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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

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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've just gone into carphone warehouse in fforestfach in swansea southwales they are now turning customers away saying they can only sell three phones to one customer within 6 months the carphone warehouse must be making so much money that they don't need any customers shocking !!!!
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
Pre ordered the Hawaei Nexus 6p with free Chrome cast audio online as a EE upgrade. I received a phone call confirming my order the next day. The customer advisor seemed very helpful, he advised me to change my order from the silver version to the Graphite version as apparently I would receive the Graphite version quicker. I agreed to do that, as I needed a new phone and fast. the adviser said he would also refund the £9.99 that I had spent on the phone. He also said that he would give me a check for £20 as compensation for having to change to a different colour. I got an email confirming my order as well as proof of the free Chromecast audio. All was well until a few weeks later when I got in touch to ask when my phone was going to be released. I contacted them on their Facebook page, they told me to send a private message so I did. They then told me to use their online contact form. I did this and received nothing back, no email and no phone call. I contacted them via the Facebook page again for the loop to begin all over again. I then phoned them only to eventually be told, my order had been cancelled by the customer advisor, but he opened a new one for me but apparently it was with E2save (a sister company of Carphone ware house for those who don't know). Eventually I received an email confirming me of delivery. But it was not from E2save but, directly from Carphone Warehouse. So I had been told a complete lie. I received the phone but no Chromecast audio and still no refunded money or my compensation. 14 days later I eventually received a cheque for £9.99. I have emailed Carphone Warehouse only to be told that the Chromecast audio was only 1st come 1st serve. I pre ordered this phone and the offer was still there 2 weeks later, when I checked. Clear false advertising. I also have the email to prove that my order included the device. Then there is the matter of the £20 compensation, the lady who replied to me about that said it was posted on the 29th of October. Where's it coming from? I have also posted a review on Trustpilot only to receive a reply from 'Jade' who replies to all bad reviews with exactly the same thing, she responds on trustpilot within one day, she asked me to email them again and I have done so 3 days ago, I've received nothing back. So I've also updated that review with this new info. Please think twice about going with this company, as there is no such thing as their customer service, the company are a disgrace and should not be trading in the UK.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
These guys are totally sales focussed. I upgraded my iPhone some 4 weeks ago and since then I have had five calls from different call centres trying to sell me a upgrade. I have told al of them "I have just done this" they all aplogise and say they will update thier records. Then today I get another call, the girl explains that she can only update her part of the system, so other departments or call centres may still call me. CRAZY - what ever happened to the single client account that was client driven and updated, surely in todas modern IT system this is posible, if they can cant protect your data from being hacked, then maybe is good its not up to date!!!!! DONT CALL ME AGAIN, and I bet they wont ever respond to this post ANGRY OF HAVANNAH
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
I have recently upgraded my o2 contract and unfortunately did it through car phone warehouse,ever since I have been driven mad with cold calls from them using diverted numbers, I only know this as after 2 weeks of non stop unsolicited calls fom various numbers I decided to answer, it was a 01922 code which is Walsall, but when I questioned the caller he stated he was from a subsidiary of car phone warehouse and was calling from Bristol! After insisting I speak to a manager he confirmed that they use divert numbers as if they used their own people would not answer! I also answered a call from a Loughborough code guess what! A Birmingham nos ...again!!! Sick of asking to not be contacted with no result, advice avoid avoid avoid...
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
This company is to avoided at all costs..Staffed by kids whom know nothing about life. Best given a very wide berth.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
This company is an absolute joke! Boght an unlocked samsung A3 phone that didn't last longer than 2 weeks. Unfortunately as I went on a trip a week after I bought it, I was left with no phone while abroad and not only that, but all the pictures that were taken on the trip have been lost. As soon as i got back home I took the phone to the shop. The 30 days for the refound were passed so they offered to fix the phone. 3 weeks after.... I am still waiting for my phone. They have lost my phone, offered me a different USED phone which obvusly I refused. They keep telling me the phone will be here in 3 days, this is the 4th time I go to the shop and NOTHING has been done. The manager rolls her eyes when she see me coming (How rude!) All in all, absolutely awful experience, I will NEVER get a phone here, and I have had a contract with them for 2 years! thanks gone the time is over now.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
Told my phone can't be fixed because of a tiny hairline fracture on the body kit which had nothing to do with why it was broke. Won't honour a warranty.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
Disgusting customers service get told different things every time i ring them regarding my phone that they have had since the 19th of October which was also replaced by there repairs centre on the 4th that i am still waiting to get back so much fora 14 day turn around
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
I bought a phone for my child in July so he could keep in touch with me because he is been bullied in the area. I had the phone for 2 months and it had a fault that I thought at the begging it was him not wanting to talk to me. As a result of the fault my child had an incident and was bullied in an alleyway and took the handset to have repaired. It was changed for a new one and this one started to display problems with the batter and I had it for less than 1 1/2 months and because it was on a sim free and not one of their contracts they are trying to ignore me. My partner went to the shop after I spoke to customer service explaining if it was faulty again I wanted to replace with a different one even if I had to but money onto of it and they told me to go to the store and they had but a not on the system. The sales person had a very bad attitude told my partner if he wanted something doing to go to another shop even though he saw it did not charge then when my partner was walking out of the shop he followed him and carried on disputing with him and looking for an argument. I filled a complaint with the shop was advised to go and tell them to look at he system because they had but on the system to call them to resolve the problem. When they went back he carried on been rude this time with my 12 year old son saying there is nothing on the system and then called me trying to pass as customer service and was arguing with me on the phone talking bad about my partner. At that point I explained to him I do not like arguments and that I called customer services that where supposed to call me and not him because I did not like to argue and he hanged up on me. Then when I tried to call customer service again and the repairs team hanged up on me twice telling me they where passing me to the complaints team and hanged up instead. I finally got back in touch with customer service and still have a phone with does not work for a child that is being bullied and in danger and they are trying to ignore me. Would not recommend anyone to buy a phone of them unless you want the worst customer service in the world. I would have given them 0 stares rating but it does not let me.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
Had a deal with one of car phone weahouse company looked like a good deal but the service after words having beings passed over from one dep to another and almost a week no solution at all v upset spend almost £40 over the phone and u r declining that company nothing to do anything with carphone wearhouse and I received the emails from car phone wear hi overall v poor customer services Thnx A khan
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
Date: 13/11/2015 11:47 I've sent this message on reviews as I have been unsuccessful in sending this via complaints department online ,I also tried to call the Carphone Warehouse and was on hold for 20 minutes awaiting the chap at the other end of the phone to give me the complaint department email address who was unable to give it to me as i was informed computers were very slow. I apologise now for those of you who have time and manage to read this. I received  a text message thanking me for using Carphone Warehouse and based on my store visit how likely am i on a scale of 0 to 10 to recommend a friend. I thought this to be very ironic as after this email, you may be able to put yourself in my shoes and score it yourself. I have made several attempts to renew my contract with Carphone Warehouse. I revisited  your store on 5th of November 2015 even though I was  contacted  by  EE on many occasions to renew directly with them, but thought it would only be fair to return to the shop that had always given me such good service in the past. I was served by a very helpful lady called Tina who helped me to choose the best phone and tarrif with a  Christmas gift card with  a  value of  £200 and lot's of data. There was difficulties in providing the gift card as it was a new offer. After spending close to one and a half  hours in the shop and several calls to various different help lines within your organisation by both Tina and Anthony  (store manager ) without success. Although  they had tried their best in order to give me the deal i had been looking for, I left the shop without a new phone contract and was very disappointed. I asked if someone could contact myself when the offer was available. About 4 days had passed and I hadn't heard anything, so I decided to go on my way home from work, which is located in Salisbury. I arrived at the Bournemouth Castle Point store 6.45 which I appreciate was close to closing time and as I am in retail myself it can be very frustrating for those who have been at work all day and customers turn up at the last minute of the day, however had I been able to renew contract on my previous visit I would not have done so. I was asked by a lady who was with a customer if it was a quick question  To which I replied I would like to renew my contract. She said that she had another customer waiting for her and her colleague had to dash off. I left the shop feeling yet again very disappointed.  When I returned home I decided to order the phone online which is against my principles as I myself am a showroom manager and would much rather order from a bricks and mortar shop. I selected the phone and tarrif and entered bank card details. It all seemed to to be going through easy until it came to the last 3 security numbers, it kept coming up in red writing not accepting the correct numbers being entered. After 3 attempts  I gave up. I was so frustrated so I called the Carphone Warehouse and tried to purchase the phone,I spoke to a gentleman and went through the phone and tarrif that I wanted, I answered various security questions and then there was a big pause and I was told that the computer system was running slow and could he call me back on the following day, so I told him I would be in 7 0'clock once I finish work. On the Tuesday I returned from work at 6.30pm and was awaiting a call, as predicted I didn't receive one.  After many attempts to renew it was beginning to ask questions about whether Carphone Warehouse actually wanted my business as it had been impossible up until now to upgrade my phone and contract. I decided to give it one last try and after I'd finished work on Wednesday 11th November  I visited the shop at Castle Point again. I was served by Ben who seemed very helpful. He asked me what phone I was looking for, to which I said the Samsung S5Neo a good choice he said he had the S5. He asked what sort of tarrif I was looking for and I said I'd seen one with a gift card for £100 and also required a lot of data. He said that the gift card was not available with the phone as i thought this was the case he was very helpful in helping me find what I thought was the best deal.  I paid£29.99 upfront and £29.99 a month which gave me 4gb unlimited texts  unlimited minutes. Great!!! I had finally got my phone. I started using my phone later that evening and decided to look on Carphone Warehouse website and just looked at phone I just purchased. There on the website was the offer with gift card on upgrade, I felt cheated as I asked about gift card but was told it wasn't available with that phone on upgrade. The monthly payments were £2.50 more but no upfront costs and extra 1gb data. Is the reason for not offering gift card because nobody knows how to set it up? The next day i decided I would go into the store where I spoke to Mike (assistant manager ) I explained that I had asked Ben for gift card with the phone . He said that he was unable to do anything as I had signed the contract and that EE would not change it. I told him that i had brought  it through Carphone Warehouse and that my contract was with them. I said I think it's unfair when you ask for something and a salesman gives you wrong information. He said he would have a talk to Ben when he came at one and call me then. I received a call back from Mike who had spoke to Ben who denied all knowledge of me having asked him about gift card.  I have tried to keep calm through all of this, as this whole upgrade has been a very unpleasant experience and has cause unnecessary stress and as I am having open heart surgery next week I could do without it. I think that all things considered I've been both extremley reasonable and loyal, a good customer of which you'll see i have had 2 phone contracts for a number of years, I have 3 siblings who are also becoming of age whereby they will be wanting mobile phones.    In view of the situation I hope Carphone Warehouse  will do the right thing and keep me as valued customer. I look forward to your reply. Simon whitelock Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
I ordered a phone online, when I phoned to chase order, Carphone warehouse took a further £69.99 from my debit card without my knowledge, after several emails and hours on the phone I finally got a refund nearly 3 weeks later. I did not receive callbacks when promised, I was refused to speak to a manager regarding my complaint and was offered £15 store credit for my inconvenience which I have declined. I am surprised that there is no governing body ensuring that Carphone warehouse treat their customers fairly and have complaints process
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
I have taken my phone to be repaired 4 weeks ago as it stopped working. After 2 weeks I received a text notifying me that the phone has been repaired and is ready to be collected. I checked the repair tracker online and it showed that my phone was repaired. Upon arrival at the Oxford Street repair centre the engineer tried to give me a mini version of my phone and when I pointed out that that is not my phone, he explained that my phone couldn't be repaired. This is unacceptable. The engineer told me that I can only get a refurbished one and that I will have to wait another week to receive it (this was also a lie as I had to wait 2 weeks). I explained that I don't want a refurbished phone as they are usually with problems. I called the repair centre to make a complaint and the lady kept me on the phone for 45 minutes explaining that they will register my complain but they can't do anything about it . I asked if someone will call me to try to resolve this problem and I was told that their department log the complaints but they don't do anything about resolving the issues. I asked for my old phone back and stated that I won't accept a refurbished one and I would prefer taking my old phone for a second opinion to a Samsung store and I was told that my phone has been recycled. Now, can someone explain to me how Carphone Warehouse can send my phone to be recycled without my consent? First of all the engineer didn't explain that my device will be recycled. He informed me that my phone will be repaired in around a week. If I knew this from the beginning I would have taken my phone to Samsung directly. And they are now saying that when I agreed to send my phone to be repaired I agreed to be sent for recycling in case it can't be repaired. This is beyond despicable. I was led to believe that if the engineers can't repair my phone, the phone will be sent to Samsung and that clearly didn't happen. Carphone Warehouse should respect their customers and try to support by giving correct information. I have not agreed to my phone being sent for recycling. It is the repair department's fault, lack of customer service management. I have received an email stating that if I don't collect the refurbished phone in 60 days they will send it as well for recycling. I have never experience anything like this before. I never had problems with Carphone Warehouse until I visited the Repairs Centre and hopefully the people who will read this review will think twice before going with their phone to the Carphone Warehouse Repair Centre / Geek Squad.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
Subject: Samsung Galaxy s6, 64GB, 24 Month contract with EE, bought at Carphone warehouse Hounslow on 13 Sep 2015. £110 device cost and £41.99 per month 24 months contract. Here is the summary of my experience with Carphone Warehouse Hounslow store. 1. The fast charger of the premium handset stopped working after 15 days of my purchase, when I went to report this issue, reply from the store staff is that, this is not covered in the warranty and after 25 minutes of requesting and explaining, they gave a spare used fast charger socket with a warning not to come back to the store again. 2. After 23 days, the device's screen developed a serious freezing fault, which stopped me using it properly and it was very random and I thought it's due to the screen protector which I applied on the screen to protect from scratches. I was very busy in the work, I could not visit the store immediately. I visited the Hounslow store on 13 October 2015 (just 30 days after the purchase). Branch manager checked the fault and accepted its faulty and I requested him to replace the handset with a new one, he bluntly refused and told me to come back next day to send the handset for repair. He gave a replacement handset a basic phone which is not useful me for my business needs. I returned this replacement handset back. 3. I waited 8 days, I did not heard anything, when I went to get an update on the progress in the repair, Branch Manager behaved rude. 4. The device got repaired after 10 days, when I went to collect the handset. I noticed a damaged mark (scratch) on the back glass of the device. 5. The staff refused to explain the fix and they refused to accept the damage done on the device while under repair. The serving staff said I was lying on all the above issues.( annoying and unacceptable ). Please consider the following, 1. Why should I NOT a have device for 15 days ( 5 days faulty screen + 10 days repair) for the amount I am paying monthly it's expensive. ? 2. Why should I have a damaged handset (acquired when it underwent repair)? 3. How much time I wasted visiting your store to resolve this issue? 4. What about my mental pain during these days and even now? I am NOT happy with this purchase and feeling really sad and frustrated about all these. Very bad Carphone warehouse service. I will never buy anything from Carphone warehouse from this day.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
I am amazed by the levels of incompetence of the carphone warehouse staff. After now being without my phone due to a damaged screen since last Friday and being continually mucked around I finally believed after speaking to the insurance team that the situation may be resolved. Stupid me. The first thing the insurance team told me was the staff member who initially tried to put the claim through caused the issue. Even though a member of staff at the branch told me my phone would be available Monday they were wrong, as the claim was being put through the system told her that the phone wasnt available and the branch should sort me a replacement. This it seems she disregarded and caused the ridiculous situation I am now in. So far I have been to the branch 4 times, emailed and phoned various departments, even earlier comments on Facebook were replied to in such a way to make it look like someone was trying to help only to not be followed up. This evening when I spoke to the insurance team I was told the branch that caused all my issues in the first place would be the ones that would have to sort the issue. My Note 3 was not available and they would have to sort me a replacement, I let them know that I wasnt happy that a branch that up to that point seemed to have done nothing to help me were now the people I had to rely on. I was told unfortunately there was no other option. I let her know I was on my way to the branch to get this resolved but I wasn't hopeful, I was assured that she would make notes on the system that would let them know what they needed to do but her department was there until 8 if they needed to speak to them. Imagine my amazement when I get to the branch and find im still stuck in the same situation, apparently in the 21st century because an incompetent member of staff pressed a wrong button nothing can be done for 72 hours! So I have now been to the branch 5 times paid carphone warehouse in insurance and excess fees close to £400 I still have no phone and will probably end up with a replacement phone that doesn't fit my needs! The company seems to be staffed by puppets that cant think for themselves that follow a set of rules there to look out for the best interests of their company and not the customer. They maybe a cheap place to get a phone but their phone insurance services and custmer service is diabolical and I would suggest thst unless you like being given the run around and annoyed by every member of staff you speak to its best to avoid carphone warehouses insurance and repair services like the plague.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
Purchased a Samsung galaxy core phone after 31 days camera developed a flash fault. After speaking with customer care on phone they suggested a replacement ecclesial rd sheffield refused replacement as fault could not be replicated in stores. Staff were rude and obstructive showed little interesting in my problem wouldn't even provide a replacement handset if phone was sent for repair. Atrocious staff attitudes. Never buying from them again.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
I was left waiting in store at Carphone Warehouse within Currys PC World High Street, Birmingham, B4 7TE because the store had a computer communication issue. All i was after was 3 usb charge and sync cables. I paid twice and the card machine printed a payment receipt but the store would not give me the cables because the card machine has not communicated the payment to their computer. an hour later i finally was given the product after the sales assistants did some back office system credit. No managers were around. I called the call center at the time and just got passed around and was not even able to make a complaint. I emailed Carphone warehouse, messaged on twitter and Facebook and so far noone has dealt with my complaint about how I was treated in store. I have written a letter of complaint and adding my experience to review forums to help other people steer clear.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
Their is not warranty in this company.I both 3 phones from them,one Samsung galaxy 3 neo,they refused to send for repair,they just re soft it and tell me that my phone is oky.This phone has been in 11 mounts,3 times to the warranty and is still with problems.The staff is very rude and they just ignore me.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
I went to Croydon (whitgift SC) and bought a phone from there! I went in, asked one of the guys over there for the phone, who then went to another person to ask him to serve me! After telling him again the phone details, he went and got the phone and gave it to a third person who came to me and didn't even know what he is doing! In front of me they were asking each other to serve me! I Was NOT happy with the Customer Services at All! As I normally visit Carphone warehouse! I went to 4 different stores yesterday! Just to find that none of them had it in stock but the customer services was more than excellent in all 4 Apart from this store where they had it in stock! The staff was arguing with each other and I was very disappointed! I asked the person who at the end served me, Why no-one was ready to serve! He had a go at me and yelled at me! Due to some reasons, I really needed a phone! But if it wasn't this important to have a phone, I was going to leave that shop right then and not buy from you store! This is the worst customer service I have faced! I have been to like 7 different stores of carphone warehouse in total, but this was ridiculous and outrageous! Someone needs to teach them how to serve and speak to a customer! Disgraceful! Never going there again! Even If I really have to will travel an extra mile to go place else then their!
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
I bought a Samsung Galaxy Core Prime on an ID contract. I was told that I could upgrade the tariff during the 2 year monthly contract if I required more minutes. This is not the case - ID do not do upgrades. You have to pay for additional minutes at a ridiculous rate. I've now been in 3 Different shops and 3 times the staff claimed they did not know that ID couldn't offer upgrades. I was told to take my phone in to cancel the contract. Unfortunately I bought my phone on a trip to Manchester and apparently only that store can cancel on the contract. Also they can't port a number from an ID sim to another ID sim! This is supposed to be a UK company with a central database but they act like a local store. The customer service is very poor - email after email from a different person each time with lots of apologies and no action. Please stay away and if you don't stay away from the ID network
Helpful Report
Posted 9 years ago
Carphone Warehouse is rated 1.6 based on 1,631 reviews