O2 Recycle a scam

[Anonymous]

I sent my phone off to O2 Recycle after taking a quote. I was offered a price for it lower than was quote on the website (which after a bit of research seems to be their standard practice). I replied to the email asking for the handset to be returned and was then offered by email that they would honour the original quote if I wanted on the 16th Jan. I replied to this email saying I would accept the original price but had no reply, so replied again with no response and lo and behold the lower amount got paid into my bank account. Follow up emails have also not been answered and noone picks up the supposed customer service phone despite trying over two days. 

Having now researched it there isn't one positive thing that's been said about them on the internet. Seems to be a scam through and through.

[perksie]

Of course it's a scam, all the profits go to charity!

[Anonymous]

Yes, it would be interesting to see how much of the operating costs go to 'customer service' when they do their accounts, ripping us off from both ends 😉

[Anonymous]

I would like to think its human error more than a scam.

We're you able to keep a copy of the decision to offer the original quote ?

If so persevere with contacting 02's Customer Service Centre.

[perksie]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Yes, it would be interesting to see how much of the operating costs go to 'customer service' when they do their accounts, ripping us off from both ends 😉

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You don't get it do you, O2 don't take a penny from this scheme? 

There may have been a mistake made or they haven't received your email.

"If your device is in good working order it’ll be refurbished and sold on for reuse as an affordable means of communication, mainly in developing countries. Things that can’t be repaired are sent to be "end of life" recycled. The precious metals and other components that can be reused are extracted and any remaining materials are smelted for energy recovery.

O2 is committed to comply with the WEEE directive. Where possible O2 will ensure the reuse of old mobiles. If this isn’t possible, we’ll make sure they’re 100% recycled."

"When devices are thrown away they end up in landfill sites. They don’t breakdown or biodegrade and might pollute the surrounding soil or waterways, damaging plants and wildlife.

O2 Recycle makes sure that every device is 100% recycled and doesn’t use landfill."

"Setting up a local football team. Painting a community centre. Running a campaign to educate young people about knife crime. Young people are full of great ideas. They’re full of energy and enthusiasm. But they need help to turn it all into action. Training. Support. Money. Think Big is our programme to challenge young people to make positive changes in their community. If they’ve got a great idea, we’ll help them get going. We’ll give them support, training and funding to make it work.

To find out more visit www.o2.co.uk/thinkbig"

[Anonymous]

I could have given it to any number of charities, or I could have sold it on ebay for twice the price. I decided to go halfway. The bottom line is they promised a certain amount of money, they didn't give me that amount of money.

[Anonymous]

And if anyone had responded to repeated attempts to contact them via the advertised phone and email address so I could discuss it with them that would have been great.

[Anonymous]

>I would like to think its human error more than a scam.
>We're you able to keep a copy of the decision to offer the original quote ?
>If so persevere with contacting 02's Customer Service Centre.

Yes, it probably is more of a human error issue than anything else, but I have found multiple threads alleging non payment on the internet. I have the original email that was sent still and records of the multiple replies sent to that. Plus O2 may have records of attempts to phone the number 😉 They have their own customer service, I haven't tried O2's main service. 

[adamtemp64 · Accepted solution]

The O2 recycle service is not operated by o2 directly but a third party called Redeem as shown on the o2 recycle website.

I guess looking at where they are based they may be understaffed etc due to weather.

But if you are unhappy complain direct to o2 following the complaints procedure as you are only talking to other customersa on here.

[perksie]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I could have given it to any number of charities, or I could have sold it on ebay for twice the price. I decided to go halfway. The bottom line is they promised a certain amount of money, they didn't give me that amount of money. Maybe fraudsters would be a more accurate description? 

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It's not clever to throw around remarks like that, if you could have done so well from other options why didn't you?

If a mistake has been made and they receive your email correctly dated then no doubt they will send you the extra money.