoid them at all costs!