Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
CHEAP, WEBSITE BASED |
| Disadvantages: |
RECON PHONES, HAVING TO SEND PAPERWORK OFF FOR CLAIM |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
After coming to the end of my current contract with 3 on an LG phone, I decided to 'shop around'. As money is tight (isn't it always), I decided on e2save.com. I looked at the phones they had on offer but to tell you the truth I was not that much impressed, so I decided to check things out.
I rang up e2save and asked them if I purchased a contract with them for 12 months, would their sim card work in a different
phone - as long as the phone was unlocked or to same network - oh yes they advised.
Right, decided - lets do it.
At the time, I was looking at an offer on a Nokia 6300 for £1.99 for 9 months and 3 month at £30 - so over all it wasn't too bad - for this I got £400 mins and 300 texts a month on O2 or Orange.
Then I looked again - a flash poped up in the corner '12 months free contract' I looked again and sure was!
Phone LG Chocolate, 12 months free contract on O2. 600 mins talktime with 500mins text.
Thats it, I'll go for this I thought.
Heres how it works.
Phone up and order the phone. You have to pay £4.99 del charge to your registered address (OK). You then provide them your bank details (Hold on I thought it was free?). This is because they take a direct debit out each month (amount depending on what contract you took out for mins etc). Mine is £40. Then you have to send off a claim pack back to them, Recorded Delivery, which includes your bills on the 4th month, 6th month, 8th month, 10th month and 12 month. I will then get a cheque back after submitting this claim pack of £96 each time. All in all £480 on contract and £480 back. I didn't want the itemised billing at £1.99 so said no. You get 2 insurances free for first 30 days but if you want to cancel then you must do and get confirmation back in writing so you don't get charged off them .
the phone I received and part of their many cheaper contracts is that the phone is either reconditioned as an ex demo or a return as no longer required. You get everything except the original box and as I was changing my phone over anyway I went out and got a Sony Ericsson W580i. And yes it did work with my new sim card in. I ported my number across also - so everything worked out well.
There has been bad reports that e2save don't pay the cash back offers - but when checking out the forum on their web site its usually because people haven't put their forms in Recorded Delivery as specified (I think I'll do mine special). Or they haven't sent the right forms back - so if they don't comply with the T&Cs of the contract why should e2save I say?
There was a report yesterday on the news that another similar company can not afford to pay the rebates/cash back offers on their contracts leaving people high and dry. E2save are part of Car Phone Warehouse so they have access to all networks etc. As they are such a large company, I don't think there will be a problem, but if they have defaulted on the contract, you can get out of it - read the small print I say!
I would recommend e2save if you are on a saving exercise but the phones they have are not so hot, but like me you can change over.
Customer service so far, Excellent. Speed of delivery - ordered Saturday at just before noon - I had the phone at 9am Monday morning!!
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