11 comments

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  Timbo

  11 months ago

  Oddly I had the reverse problem.
  
  I waited five minutes in the queue, the person in front wanted a Vodafone contract for her son. CPW don't do Voda so she left with the promise of the same deal on Orange. Good sales move.
  
  The very nice sales manager (CPW Hertford - giver her a bonus) filled out all the credit reference details on screen (CPW version of course). I had brought along passport and two utility bills which were waved aside as all I needed was my credit card. Great, apart from I can never ever remember the number. Half an hour later and back with the code I waited expectantly for the £1 fee to go through. Declined. Ahh. Try again. Declined. Watch screen. PIN OK. Declined. Drat. Then CPW credit check said OK.
  
  How does that work? My address is OK, but my credit card company declines the transaction (though I have credit left)?
  
  Whole process took 10 minutes + half hour messing around in the car.
  
  No matter. Looking forward to a bit of iPhone 3G magic.
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• 

  Colin_M

  11 months ago

  Why am I suddenly thinking of "Computer says noooo..." woman from Little Britain?
  
  That's the "service" industry of modern GB for you. Absolutely bloody hopeless. The second anything happens that varies one micron from their procedure book, they're utterly lost. That's the real benefit of doing all your shopping online: Better prices? Nice. More choice? Gotcha. Delivered to my door? Love it. NOT having to deal with people one rung up from burger flipping at Maccy D's? The angels are singing in heaven...
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• 

  Vlad

  11 months ago

  Don't worry, it's not only GB. Every time I walk in a real-world store I am reminded why I shoudn't have bothered. Same procedural BS, plus asking anything is pointelss, since in most cases I end up explaining to the sales chap what he's selling.
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• 

  MartinSFP

  11 months ago

  That's exactly what happened to me! One trip to the Apple Store and a 40minute wait later and I'm typing this on my new White 16 gigger. CPW have upset a lot of people with their ridiculous security system.
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• 

  Mike42

  11 months ago

  What's the latency like for the SMSTN page? Is viewing / commenting a realistic proposition?
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• 

  MartinSFP

  11 months ago

  SMSTN is formatted really well for iPhone. Disqus works just as well as it does on the desktop. I'm impressed!
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• 

  nacht

  11 months ago

  i have to say, Dan - that story made me feel marginally better :)
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  Simon

  11 months ago

  I had the same problem multiple times both on the website earlier in the week. Then failing to get one in store because of staff incompetence and system meltdown, I phoned up the call centre. The bank said the charges went through, but CPW's system said no. The guy on the phone said it may be something to with my postcode being blocked, not the card. I'm an existing CPW customer as well, they provide my service on o2. So if I'm a security risk, why are they still taking my money for that? CPW have been the worst of the three companies throughout all of this, but they've been under the radar as everyone has a go at o2.
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• 

  meraj

  11 months ago

  So in the end who's fault is it? CPW or your bank?
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• 

  DanLane

  11 months ago

  Well, in part two (now posted on this site) I manage to buy a phone from Apple. O2 did the same chip and pin security check which went through first time without any fuss... it must therefore have been CPW's fault!
  
  The O2 customer forums have lots of people complaining about similar issues with the chip and pin security check via carphone warehouse.
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• 

  Anthony Citrano

  11 months ago

  I've been through variations of this merchant <-> clearing <-> bank stupidity more times than I care to count. Everyone blaming everyone else, etc. etc. These $1 / £1 charges are especially problematic. Worse is when they put a security hold on your card and don't bother to let you know. Had that happen to me last week.
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