Money for old mobiles - FAQs
Here's a selection of the questions we are most frequently asked:
How does the tool work?
It repeatedly builds a database of prices by scanning the various mobile recycling companies. This is then searched as you select the handset model to give a comprehensive check. There can be small pricing errors in between scan times - and occasionally the same phone may be listed twice due to tracking. But generally we expect it to be more than 99% correct and up to date.
How do I send my phone?
Simple. Having made your choice from our selector just log onto their websites. If you
are happy with the price, accept their offer and they will send you a jiffy bag to
post it in. Since they don't accept responsibility for non-delivery,
it'll be worth sending it - depending on the phone's value - by
'Recorded Signed-For' delivery which insures it for up to £36 and costs
75p on top of usual postage. Wipe off any private data and send your
handset fully charged, switched off, without its Sim or memory card and
remove any security or pin codes that could hamper testing.
If your mobile doesn't meet the required standard ( about 1 in 5 are rejected) you'll
normally be contacted and offered a reduced price, which you can either
accept or decline and have the phone returned free of charge.
What condition should it be in?
Your phone needs to be in reasonable working order, have no more than
mild cosmetic damage, its original battery and be able to be switched
on.
As a rule, you don't usually need to provide the charger but most will
recycle it properly for you (though you could keep it as a spare or sell
it on eBay).
If the phone is damaged or broken then most sites will still make you an
offer. Generally expect to get around 10-50% less or at the
very least they will re-cycle them for you.
Typical damage which might means reduced offers include badly damaged
casing, a locked pin or failure to power up. Water damaged and broken
phones with unresponsive or cracked screens will probably get zero cash.
What happens to the Mobile phones and Handsets?
Once tested and if in good shape, they're shipped abroad and sold
typically to the Middle and Far East, Africa and South America.
If you've a particularly high value phone (eg iPhone or the newer
smartphones), often the companies will sell them on eBay as this will
make them more money. In which case, cut out the middle man and consider
doing it yourself.
If your phone is rather less classy, it'll be broken down and sold as
component parts. And if it's totally worthless, it'll be disposed of in
an environmentally friendly way.
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