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AIBU?

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to get really iritated by big companies treating customers like complete idiots??

16 replies

lollipopmother · 28/03/2008 11:58

Yesterday I tried to cancel my mobile contract to go elsewhere. The guy gave me a realatively good deal that I turned down so he put me to the cancellations dept who miraculously came up with a far 'better' deal, which I said yes to. The phone came today but the seal on the box was already broken so I thought it was a bit odd - taken 1 look at the phone and it's not new, it's been used quite a bit, it has chips out of it, scratches on the screen and the back has worn off where it's been in someone's pocket.

At no point did the guy say I'll be getting a second-hand phone. So I rang up and asked what had happened, apparently it's a 'clearance' phone. I said that nothing was mentioned about it not being new. They're going to listen to the call.

Anyway, I said even if he did say it was a clearance phone he certainly never explained it. The chap said 'no you have to ask us what it means if we mention clearance'. I said 'well since when does clearance mean second-hand!? Why would I ask when I clearly know what the word means but you've changed the meaning to suit your marketting campaign?'. He said 'well we don't need to say what it means because it's on the website'. Well I didn't do the deal on the website, never even looked at it, and quite frankly why should I have to?!

God this attitude from big companies gets my goat! British Gas are the same, an absolute disgrace.

Rant over - for now!!

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lollipopmother · 28/03/2008 12:00

Actually i'm not over! Another thing they said is that the phone is in good condition, it's not in good condition, it's a disgrace, it looks about 6 months old. Their website conditions state that you can't return a phone if it has been used, so why on EARTH would I think that I would be getting a battered old phone? GRRRRR!

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KillerStilettos · 28/03/2008 12:02

God that is awful? Which company is it? You should out them!!

Miggsie · 28/03/2008 12:02

...what about their technical support lines?!
They are SO patronising and then I say "actually I am an electronics engineer and I am telling you categorically..." etc etc...just to stop them being so smarmy!

lollipopmother · 28/03/2008 12:06

It's Carphone Warehouse. I'm so ruddy angry just because they keep telling me the phone is in good condition when I'm looking at it and it looks like complete shit!

The guy who sold me the phone actually phoned me up in a shitty mood saying he said it was 'clearance'. I said even if he did he didn't tell me it was second hand, he said he didn't need to because it's on their website!! Well I shall be taking that matter up with Offcom because it's ridiculous.

Anyway I am pushing for them to listen to the tape, and then I am going to be one of those really irritating people who demands to speak to the manager.

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Miggsie · 28/03/2008 12:08

...yes always tape the conversation, and say "just to let you know I am recording this conversation for future reference".
Works a charm.
That's a handy tip from my mate in CID.

KillerStilettos · 28/03/2008 12:10

Oh, I thought it would be them lollipop. I am just about coming to the end of my contract with them and NO WAY am I renewing. they treat me like sh*t even though I regularly spend over £200 a month with them (also use phone for work)

lollipopmother · 28/03/2008 12:16

I've found them to be good, other than the time they tried to sneak a charge in for something that had absolutely nothing to do with me! Luckily I go through my bills like a hawk because I have a theory that phone companies send you the occasional 'fabricated' bill, because I used to get the odd massive bill that just wasn't realistic at all.

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hamsterlover · 28/03/2008 12:38

Will never EVER have a contract with car phone warehouse again cos they have such shit customer service. And good luck if you get to talk to a manager - I never managed it despite several phoneclls over several days and a phone call 2 hours long! (most of that was being on hold)
Am with 3 now and find them really good.

lollipopmother · 28/03/2008 13:47

I went through CPW because I wanted an O2 contract without ever having to speak to O2 (biggest load of monkeys in the business!).

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Oblomov · 28/03/2008 13:55

You need to up the game. Phone and speak to the manager now. Don't lose your rag. Keep to the point. Demand cancel contract/new phone within 48 hrs, or whatever you want. But be insistent.
o2, British gas, Sky, they are all the same.
You have to phone and phone, don't be fobbed off.
Don't bother waiting for them to listen to the tape, PHONE NOW. They base it on knowing that most people give up.
I am an old hat at this, I have had BT and Sky...........

Ineedacleaner · 28/03/2008 14:16

Oooh I love complaining like this.....I am an expert too I WORKED for BT.
I always get my own way lol baffle them with verbal diarrhoea.

Seabright · 28/03/2008 14:20

I've had something similar with Vodafone. I eventually resorted to going into their shop, sitting at the counter and refusing to leave until they sorted the problem out.

I also told every customer who came into the shop about what a shambles they were at customer servcice.

You won't be surprised to hear that that did the trick, and they got it sorted and me out of the shop in double quick time!

lollipopmother · 28/03/2008 14:22

I am completely baffled that they say they need three days to listen to the tape - exactly how many farking customers must be complaining to make a three day waiting list?!

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hamsterlover · 28/03/2008 14:37

lollipop - you will find that you do not have an O2 contract - you have a CPW O2 contract. This means that although you get the O2 tarriff, that you do not have a contract with O2.
I was unaware of this until I had problems with CPW and tried to speak to O2 only to be informed that I did not have a contract with them!
My bet is that CPW will tell you that they did not record the call or due to elapse in time they no longer have the recording

lollipopmother · 28/03/2008 15:11

Cheeky barstewards, they better hadn't try and pull that one!

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ImPinkThereforeImSpam · 28/03/2008 16:13

Your local Trading Standards bods might be able to help. If CPW are being shysters they'll get to the bottom of it. Let CPW know what you're doing too!

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