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Carphone Warehouse Reviews

1.6 Rating 1,631 Reviews
13 %
of reviewers recommend Carphone Warehouse
1.6
Based on 1,631 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.

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Phone:

0870 111 6565

Location:

The Carphone Warehouse, PO Box 375
Southampton
SO30 2PU

Write Your review

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
Extremely poor customer service. Billed for returned sim and no refund given. Terrible.
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
I was given a phone with the earpiece not working. I had signed a two year contract at £60 per month. They passed me from shop to shop until two weeks were up, then said I have to keep it as time has run out to change it. I phoned head office, the woman said there’s nothing they can do so I asked to speak to her senior. She pretended to be the boss and told me the same. It was horrifying. DO NOT USE THE DIXON GROUP!!!!
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
Ordered a 128 gb phone. Turned up a day late.set it up then find out its a 64gb phone.spent 30 mins on the phone with them. Agreed a 96 pound discount on a 2 year contract. Just got a txt message 2 say phone is coming tomorrow. I'm at work and customer service us shut.
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
By far the worst company I have ever come across. Don’t go anywhere near them. The most deplorable customer service I have ever encountered. I have spent hours on the phone to them yet nothing ever seems to get recorded on their system and you have to keep going over the same thing repeatedly - that’s if you manage to speak to them and they don’t hang up on you. Everyone gives conflicting advice and you spend an eternity on hold. One serious word of warning - DO NOT trade in your phone by post. Regardless of how immaculate the condition and how safe the packaging they will tell you it’s damaged. They appear to have a standard email all set up and ready. NEVER EVER AGAIN!!!! I’ve given them one star simply because I couldn’t give them a zero!
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
I ordered a black Samsung galaxy s8 and i received a blue Samsung S7 in the post. I rand customer services they advised me to go to my local shop. I went to my lical shop in town. They couldn't help me i phoned customer services again their system was down! I rang again they said they would send the returns label through by email yesterday. I still have not received the label! I rang again today the systems were fown AGAIN! They could not help me post it in my local shop either today. I am loosing my mind!!!
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
I recently went onto the Carphone Warehouse website to look at upgrade deals on EE. I put in all my details to see which phone I could upgrade to - the website didn’t work and displayed nothing (I should really have taken this as the first warning about the service I was going to get from Carphone Warehouse). Later that day, a lady called me and went through a number of upgrade options with me. She was very helpful and offered me 3 different upgrade options, a Samsung, an iPhone and a Huawei. I didn’t really know the difference between all the phones and she talked me through the phone specifications and the data, minutes and calls that would be included in each package. She told me about a Huawei P20 Pro and talked about the 40mp camera and other features of the phone. It sounded great but I said I didn’t really want to pay the £42 a month she initially said I’d have to pay. As sales people do, she put me on hold to ‘talk to her manager’ and came back with a lower price. The phone arrived the next day. I set it up and was happy until I realised I’d been sent a P20, not a P20 Pro - a cheaper model that I could have got a much better deal on elsewhere - which most definitely doesn’t have a 40mp camera as claimed. I went on to the Carphone Warehouse website and used their online chat to speak to an operative on there. She checked my account and said that a p20 was the correct phone that I should have, I explained that the information she gave me didn’t match the phone that was initially described. I suggested that they listened to the recording of the initial call, it was confirmed that the call would be recorded but they didn’t listen to the call. After a number of minute delays between each reply, eventually I was told that I could either call the helpline or take it back to the local store - but they couldn’t confirm that they’d honour the deal discussed on the phone intiially. As I was staying away from home, the nearest store was a 45 minute drive away - I decided to call the helpline. The helpline was having technical difficulties and the ‘system' was 'down’. They took my phone number and said they’d call back in 30 minutes to an hour. Predictably, they didn’t call back. That evening, I went online and sent a private message to the Carphone Warehouse site requesting that they called me back as they’d promised. The next day I got a reply, apparently they ‘can not escalate callbacks on this platform’ (why different departments cannot communicate with each other is beyond me). I called the helpline again and was told that it’d be difficult to deal with on the phone and it would be best to go to the local store. I drove into Aylesbury, which has 2 stores. Initially I went to the one on Cambridge Street. I explained my situation and the very panicked man in there said he’d have to go and get help. He came back and said he couldn’t process the return as they don’t have a store manager (what??) and I’d have to go to the other store on the High Street. So I moved the car, paid for additional parking and went to this store. When we got there, the man cancelled the contract, said I’d have to wait another 3 days at least before I can upgrade again. Luckily I kept my old phone so I am not without a phone. So now, the nearest point I’ll be able to upgrade my phone to the model I initially wanted is August 9th - 9 days after the initial call to sell me the phone. I find it very interesting that when the Carphone Warehouse want to gain your money, someone contacts you straight away and cannot be more helpful. As soon as there is an issue and help is needed, you get passed from pillar to post and no-one can help. I am really disappointed in the Carphone Warehouse and the structures that are in place. I am hoping that the cancellation has been correctly processed and that I will be able to upgrade successfully in a few days - I assume there won’t be much support in place if anything further goes wrong with this.
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
Carphone warehouse branches should make a point of either removing each out of phone stock from display or place an updated sign daily notifying customers of their actual stock levels I have been to both Hayes Middlesex branches this in an attempt to buy a phone. informed that mostly all the selection I was interested in were not available. it may not look as appealing for visual merchandising to display an empty shelf !but it would stop customers kept waiting ages having to enquire. very disappointed and frustrated
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
Honestly, Carphone Warehouse have the worst customer service they seem to not communicate with one another and are very forgetful. However they are easy to negotiate with and get better deals it does take a while to actually get what you want with them and I don’t recommend them if you want somegbkgn quick. I ordered a phone and they didnt think of phoning throughout the day when the realised they didn’t have my house number they waited for us to call them and where very rude.
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
Misrepresentation of contract. Difficulty in dealing with Customer Support.
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
Bought Huawei P20 and Vodafone SIM last week. Purchase experience very good. Returned to store for some support as previous phones all iPhones. Appalling service from operative who a)couldn't care less and b) had no idea about Huawei. Came away totally dissatisfied. By contrast when I went to the Vodafone store opposite, having been told they would be hopeless, could not have been better served. Indeed, work colleague was of more help and had considerably greater knowledge than CW staff. Quick to take my money, unwilling or unable to assist after the event and despite promises didn't come through on Huawei earphones offer either.
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
No stars for you. At all. Costumer service was terrible. Staff have no patience with costumers and they don't provide good advice. They waste your time, only to tell you, you do not have a good credit score. Very disappointed. I wouldn't recommend getting a deal from them either.
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
If I go into a store looking to purchase a phone priced at £500+ I expect to have the opportunity to look at the demo phone for display properly, not just the front because it has been secured for obvious reasons. Surely discretion is the key here... I understand why the display phones are secured, but having shown interest in purchasing the phone the assistant would not let me check out the phone thoroughly back and front... now I am in my late 50s and obviously not a sprinter.... They lost a sale, because they thought I would run off with the phone and I had a number of shopping bags too... Good service is everything and might I add without attitude!! 🤔
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
Was Told 200 pounds was included in the package I took out in May. Now end of July No money. Keep calling to be told it’s on it’s way.
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
I cant believe how much you have messed me around. Over a simple matter. You sold me a deal that included a cheque for 200pounds back in May it’s now end of July no cheque😡😡
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
I lost my phone so i went to Hounslow carphoneware. A Tall slim and blone lady wouldnt help and the shop was empty I was the only person and the other staff was standing around chatting with each other. she said there's isn't anything she can do for me she didn't ask me for any details. I ask her what can I can so she wrote on a price paper saying REPORT MY LOSS. I had to go to Kingston near bentall shopping central who did everything for me with know problem
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
I purchased a phone from CPW on Sunday 22 August, signing contracts electronically as I went. Having been signed up, at the till we called by existing provided Talk Mobile to request a PAC code whereupon they were able to offer me a better contract saving me 30% (£144 over 24 months) Obviously I wanted to accept this offer and hand back the phone, unopened and unused. However I was given short shrift by your staff. Someone went off to see a manager who had then ‘just gone out’ when I tried to speak to him. The Talkmobile operator told me that is was absolutely unacceptable not to be able to return a product before I had left the store but your staff were disinterested in this. They pointed to a screen showing that because I had signed an EE contract rather than another service provider that I had no way to give back the phone. This has not been explained to me when we decided to move me to EE. I have since phone EE who explain that they do offer a cooling off period for direct telephone and online sales however that any phone sold in store is then subject to the terms and conditions of the store itself. Again your staff maintained that their hand were tied by EE themselves. I have since spoken to your “customer services” team - no really any use at all and I am left with my previous opinion of CPW confirmed. You treat customers like royalty UNTIL they sign on the bottom line and then you are just not interested. Thanks for your reply and thanks in advance is you can help at all Rebecca
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
10 things I would change if I owned the Nophone-Wareouse. (Number 10 is mandatory) 1. Sack most of your staff, especially in your call centres because they sound like they are on ketamine... Seriously. 2. You sell phones... SO STOCK THEM!!! Argos do it just fine, along with a million other products but you can't seem to stock more than a few best sellers at one time. Signs of a hard time maybe? 3. If you do have to order phones to the store, how about making it a bit faster and actually informing your customers as to it's whereabouts apposed to false promises and ignoring the phone. 4. Sort your emails out! I made one order and was spammed with duplicate confirmation emails which became confusing at one point. Do not email me if I leave things in my basket... If I want it I will buy it, I don't see the staff in Tesco shouting at me half way through my weekly shopping. It's rude! 5. Remove paid for numbers to the local store. I blew 5pounds credit waiting 7 minutes for someone at the store to answer because your website tells me to do so as to avoid disappointment. They did not answer. I was still disappointed.... 6. Sort the website out because it is appalling! Missing info, dead links, hard to find chat service, the list the goes on... 7. Rethink the online chat service because unfortunately the chat staff can't actually do anything and through no fault of their own it seems. Give them a telephone maybe so they can talk to your other staff? Communication and all that important stuff.... 8. REALLY sort your click and collect out. I mean this is supposed to be easy but trust me, I seriously regret not going to Argos and I hate Argos. DO NOT charge me a pound to confirm my identity. There's no mention on this before purchasing so what right have you got to tell me I can't collect my item unless I lend you this pound! It's wrong, other click and collects don't do it so SORT IT OUT! Oh and I assume this wouldn't be needed if I got delivery with DPD so just another reason why your click and collect is the WORST!!! 9. Don't use DPD. Enough said. 10. Give this lad a job. I bought one phone (that I'm yet to receive) and have a list of issues and gripes. I dread to think what a more involved transaction such as a contract would result in. 869 1 Star reviews I guess and I expect the only 5 star reviews are people who were just happy with their phone and not with you.
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
Extremely poor customer service. My multiple requests to speak to a manger to escalte my query were fobbed off. A "computer says no" service with no common sense or logic applied. No easy way to complain - complaints phone number takes you through to customer services and there is no email address, only a postal address.
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
Took my old phone to Wantage branch due to it failing after getting wet last winter. Was told it was unrepairable (what do I know).Was told similar phones unavailable - I HAD to buy a complicated phone. Now know this not true. Was coerced into paying for an upgrade which costs me more each month. I don't need internet. I do have arthritic hands which cannot manage all the swiping and the silly buttons and tapping that dosn't work. All I wanted was a mobile phone with texting. I use both very little. Do need a gadget that my hands can operate. Just feel totally ripped off, badly advised by Carphone Warehouse staff - AND they kept my old phone. Now know that was wrong too. Would warn anyone to look for an alternative business other than Carphone Warehouse. Am now stuck with a gadget unsuitable for me. Just feel I was taken advantage of and scammed and robbed. All I want is to retain my long- term mobile number, and should be paying the absolute minimum for usage. Can anyone help or advise?
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
literal trash. forced to move house due to a bereavement. absolutely no signal, staff tried to say their network was fine, tried blaming my phone, the sim card, everything but the fact their service is trash. multiple times they have attempted to put a 250 pound cancellation fee. have heard nothing for 6 weeks, had to go to ombudsman
Helpful Report
Posted 6 years ago
Carphone Warehouse is rated 1.6 based on 1,631 reviews