A danger to life and credit rating! I write as a rural shopkeeper, butcher and food producer prioritising isolated local customers including isolated doctors, nurses, paramedics and nhs support workers which requires a working phone with what3words navigation. At the height or first Covid-19 lockdown at the beginning of April my iPhone logic board burnt out whilst delivering when Apple (excellent service btw), like o2 and others, had their shops closed. I contacted MobilePhonesDirect (aka AO Retail) recommended by moneysavingexpert as they had iPhone 8 Plus’s - the last model with a home button which is easier wearing a mask and visor. I was told by the MobilePhonesDirect (aka AO Retail) agent to tick the Three network box then contact o2 to get a "PAC code" to port my number to the Three chip to use on o2 (since there is little or no Three coverage in my local delivery area in the triangle of 3 major hospitals and at home). Within a week of delivery and trying to contact both o2 and MobilePhonesDirect customer service, o2 called me and said I needed an "contract o2 chip" so I cancelled the contract with MobilePhonesDirect by email unless they send me a replacement "contract o2 chip”. Since then MobilePhonesDirect refused to supply me an o2 chip or cancel the ‘contract’ with Three unless I took out another contract with them for another phone on o2 (not an 8 Plus) and pay up the ‘contract’ with Three (which raises the question of churning). Having complained to MobilePhonesDirect, having returned the unused Three chip to Three Glasgow and the unmarked and reset iPhone 8 Plus to MobilePhonesDirect in it's original box with accessories unused, I found I could not take out a contract with o2 because Three had blacked my credit rating (so I had to by an iPhone 11 direct from Apple). After more than 3 months and countless emails and letters I have had no reply from Three whilst MobilePhonesDirect say they are a "third party” (e.g. nothing to do with them) and have not cancelled the contract with Three as they said they would. I now informed by MobilePhonesDirect "All customers who buy from any of our websites, including mobilephonesdirect.co.uk, are now customers of AO Retail Limited. This means that, going forward, AO Retail is the controller of your data.” Apart from their failure to protect my data and credit rating the obvious question is how can MobilePhonesDirect offer credit agreements and discounts on contracts with major phone networks and not have any responsibility for the personal/banking data supplied or by omission? Similarly, does this change in company name and/or financial circumstances mean that existing customers will not receive cash backs promised on MobilePhonesDirect (see other negative posts in this forum) website? I note also Three were fined £250,000 for failing to comply with Ofcom's rules on handling customer complaints.