Dial a phone

I wanted to myself come and warn others about this shoddy company, but it appears as though I am not the first person to do this!

I recently tried to order my third phone from dialaphone. The first two I must say went off relatively without a hitch (long story about them getting my gender wrong and refusing to speak to me cos I wasn't a Mr, but that's something else!).

Anyway, I thought, they're not so bad so I gave them another chance and ordered my third phone from them, a lovely Samsung T100. I ordered it on Friday so I could be in on Saturday morning to collect my phone between 8 and 12:30. Hurrah, I thought. That was easy. If only I had known.

At 11am on the Saturday I had been waiting up for 3 hours, dressed, when I had a phone call saying the phone wasn't coming. Apparently because I had put my middle initial and not my middle name when filling in the form, the credit check could not go through. I expressed my disappointment and decided to cancel and go elsewhere.

So I went off on a journey to phones4u. The offer was no way as good but I was willing to do it to get away from dialaphone. But after over an hour in the store I gave up. Singlepoint were not accepting my credit. Unsure as to why. I was depressed and thought I would never get my new phone.

So I went home and had a think. Course, dialaphone had messed me about somewhat but would it be cutting off my own nose to spite my face if I didn't reinstate the order, I wondered? So I phoned them up and asked them to un-cancel it.

On Tuesday my lovely phone finally arrived. No camera as promised but I didn't care. Not connected yet but it said it would be within 24 hours so I just contented myself with using this lovely phone, which I was very happy to have. But the phone never was connected and my nightmare was in no way over.

Thursday morning I received a letter with no explanation, ordering me to return the phone in a bag, provided, in new condition. I thought "Oh there must be some mistake" as I called dialaphone and was put on hold for 50 minutes. Same 2 bloomin' Gabrielle songs as well. Argh.

The lady on the other end told me that Cellular Operations had refused me credit. Since they are the billing company for my current phone, I found this hard to believe. They then said that dialaphone "had the right to have the phone and accessories back, and failure to return would result in an invoice for the full cost (around £400). I pointed out that it was a little off as I had kept the phone for two days before they told me I had to return it, but they were adamant.

I then called Cellular operations, who instead of leaving me on hold, made me leave my number so they could call back when they were free.

Their response was to offer me an upgrade as a current customer, which gave me the same phone and a similar deal, which was not as good, but Cellular Operations had tons better customer service so I didn't care.

I sent my phone back as requested and now have to wait until Sat 17th to get my new phone (when I have had the old contract a year). Will keep you posted if C.O. mess up but fingers crossed they shouldn't.

So Dialaphone - in my opinion OK if they don't have an error or failed credit check, but do not care once you have bought your phone (I notice only the sales line is freephone and they answer straight away on that, but all the others u can wait for up to 2 hours before u give up).

I really would never touch them again with a bargepole and neither should you!