EXPOSED: Mobile Phone Cashback offers are scams

IF YOU haven’t heard by now, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is being offered for sale with a £100 “cashback” offer, also known as a rebate. Too good to be true , many people are wondering what is the catch or if it’s a scam.

How do these things work…? The simple answer is that they rely on people not claiming back the cashback. Remember that you don’t get the cashback instantly, you have to wait for a certain period before you can claim.

Let’s say there are 10,000 people using this Samsung Galaxy S9 offer. If 1 in 3 people forget to claim, then that leaves around 6,660 people left.

From those, let’s say that half of them are ineligible to apply and get rejected. This is normally because the small-print is restrictive – examples include:

  • Applying before the start date for claims
  • Applying after the deadline has closed
  • Not sending Samsung/promoter all of the information requested
  • Not providing proof of purchase or proof of ownership
  • and many more.

So this then leaves about 3,300 out of 10,000 people who successfully claim back the cashback. This is how Samsung and other promoters can afford to run such cashback schemes. And lots of people think they are dodgy.

So are they a scam? Well they are legal. But not very well received by lots of people who often forgot or don’t bother. It is often said that you should not buy something just to get the cashback for these reasons!

Here are OneCompare’s tips:

Read the terms and conditions again. It sounds stupid, but you really must read them over and over again! Read through them until you remember it all clearly and understand the terms fully. If you don’t follow the terms correctly then it will cost you literally hundreds of pounds and only you will be to blame.

Make sure you have everything you need. If the terms and conditions say you need cashback claim vouchers then make sure you have received them. Most companies only give you 7 or 14 days to request missing vouchers, and they’ll regularly allow them to go “missing” where possible. Also, some companies require you have a receipt or dispatch note to send in or a copy of it with each claim. Check this in the terms and conditions and if you need one make sure you have it. If anything is missing don’t hesitate to get in touch with the company!

Remind yourself — Set reminders. Lots of them. Write it in your diary. Add it to your phone’s reminder system. Stick post-it notes everywhere. Add reminders in your email program. Sign up to a reminder service such as www.memotome.com who will send you emails at the necessary time. Whatever it takes.

Keep it all safe. Put all of your documentation, including bills, vouchers, printed terms and conditions, copies of any written communication with the company, etc all together and in a safe place. Don’t forget where they are or allow it all to get spread around the house!