There is an increasing amount of bad publicity aimed at the new mobile phone recycling companies over the last month or so. Many clients have attempted to exchange their phones for cash, however, as the cash landed in their bank account or the cheque arrived people noticed they have been paid the non-working rate rather than the premium working rate. This is something that you need to avoid if you want to make the most of the cash in value of your mobile phone the following few paragraphs should help you in doing this:

Never attempt to pass off your broken mobile as working

Recycling companies that you sell your old mobiles to will test your mobile phone handset, a broken screen or a phone that wont turn on is easy to spot and only takes a few seconds, however, some underlying issues can be less obvious. There are heard stories where people get paid at the premium working rate when sending in a handset that has a damaged mic or speaker, however, stories such as this are likely to be the exception rather than the ruleand the testing of these faculties is becoming more and more efficient, quick and automated. Even if your mobile handset has a less than obvious fault then it will most likely be picked up on. If your handset is not working you are better off letting the recycling company buying it know in advance to ensure the transaction is processed quickly and effectively. Minor software/hardware faults can slip through the net but if you choose to go down this road then you must be ready for the repercussions and you could well find yourself having to shell out to have the handset returned to you if you are unable to come to some agreement over the fault when it is discovered.

Wear and tear from use is expected

When you are offered a price it has wear and tear factored in, handsets are expected to have been put to significant use. Some people keep their handset for 5-6 years, some people are heavy users whereas others only have their phones for use in emergencies. Worn down keys, chips, scratches and small dents are all acceptable. The best way to decide if a phone is subject to wear and tear or actually classed as damaged is to ask yourself if the handset is mealy damaged cosmetically or if there is any actual damage.

The charger

Lots of companies ask that you return your charger with the handset, even if this too is broken. You'll have to check with the company you go with.