Phones 4u won't refund iPhone 6 pre-orders

Phones 4u will not be refunding customers who pre-ordered the iPhone 6, nor will the firm be giving the devices to those who bought one ahead of its release date.

The company's administrator, PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC), said Phones 4u does not have any iPhones 6s so will not be able to distribute them as planned, nor will the company be allowing anyone to cancel orders, despite previously saying they could.

Although it's bad news for those who paid for the device on a debit card, customers who pre-paid for devices on a credit card may be able to get a refund from their credit company and are being urged to contact their provider.

If you pre-ordered your iPhone 6 on a debit card, you can register as an 'unsecured creditor' on Phones 4u's website, meaning you may or may not ever see that money again

The decision will leave possibly thousands of people at least 520 out of pocket. Those who bought devices through Phones 4u and are awaiting cash back deals will also need to join the queue of those waiting for money from the company.

Last week, Phones 4u announced 362 stores would close permanently with the loss of 1,697 staff, although EE has agreed to buy 58 of the retailer's stores saving 359 jobs and Vodafone has bought 140 stores that employed 900 staff. 

Phones 4u went into administration two weeks ago after it was announced both EE and Vodafone would not be renewing their contracts to distribute phones contracts through the high street retailer.

The news came as a blow to the company after Carphone Warehouse merged with Dixons Retail, meaning all Phones 4u concession stores in PC World would become Carphone Warehouse stores.

Vodafone and EE were the last two remaining phone networks to sell their devices through Phones 4u, after Three and O2 withdrew earlier in the year.