Local phone retailer goes bust, Phones4U enters administration Options

[gel]

Sad for the local /all employees

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbys...to-hang-up.html

UPDATE:

From what Vodafone reveal they were highly leveraged by their Equity Coy owners;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbys...s-collapse.html

Seems taxpayer will miss out on VAT handed over by customers, and with echoes of Comet debacle,
taxpayer will end up picking up redundancy & pension liabilities
while owners pocket a tidy profit on their investment.

The Government were supposed to be looking into the Comet situation so it wasn't repeated; ha ha.

[motormad]

Sad for the local /all employees


Seems taxpayer will miss out on VAT handed over by customers, and with echoes of Comet debacle,
taxpayer will end up picking up redundancy & pension liabilities
while owners pocket a tidy profit on their investment.

Oh you never hear of the public bailing out corps do you!!

[GMR]

It isn’t really surprising. It was obvious that at some point EE and Vodafone would cut out the middlemen. I presume that John Caudwell and his brother sold the company, for £1.47 billion, as he knew the eventuality of the company he created. They were nothing without the top phone companies selling through them, which put them on shaky ground from the beginning.

[On the edge]

It isn’t really surprising. It was obvious that at some point EE and Vodafone would cut out the middlemen. I presume that John Caudwell and his brother sold the company, for £1.47 billion, as he knew the eventuality of the company he created. They were nothing without the top phone companies selling through them, which put them on shaky ground from the beginning.

You are quite right, it's basic economics. For all their bluster about 'creating a market driven' economy our clever politicians don't seem capable of spotting monopolies. The old state energy utility firms had to separate their networks from their customer trading side, as did the railways. What's so special about telecoms?

[motormad]

To be fair though, I am on my second contact renewed through Phones4U.
They beat even the online deals both times and were always very helpful.
A friend of mine work(ed) at the one in Newbury and he seemed to enjoy it as well.

[Andy Capp]

When comparing packages, I'm surprised anyone would want to go with the 'red giant'.

[GMR]

When comparing packages, I'm surprised anyone would want to go with the 'red giant'.

Maybe because they are a "red giant" that they go with them. They say safety and security in size. Just look at Phones 4U; people went for cheapness and a better deal, now they have no deals.

[Andy Capp]

Maybe because they are a "red giant" that they go with them. They say safety and security in size. Just look at Phones 4U; people went for cheapness and a better deal, now they have no deals.

I'm not sure that example is relevant; Phones 4U are are or were like a broker, not a network provider. The big red one is just about the most expensive, yet appear not offer anything better that I have seen. There used to be a feeling they had better network reach, but I'm not sure that is true now.

[GMR]

I'm not sure that example is relevant; Phones 4U are are or were like a broker, not a network provider. The big red one is just about the most expensive, yet appear not offer anything better that I have seen. There used to be a feeling they had better network reach, but I'm not sure that is true now.

When I first got a mobile phone I joined Vodafone, thinking they are the best. I am now with EE and happy with them. I also don't believe they do anything for us (Newbury).

[Andy Capp]

I'm with Tesco now. The big selling point being configurable capped usage, so no scary bills.

[Exhausted]

I'm with Tesco now. The big selling point being configurable capped usage, so no scary bills.

So, a capped capp. Is that a first.

[Andy Capp]

So, a capped capp. Is that a first.

[r.bartlett]

I am with EE after many years with Voda. A good friend who is quite senior suggests Voda worldwide know full well Voda UK is their worst network in the world but are helpless to do anything about it wholesale because of the old established network infrastructure so have to improve incrementally.

That said EE in all honesty are no better despite all the recent best network awards. left and right on the M4 is very patchy as is the up and down the A34. Dead handy living in Newbury!

Travelling back today from Lowestoft and the reception was poor even on the M25.One call took 6 attempts to complete a conversation.

Where has the progress actually been since the Racal days?

[Andy Capp]

Where has the progress actually been since the Racal days?

Shareholder divies I expect.

[MontyPython]

That said EE in all honesty are no better despite all the recent best network awards. left and right on the M4 is very patchy as is the up and down the A34. Dead handy living in Newbury!

I agree I'm on EE and very poor reception in Newbury - looking to move networks shortly

[motormad]

Better than being with O2.... I get no 3g signal at all between Tesco and Winchester. Which is handy, since that's where my Girlfriend lives.
I don't get 3g (or 4g) in Thatcham Broadway - again, hardly a small area.

I wouldn't mind except every single time I'm on a phone call my phone will drop the call as I roam between what I would imagine are cell areas, I constantly get signal drop outs.
I had to call back 8 times between London Paddington and Thatcham train station....8 drops offs - A guy at the other end of the carriage didn't have to re-dial once!!!!

[gel]

I agree I'm on EE and very poor reception in Newbury - looking to move networks shortly

I'm North of Chieveley and 02 hopeless, but I find "3" very good.

When I was on T Mobile, (now EE) would often lose reception on M4 between Heathrow + Reading-hopeless.

I had hoped when EE was formed, on back of T Mobile & Orange network infrastructure, that there'd be more/better coverage, but EE Finance Dept demanded transmitter £thinning£ out, so no improvement

[On the edge]

Quite so! That amply demonstrates the failure of badly managed 'free market' forces. There was never any reason why providers should not have been made share networks...they are licensed after all. Why are we paying big money for OFCOM?

[Biker1]

I'm North of Chieveley and 02 hopeless, but I find "3" very good.

When I was on T Mobile, (now EE) would often lose reception on M4 between Heathrow + Reading-hopeless.

I had hoped when EE was formed, on back of T Mobile & Orange network infrastructure, that there'd be more/better coverage, but EE Finance Dept demanded transmitter £thinning£ out, so no improvement

Mrs. Biker was with 3 and coverage was crap.
Now with Tesco (who I believe use the O2 network) and vastly better.
Funny how different people have different experiences with different networks.
Perhaps it's the phones?
I know it's important to have software and phone settings correct for best performance.

[On the edge]

Mrs. Biker was with 3 and coverage was crap.
Now with Tesco (who I believe use the O2 network) and vastly better.
Funny how different people have different experiences with different networks.
Perhaps it's the phones?
I know it's important to have software and phone settings correct for best performance.

Umm. That's the British answer to bad service and under investment - blame the customer! Just the old BMC tactic with their cars in a new guise.