Carphone Warehouse Reviews

1.6 Rating 1,629 Reviews
13 %
of reviewers recommend Carphone Warehouse
1.6
Based on 1,629 reviews
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods
Postal Service, Courier
Average Delivery Time
Within 5 Days
On-time Delivery
Greater than 25%
Accurate And Undamaged Orders
Greater than 85%
Customer Service
Communication Channels
Telephone, Live Chat, Email
Queries Resolved In
Over A Week
Customer Service
1.3 out of 5
Returns & Refunds
Refunds Process
Difficult
Returns Process
Could Be Better
Read Carphone Warehouse Reviews

About Carphone Warehouse:

The Carphone Warehouse was founded in 1989 to bring mobile services to consumers. The market has always been complex and our aim from the very beginning has been to offer our customers simple, impartial advice while also offering outstanding value. As a result we have grown from a handful of stores operating exclusively in the UK selling mobile handsets and contracts, to a European-wide platform of over 1,500 stores in 10 countries, providing a wide range of mobile and residential telecoms services.

Visit Website

Phone:

0870 111 6565

Location:

The Carphone Warehouse, PO Box 375
Southampton
SO30 2PU

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Carphone Warehouse 1 star review on 25th April 2022
Rachel Pollard
Carphone Warehouse 1 star review on 25th April 2022
Rachel Pollard
Carphone Warehouse 1 star review on 1st July 2021
Neil
Carphone Warehouse 5 star review on 1st September 2020
Ilyas
Carphone Warehouse 1 star review on 2nd July 2020
Brian Gillbanks
Carphone Warehouse 1 star review on 5th July 2017
Unsatisfactory Treatment!!!
Carphone Warehouse 1 star review on 2nd December 2016
Yeakub Kiani
3
Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
I purchased 2 iphone 6s phones with vodafone as the network provider. Phones received but no contract. A couple of days later i received 2 letters from vodafone which said i had 1 gb data I rang carphone and they said the deal was for 6gb and that there was an issue with vodafone systems on black friday. I contacted vodafone and they said it was carphone system problem. I asked both companies for a copy of my contract . Carphone sent me a letter which showed details of my 2 phones but nothing about the vodafone deal. I have subsequently spoken with several staff at carphone and get the same answer which is vodafone provide this. i have contacted citizens advice and they in turn contacted trading standards and they have confirmed that carphone was where i purchased the deal therefore they have to provide me with a contract for the full deal including vodafone package. To not do this would be seen as unlawful and as such carphone would be seen to be acting in an illegal manner and could be prosecuted. They then gave me the contact number for communications ombudsmen. i explained the situation to them and they confirmed that carphone should be the company who provides me with the full contract details. They work with vodafone so put me through to their specialist team. They checked my contract and from what they could see i only get 5gb for one month only not for the duration of the contract which is 24 months. They sent me this via text so i that i could pass this onto carphone. Guess what carphone were adamant that my contract was for 6 gb for the entire 24 mths but couldn't send me details ,i would have to wait 3 - 5 working days to get a copy of this. As i had already waited 4 working days with only a letter showing what phones i had purchased then i did not believe the full contract will be forthcoming. i also explained that as a company it was a legal requirement to provide me with a contract covering the full aspect of the deal and that they were therefore being unlawful but this just fell on deaf ears. i am now on my 5th working day and still no contract received.Do i think i will get a contract "NO" , do i think carphone care in the slightest "NO" , do vodafone care that this is happening to customers who take out deals on their network "NO" if they did then they would be making moves to tell carphone to sort this or stop them forthwith from being a third party provider. i even said to the carphone staff as my letter only shows i purchased 2 phones and nothing else then i must not have a contract deal with vodafone therefore i will keep the phones and they can sort the rest out with vodafone as i do not have a contract with them. Still no response .Inept does not go far enough to say how poor carphone are. All they do in customer services is listen to your complaint but they cannot do anything to assist because they do not have access , everything goes to their back office (admin ) who do absolutely nothing except drink tea, eat cake , paint their nails and talk about sport or reality tv and at the end of the day have a discussion about whether or not they will do any work tomorrow. QUESTION WHAT WOULD BE EASIER TO PROVIDE A :- A copy of a contract from carphone warehouse which covers both phones and the network package they provided as part of the deal . or B A free flight to the moon , including a space walk and One Million pounds ANSWER You may need time to think about this and after great deliberation come up with the correct answer which is. Yes you knew it all the time !!! BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB The CEO should be disgusted but he's out playing golf and his phone doesn't work (got it from carphone warehouse ) and now stuck with it. Should have read the details in his contract . Oops !! he couldn't as he didn't get one. What a silly billy !! CARPHONE WAREHOUSE THEY DO NOT OFFER CONTRACTS TO CUSTOMERS SO ARE WORKING IN AN UNLAWFUL MANNER. AFTER 14 DAYS YOU ARE STUFFED SO PLEASE STAY WELL CLEAR. So if you are thinking of getting a phone from carphone warehouse "DON'T" !!!!!! DON'T !!!!!!! DON'T !!!!!! DON'T !!!!!!! DON'T !!!!!! DON'T !!!!!!! DONT !!!!!!! DON'T !!!!!!! DON'T !!!!!! DON'T !!!!!!!
Helpful Report
Posted 7 years ago
Worst customer service ever, ordered 3 phones on their Black Friday deals, when I came to check out told could not order more than 2 at a time, decided to order one first as it was for my sons the birthday then made a separate order for 2 more other sons Xmas present and upgrade for partner, 1st phone arrived next day and all appeared OK until confirmation letter from Vodafone arrived which showed I was only getting 1GB of data instead of the 6GB in the deal, contacted customers services twice got cut off before spending 25 mins on the phone to someone who was clearly a call taker and not had any customer services training whatsoever , after giving the usual details and being put on hold was told that a lot of customers had experienced the same issue and they would log a issue with Vodafone which would be resolved in 3-5 working days and I would have to contact Vodafone then to see if it had been resolved (basically carphone warehouse washed their hands of it) next after waiting 3 days the other 2 phones hadn't arrived so I contacted customer sales to be told the order had been declined the excuse was that Vodafone policy is to not allow further sales of their products for 90 days after the first sale, what a load of rubbish! and worse still they were never going to contact me to tell me I had to chase them, basically I believe they didn't want to honour any more Black Friday deals but can't prove that, I was able to secure alternative but less attractive deals (as they couldn't honour the Black Friday deals as they had expired) as a sweetener they said they would send an additional memory card and a case for the phone (worth about £20 allegedly) the phones and the memory eventually arrived but no case, as part of my call to their customer services I mentioned this thinking they would just send one out, oh no they went one better they said they would credit my account so I could go into store and get it myself! what a joke I have to make a special trip to pick up something that should have been posted to me, when I pointed out (as politely as possible) that their customer services was the poorest I had experienced (coincidentally since i had the misfortune to have to deal with Talk Talk who are owned by yes you've guessed it Carphone Warehouse!) the customer services lady said she had "done the best she could" well if that is their best then heaven help us, I am stuck with these contracts for 24 months but one thing is for sure I will definitely NOT be using Carphone warehouse again they do not deserve my custom. PS I bet no one responds to this review because they don't care :D
Helpful Report
Posted 7 years ago
Can you give 0 stars? I was fraudulently sold a contract, which I have requested the transcript of and I have ben delayed continuously and lead in countless directions. Be ware, this is a company who will do ANYTHING to set you up and take your money, even to things you have not agreed to. Then they will not send you the proof for you to prove they were in the wrong. To the people of Carphone Warehouse, you work in a communications industry, learn the tools to communicate and get back in touch with people and offer "customer service" rather than customer interference.
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Purchased 3 x handsets and mobile contracts 13 Jan, cancelled 14 Jan, returned handsets 15 Jan, fought to get PAC codes which took until 27 Jan! they still have not refunded the upfront costs £150 owed to me, now 8 Feb 2021! Had to complain a number of times and involve Ofcom too. Cancelled them due to very poor service from ID Mobile, they kept me on a chat box and passed me around 8 operatives who made me clear security each time. I had to contact them ten times with the longest call lasting 2 hours and 36 minutes. I complained to CPW, then received a letter saying they'd dealt with my complaint! and provided an obsolete number to contact them on said letter! Then CPW informed me they had posted a cheque to me! Is it 1984 or 2021? I am still waiting for that cheque to arrive and why are they encouraging me to go out to the bank in the middle of a pandemic? Not good and all because of the poor service with ID Mobile. Please issue me my refund, you owe me £149.97 I have lost many hours trying to sort this out! Compensation due!
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Trade in phone and was perfect then a week later received an email stating that there was screen burn utter Bs would only give me £40 of the £135 I was due. Have asked to have it sent back Aviod at all costs.
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
My experience is still on going, an absolute shambles. The store at Exeter mash Barton should be shut down until suitable staff are found. I have been lied to on the day of purchase about the P30 Pro I was sold. I took it back to the same store with my complaint THE VERY NEXT DAY wanting to exchange the device for the phone I originally wanted NOTE 10 +, to be told I wasn't able to exchange as I was with Vodafone, this was an out right lie, there is a 14 day cooling off period for cases such as this to aloue you to exchange your device. They refused point blank with more lies, they told me to sell it, after only having the phone 2 days, ( 2 DAYS PEOPLE) I then spoke with the store manager 'Becky' to be told more lies about my phone, these 2 conversations I have recorded on my phone and you can clearly here the rubbish coming out there mouths. No one at Carphone Warehouse has contacted me regarding my complaints 4 weeks later, and still no response or exchange. I've not even received the 100 pound promised back to me as part of the HUAWEI deal... My advice is simple, stay away from Carphone WAREHOUSE MARSH BARTON, it's run bye teenagers with no clue or basic customer service and pure lack of professionalism though out, I HAVE THE EVIDENCE . Customer services have not called me back since the day of purchase. I was hoping the lack of professionalism was isolated but this is clearly not the case. My recordings will be uploaded to you tube for World to hear what you really get at CARPHONE WAREHOUSE....
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
3 weeks and still waiting for the money for my trade in phone and pre order discount. Paid £1095 for the note 9 as I expected £465 back. I have had to keep ringing them and voicing my concern. They have since told me the value of my old phone is less and offered less money. I have had to prove the value I was offered with screen shots I had taken. I had a feeling the would try and pull a fast 1. Still not received the money still not had any confirmation or response. ALSO! The trade in confirmation screen and mail they send has no record of value or reference so make sure you take photos and screen shots. (Or don't use them) your only proof is the barcode on the very thin mail packet) almost like they want it to break!
Helpful Report
Posted 5 years ago
Money grabbing company appalling customer service from you and ID mobile phone has never worked and after many visits phone calls and emails I cancelled DD in May and asked for contract to be cancelled as as far as concerned you have never honoured your end snd kept passing me from pillar to post was told would have to pay to get out said this was totally unacceptable snd then eventually was told that my complaint had been sent to a manager to sort out until today I had received nothing no manager has ever been in touch then get demanding letter saying owe money snd will be taken to court' rung up on hold for ages to then be told there is no log stating termination of contract etc!!! I have 15 emails saying different now driving from one shop to another to be told have to pay 250 to get out of something which has never worked or go to court! I upheld my end of bargain by paying first months rental Despite never having a working phone you have never honoured contract and your Customer service is absolutely disgusting I want to warn everyone stay away from Carphone warehouse snd ID mobile all they do is blame each other and lie
Helpful Report
Posted 7 years ago
Care Phone Warehouse are without doubt in 35 years of working in the retail head office sector the worst business retail customers services I've ever experienced and I question exactly what Andrew Harrison is actually doing other than having his head firmly buried in the sand. I signed a contract on the 19th Dec for a new upgrade with a promise on delivery by the 22nd. Nothing happened. I contacted their customer service provider, only to be cut off halfway through, and then the phones disengaged when I tried to ring back. Contacted the store to make arrangements for an internal transfer with the local store at Hinckley for collection on the Saturday morning, but was promised a delivery by Monday (Bank Holiday!). Arrived to collect it only to be told it was not possible and there was nothing they could do. On the 29th Dec, contacted their dispatch and was put onto again customers services as Leamington Spa were not picking up the phone, which turns out to be in South Africa! Failed to resolve the problem to get the phone delivered, but managed to transfer me to some unfortunate sole woken up in Asia....nice one. Went into the store in Leamington Spa to only be told there was absolutely nothing they could do as it was an IT problem. Also refused to cancel the contract due to the same problem. So with some choice words explained my feeling towards to business and the service provided to date. Completely useless. So, to summaries. No phone and no indication as to when it will be resolved and delivered. Contacted my provider EE who promptly arranged to send me a new phone and contract the next day and explained the conditions of the contract with Carephonewarehouse, you'll be cancelling this contract with no costs incurred by me. As for the service, shockingly bad. Useless in store advisories without any capability to resolves customer problems. Pathetic off shore customer service. No service in that. My advise to anyone thinking of purchasing a phone from this business, what ever the deal, don't. Because if it goes wrong you are on your own. To anyone considering joining the business, based on experience, there are better businesses out there. And for Andrew Harrison, you have got some serious issues to resolve in your business and you need to get yourself out the office and on the ground to understand the mess you've got! Having said all that, I wish you all a happy New Year but sadly can't convey this personally as I'd didn't get your phone! Mr R A Dale
Helpful Report
Posted 8 years ago
I have never had such bad a experience as I did with Carphone Warehouse, my sim was not transferred over at the time it was promised which was still not resolved the following day as promised when I called on the 9th, i had no updates when it was promised, I had no phone call back as promised, I had to drive down to Vodafone myself to get them to unlock it for me and they informed me that my order was still open ( it should be set as in process or something) and Carphone Warehouse made no notes or request for the SIM card to move over, all the requests I made over the phone was not on my profile, they had to personally call the port people to get my SIM card unlocked. Absolutely unacceptable and to make matters even worse, an agent at Carphone Warehouse cut the phone on me on the 10th when I was trying to explain my situation and asked for an update. I was not rude nor did I raise my voice. I was unable to work for 2 days! This is unacceptable and very disappointing! I made to orders and I had to cancel them all because of how unreliable and unprofessional the company is. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. The worst customer service I have ever had, they truly don’t care. I will never deal with this company again, I don’t care how cheap it is, is not worth the stress I was under for two days.
Helpful Report
Posted 5 months ago
I was offered £135 to trade in my Samsung Galaxy S9. Once my new phone arrived, I packaged it up and sent it off. The S9 was in perfect working order and I was using it without issue right up until this point. A couple of weeks later, I received an email from Carphone Warehouse telling me that they could only offer £35 as the phone didn't work due to water damage. Firstly, let's remember I'd been using the phone without issue right up until sending it so it was definitely in working order. Secondly, the S9 is a water resistant device so it's very unlikely that it could be water damaged unless something serious happened while the phone was in their care. From reading other reviews about the trade-in service, I can now see that claiming false damage is a very common occurrence and I deeply regret trading my phone in. Absolutely avoid!
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
sent me wrong item Customer care confirmed me that it was by mistake and returned the item Once they received it they are not admitting their mistake Shame on this company for deceiving customers
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Customer "service" useless. Purchased a 2020 model of a phone, the 2019 model has wifi calling but not CPW 2020 version. Spent 16 days during lockdown dealing with Vodafone before going back to Carphone Warehouse. They refuse to have anything to do with this unused phone and refuse to put anything in writing. Do not buy anything from Carphone Warehouse. If need be pay extra elsewhere!
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
As a former employee I full well know that on a big sales event, for example Black Friday, the marketing team make up fake deals to increase internet traffic then remove them under the pretence that a mistake has been made. They do this usually twice a year and leave their awful customer service team based in South Africa to pick up the pieces. However I do know that the capita employees that they use in South Africa are told that each customer has a ‘£100 compensation pot.’ So they won’t resolve the problem and lazily throw money at the issue. My advice buy a cheap phone case, say it’s damaged and then demand money and chances are they will send you a cheque for £50. Ring a week later and repeat 😀
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Took out a contract on 13th July cancelled it the next day. Waited 28 days still no refund. Chased a bit more and cheque arrived. Paid it in but the cancelled it. Was promised payment on the 8th September to my current account. No payment has arrived. Customer service is shocking. Having now read a few of these reviews I'm not the only one who had their cheque stopped. I'm still owed £159.99 3 months after cancelling. No idea where to go with this. Had yet another conversation with customer services in South Africa who have yet again escalated my complaint. I won't hold my breath
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Appalling customer service. Registered a complaint and have not heard back within the 14 days stipulated. A rip off...cannot get a hold of them on the phone...either have to wait 15/20 mins or call gets cut off mid conversation. This has happened 3 times!!
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
On the 7th of December 2019 I bought a Samsung Galaxy A70 from a Carphone Warehouse store in Dublin on Grafton Street. The phone was a total of 369.99 euro. On the 6th of June 2020 I went into the shop as my phone stopped working unfortunately. I explained the situation and the staff (two of them) checked my phone for damage. They were not able to find any damage on the phone and they provided me with an ERA Form stating the same. Furthermore I signed a repair form stating: 'all damage will be repaired to restore the device to Grade A condition.'. I didn't hear anything for two weeks until they informed me and mentioned that the phone fixing company found a scratch and I have to pay 160 euros to fix it as this doesn't fall within the warranty. I had several discussions with the staff of Carphone Warehouse in Grafton Street and they mentioned they will get back to me after talking to the phone fixing company. They still were adamant of the fact that my phone was handed in with damage. After a couple of times going back and forth and including the General Manager of the shop they said they weren't able to provide me with anything and gave me my phone back (without a fix). I am not happy with the service that I received. I had all the papers to proof that my phone was not damaged and even though of that, they still decided not to provide me a solution. I tried to file a complaint via email via the website of Carphone Warehouse as well as currys.co.uk / ie, but I received an error while filling out the form. They provide an option to chat, but you literally have to search for the button which I wasn't able to find.
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
If your thinking of taking out a contract DONT DEAL WITH THIS LOT!!!! I took a contract out in February and the phone stopped working in July wouldnt charge the phone had totally died. I took it to carphone warehouse who said they'd send it of for repair. I gets a text phones ready go to the store was told sorry staff called in sick come back tomorrow, I got back the next day he said no noted to say what issue is he plugged the phone in to show me it charging alls good still had to pay my full bill even though I didn't have the phone. Fast forward a few weeks phone stops charging again books a repair and they was supposed to have it collected they were a no show... I emailed and got no where put a complaint in and was told I have a new screen on my phone ??? My warranty is void the engineer report said they didn't touch my phone so how come I handed a phone that was dead and wouldnt charge and collected a phone that did work and would charge. I havent touched my screen it's the same 1 I had all along so either the engineer broke my screen and replaced it or I was sold a phone that someone returned. All the time I'm still paying £50 for a phone that I cant use I have escalated my complaint told them I want a new phone and they can have this back I will go to the store with the cheap of rubbish I was sold so if your thinking of entering a contract please beware as you'll pay for something you cant use. I want a phone that works is this to much to ask and get to try bottom of lies about the screen if your technician done it or was I sold someone's return phone
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Totally disgusted with the customer service and response to my complaint. I stupidly ordered a mobile phone from this company, didn't like it so arranged for it to be collected from my home address for a full refund. My 1st call was made to carphonewharehouse on Friday 21.8.20. I was told the phone will be collected at 9am on Monday 24th in the morning by DPD. Called on Monday midday to CWH was told they will be coming and that the lady who I spoke to on Friday should not have given me a collection time. Waited and waited but no collection. Called again logged a complaint through and rearranged another collection for today 26.8.20 after waiting almost all day. Again no DPD collection showed up. I rang up CWH around 4.30 to be told DPD will come another day now to collect my product but unsure when as she couldn't give me a date. For God's sake come on! I expressed the inconvinence this is causing me as im having to ask my 75 year old father to travel to my house via bus and wait for DPD to show up but on both occasions failed. I asked to speak with the manger to make a second complaint only to be told the manager is busy and someone called Shay will call me back. Still waiting. I asked for an update on my 1st complaint only to be told this can nor ne shared with me. So what is the point of having a complaints procedure if you cannot update the customer. Ridiculous! Will defo not buy anything from here again. Wish I had read the negative reviews from other people about this company before I purchased the phone. Let's see if how long it takes for my phone to be collected. I wonder if this is CWH way if scamming customers so they don't have to give a refund as I would have missed my 14 days cancellation. Avoid this company at all costs. I look forward in hearing from the manager as they said. I'd give it 0 start if that was an option!
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Carphone warehouse sold me a phone contract with an iPhone XR in March 2019 on O2. As reported by O2 and Apple there was software issues with the phone and O2 so for 6 Months+ I was not able to use the data properly as it kept cutting out. Carphone warehouse kept passing me around and finally took the phone in for repair after more than 6 months. Shops and Customer service field to provide suitable compensation for the lost use of my phone and delaying the fix. I was still paying £50+ a month for the phone which I could not use fully and felt I should be due a small refund to compensate the additional I had to pay when I could not use the phone. Now they do not reply to my emails. They are useless and will never use again. Rubbish customer service as they send template answers and each email is from someone different so you have to keep explaining the problem.
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Carphone Warehouse is rated 1.6 based on 1,629 reviews