Trade-In Terms & Conditions.

These Terms & Conditions govern the Phones.co.uk trade-in service, operated by Sissco Ltd (Company Registration No:06636481). By submitting a trade-in order through our website, you agree to be bound by them.

1. Eligibility

• You must be the legal owner of the device.
• You must be a UK resident aged 18 or over.
• Devices must be genuine UK models.

2. How the Contract is Formed

• Your order constitutes an offer to sell your device to us. Our acceptance is conditional upon receipt, inspection, and confirmation of the agreed price or your acceptance of any revised offer. If a revised offer is declined, the original contract is void, and we will proceed with the return of your device as detailed in Section 9.
• Ownership of the device transfers to Phones.co.uk once we have received, tested, and confirmed payment.

3. Device Requirements

All devices must:

• Match the make, model, and condition declared in your order.
• Be free from any activation locks (e.g. iCloud, Google FRP) and passcodes/PINs.
• Not be reported lost, stolen, or blacklisted (we check all devices against UK theft databases). Devices found to be stolen or blocked will not be returned and will be reported to the authorities.
• Be free from unpaid network bills that could result in it being blocked.
• Have any SIM or memory cards removed (these will not be returned).
• Any accessories sent in error (SIMs, memory cards, cases) will not be returned unless agreed.

4. Condition Assessment

These grading criteria form part of our contract and are used to determine the final price. When selling your phone to Phones.co.uk, you must select one of the three grades below. We will check the device on arrival and confirm its grade. If the condition differs from your selection, we will re-grade it and send you a revised offer. You can then accept or have your device returned free of charge.

Excellent

Your device must meet all of the following:

Cosmetic:

• Up to 3 very light scratches on the screen.
• Up to 5 light scratches on the body or camera surrounds.
• No cracks, dents, chips, missing paint, pressure marks, screen burn, or dead pixels.

Functional:

• Fully working with no faults (buttons, Face ID/Touch ID, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cameras, speakers, microphones, and sensors).
• Battery health at least 80%.
• No liquid damage.

Other:

• UK model, not jailbroken or rooted.
• Original stylus (if applicable) included.

Good

Your device must meet all of the following:

Cosmetic:

• More than 3 very light scratches on the screen.
• More than 5 light scratches or scuffs on the body/camera surrounds.
• May have minor dents, scuffs, or small paint chips.
• Cracked or damaged camera lens is acceptable, provided it does not impair the camera's ability to take clear photos.

Functional:

• Fully working with no major faults.
• No screen burn or dead pixels.
• Battery health at least 80%.
• No liquid damage.

Other:

• UK model, not jailbroken or rooted.
• Original stylus (if applicable) included.

Faulty

Any device with one or more of the following issues:

Major Physical Damage

• Cracked or smashed screen (including hairline cracks affecting use).
• Severe dents, deep scratches, chips, or missing casing pieces.
• Bent/warped frame or damaged/missing buttons.

Functional or Performance Faults

• Does not power on or fails to boot.
• Battery health below 80% or drains unusually quickly.
• Faulty charging port, SIM tray, or headphone jack.
• Unresponsive touchscreen.
• Non-functional cameras, microphones, speakers, vibration, or sensors.
• Software or system faults affecting normal use.

Display Problems

• Screen burn, ghosting, dead pixels, dark spots, flickering, or lines.

Liquid or Moisture Damage

• Any signs of liquid ingress, corrosion, or triggered moisture indicators.

Non-Genuine or Unauthorised Repairs

• Non-genuine parts, tampering, or unapproved firmware.
• Jailbroken or rooted devices.

Locked or Blocked Devices

• Activation-locked (e.g. iCloud, Google FRP).
• Network-locked unless declared and accepted in the quote.
• Reported lost, stolen, or blacklisted.

Battery Replacement

If your battery is below 80% but your phone is otherwise in Good or Excellent condition we may offer you a price based on that condition less the cost of replacing the battery. This is likely to be around £30 but will be confirmed at the time depending on the model of the phone.

5. Pricing and Price Guarantee

• The price offered is based on the make, model, storage, and condition you select.
• Your quoted price is guaranteed for 7 calendar days from the date you place your order.
• If the condition of your device is the same as your declaration, we will automatically accept your device and process your payment at 100% of the quoted price.
• If your device arrives after the 7-day period, it will be revalued at the current market price on the day of testing. The current market price is determined by our live pricing tool on the day of inspection.
• If the condition differs from your declaration, we will send you a revised offer which you can accept or reject.
• All prices include VAT where applicable.

6. Postage

To ensure the safe and successful delivery of your device, it must be packaged in accordance with our Packaging Instructions. Please note that as you remain the legal owner of the device until it has been received and inspected by us, the risk of loss or damage during transit remains with you.

We offer four convenient postage options through Royal Mail. By selecting one of these options, you are responsible for ensuring the device is properly protected and compliant with Royal Mail’s guidelines.

Postage Options & Insurance Limits

Option	Service	Method	Insurance	Cost
Option 1	Royal Mail Tracked 24	Print Label	Insured up to £150	Free
Option 2	Royal Mail Tracked 24	Collection	Insured up to £150	Free
Option 3	Royal Mail Special Delivery	Print Label	Insured up to £750	£5.00
Option 4	Royal Mail Special Delivery	Collection	Insured up to £750	£5.00

Fee Deduction Policy

• Standard Service: Options 1 and 2 are provided free of charge.
• Premium Service: If you select Option 3 or Option 4, a postage fee of £5.00 will apply.
• Payment Method: You do not need to pay this fee upfront. By selecting a Special Delivery option, you authorise us to deduct the £5.00 fee from the final trade-in value of your device once it has been processed and inspected.
• Revised Quotes: If your device is inspected and the value is revised (e.g., due to damage), the £5.00 postage fee will still be deducted from the final revised payment. If you choose to have the device returned to you instead of accepting a revised offer, the £5.00 postage fee remains non-refundable as the service has already been utilised.

Which Postage Option Should I Choose?

To ensure your device is fully covered by Royal Mail insurance, please use the table below to match your trade-in value with the correct service.

If your phone is worth...	Recommended Service	Insurance Cover	Cost
Up to £150	Option 1 or 2: Royal Mail Tracked 24	Up to £150	Free
£151 to £750	Option 3 or 4: Special Delivery	Up to £750	£5.00

Important Insurance Warning

Royal Mail may reject compensation claims if a high-value item is sent using a lower-tier service.

• If your phone is worth more than £150: You must select Option 3 or 4 (Special Delivery).
• If you choose a free option for a device worth more than £150, you do so at your own risk. In the event of loss or damage, you will only be able to claim a maximum of £150 from Royal Mail.

Terms of Transit

• Liability: We do not accept responsibility for any items lost, stolen, or damaged in transit. When you send a device to us, you are entering into a contract with the third-party carrier (Royal Mail). We are not a party to that contract and hold no liability under its terms.
• Insurance: It is your responsibility to select a postage option that provides adequate insurance coverage for the value of your device. If your device is valued over £150, we strongly recommend choosing Option 3 or 4.
• Claims Support: Should your device go missing or arrive damaged, we will—where possible—provide reasonable assistance to help you claim compensation from the carrier. However, this assistance is not a guarantee of a successful claim. If the carrier refuses a claim or pays out less than the device's trade-in value, we are not liable for the difference.
• Proof of Postage: You must obtain and retain a valid proof of postage receipt. Without this, you may be unable to make a claim with the carrier should an issue arise.

Shipping Address:

• Phones.co.uk C/O BlankIT Ltd
• Unit 43 Parkhall Business Village
• Parkhall Road
• Stoke-on-Trent
• ST3 5XA

Packaging Instructions

Properly packaging your device is the best way to ensure it reaches us safely and that you receive your full trade-in value. Failure to follow these instructions may result in your postal insurance being voided by the carrier.

1. Protect the Screen and Body

• Wrap it up: Wrap your device individually in several layers of bubble wrap or thick foam padding.
• No Loose Items: Do not send accessories (cases, chargers, or SIM cards) unless specifically requested, as these can scratch the screen during transit.

2. Choose the Right Box

• Rigid Container: Use a dedicated cardboard box. Do not use a standard paper envelope or a thin padded "jiffy" bag, as these do not provide enough crush protection for smartphones.
• Fit to Size: Use a box that is appropriately sized for the device. If there is extra space, fill it with packing peanuts, crumpled newspaper, or extra bubble wrap to prevent the phone from shifting during transit.

3. Seal it Securely

• Tape it up: Use strong packing tape to seal all openings of the box (the "H-tape" method—sealing the center seam and both edge seams).
• Label clearly: Ensure your printed Royal Mail label is fixed securely to the flat side of the box. Ensure the barcode is clear and not covered by any reflective tape.

4. Final Security Checklist

Before sealing your package, please ensure:

• Find My iPhone / Google Lock: You have deactivated all activation locks and wiped your personal data.
• Power Off: The device is completely powered down to prevent it from overheating or activating during transit.
• Battery Safety: If the battery is damaged, leaking, or swollen, do not post the device. Contact us immediately for further guidance.

Important Note: A device is only considered "adequately protected" if it cannot move inside the box and can withstand a short drop. If a device arrives smashed due to poor packaging, we will be unable to honor the original quote and your carrier claim may be rejected.

7. Data Protection and Data Deletion

• It is your sole responsibility to back up and wipe all personal data from the Device before sending it to us. We cannot accept any liability for any data loss, and we will perform a factory reset upon receipt of the Device, which will permanently erase all data.
• We collect and process personal information, such as your name, address, and bank details, solely for the purpose of processing your trade-in order and payment. This data is handled in accordance with GDPR and all other relevant UK data protection laws. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.

8. Payment

• Payment is made by bank transfer to the account you provide. We reserve the right to delay payment where there is suspicion of fraud or ownership issues.
• Please ensure your bank details are correct at the time of placing your order, as they cannot be changed afterwards.
• We aim to process payment within 1 working day of testing.
• If your device is blacklisted after payment, you must refund us the full amount within 3 working days.

9. Right to Cancel

• You can cancel your order at any time before posting your device.
• If we have received your device, cancellation is only possible if you reject a revised offer.

10. Returns & Rejected Offers

If we test your device and find it does not match the condition you selected, we will send you a revised offer. You can then:

• Accept the revised offer — we will process payment at the amended price.
• Reject the revised offer — we will return your device.

Return Attempts

• If you reject the revised offer, we will make two return attempts free of charge to the address provided.
• If both free return attempts fail (e.g. the parcel is undeliverable or not collected), any third return attempt will only be made once you have paid the applicable return postage fee. If the device is returned to us after failed delivery attempts and no subsequent return is arranged within 7 days, we will assume you have accepted the revised offer and will process payment at the amended price.
• If you do not respond to a revised offer within 7 calendar days of us sending it, we will treat it as accepted and process payment at the amended price.

11. Fraud & Theft Prevention

• We check all devices against national databases.
• If a device is reported lost, stolen, or blacklisted, we may withhold payment and notify the authorities. In the event of a block or loss report after payment, we will seek full repayment and may take legal action.