UK mobile users conned out of cash

Cashback has become one of the most common marketing ploys adopted by retailers to lure customers into a mobile phone contract. However, complex terms and conditions set out in these deals can make claiming your money back a battle.

The survey by moneysupermarket.com reveals one in 10 people have not received any money owed to them. More than one in four (26 per cent) who have tried to claim their cashback have found it difficult to get back what they were owed. As a result nearly three in 10 people who have signed up for a cashback deal (29 per cent) have been unsuccessful in claiming all of their money back.

The complicated terms and conditions put in place by the retailer are one of the main reasons people do not receive their money. Nearly four in 10 (37 per cent) who had applied for a cashback deal said the terms and conditions set out by the retailer were unfair or designed to make it hard to claim back what they were owed.

However, this may be a thing of the past as moneysupermarket.com launches its cashback campaign to help people fighting retailers who fail to fulfil their cashback promise.

Rob Barnes, head of mobiles at moneysupermarket.com said: “We are receiving more and more complaints on our forums from people who have taken out contracts with the promise of cashback, but then face a nightmare with retailers delaying repayments or ignoring claims completely.

“We will provide a place for people to go, where they can find out who the worst providers are before agreeing to a cashback contract, and tips on making sure they get their money.

Retailers are increasingly offering high sums of cash to attain new customers. On average two thirds (62 per cent) of cashback deals are up to the value of £100, with the remaining third (33 per cent) offering anything up to £101 - £400.

Rob Barnes, add: “Retailers also factor in that a percentage of customers will not make a claim. This can be for a number of reasons such as forgetting to claim, only claiming the first instalment or being put off by the complex terms and conditions. The mobile phone retailer pockets any money not claimed, only the customer will lose out.

“By launching a campaign, moneysupermarket.com and customers can together wipe out rogue retailers who continually fail to fulfil their promise.”