Handtec Avis 

Knocked me down massively on the price when they received the iPhone.. claiming damage was there when it wasn't. Scammers.

Same problem as everyone else, high initial price offered but then lowered significantly because they said they had found a scratch on the screen, not there when I dispatched it.

This review relates specifically to Handtec's phone recycling/trade-in service, not to buying refurbished phones from Handtec. This is worth highlighting because most reviews I initially found for Handtec appear to concern phone purchases rather than recycling.

I found Handtec through Compare and Recycle. Their £135 valuation for my phone in excellent condition was competitive and was the reason I chose them.

The phone had been extremely well looked after, with protection fitted from new.

After receiving the phone, Handtec claimed there were scratches on the screen, chip marks on the frame and marks on the rear . On this basis they reduced the £135 quote to £68 – almost a 50% reduction.

I strongly disputed this. I reviewed my photographs , including close-ups taken from considerably less than 12 inches, and still cannot identify anything I would consider a significant defect or anything genuinely requiring repair.

I therefore rejected £68 and requested the phone back.

I was then told a second engineer had reviewed it and the offer increased to £85.

I rejected that and again requested its return.

Handtec then said they had spoken to a manager to establish the "absolute maximum" they could offer. The valuation increased again to £95.

So the sequence was:

£135 quoted → £68 → £85 → £95

Nothing about the phone changed during this process.

Handtec continued to refer to replacement parts/repairs supposedly required because of its condition. I found this difficult to reconcile with the progressively increasing offers. If particular defects genuinely require specific replacement parts and repair costs, why does rejecting the offer increase the value of exactly the same phone from £68 to £85 and then £95?

I eventually offered to accept £125, £10 below the original quote, purely to conclude matters. They declined and I requested the phone back.

To be completely fair, the return was handled properly. The phone arrived back without issue and in exactly the condition in which I supplied it. I have no criticism of Handtec regarding the actual return.

My complaint is with the recycling valuation process.

Had Handtec originally quoted £68, £85 or £95, I would not have sent them the phone. At those prices, a private sale would have been sufficiently more attractive to justify the extra effort and costs. I selected Handtec precisely because its £135 headline valuation was competitive.

Having subsequently found the separate Trustpilot reviews specifically for Handtec's recycling operation, I have also seen other customers describing substantial reductions from initial valuations followed by increased offers after rejection. I wish I had found those reviews beforehand.

I cannot comment on Handtec as a phone retailer. My experience relates solely to selling/recycling a phone through them.

My advice is to photograph your device extremely thoroughly immediately before sending it and not make your decision solely on the headline valuation.

The safe return of my phone is appreciated, but the valuation process wasted considerable time and left me with little confidence in the recycling service.

Sent in a Samsung Galaxy Flip 6 (£250) and accidentally chose Flip 7 (£350) on the website. No issue, was awaiting a revalued offer. Instead I received 2 pictures that look like they were taken on a early 2000's Nokia. One claiming case damage, the other a bleed on the screen. As with all the other reviews, these defects were not easily visible in the pictures or present when I sent the device in their packaging. I paid for special delivery so am left either getting my device returned or making the Post Office foot the bill for a damage claim. Absolute scam of a company, avoid at all costs

Sent my phone to Handtec, who then made a lowball offer £40 below their original estimate. I told them to send the phone back. They then upped the offer by £10. I declined again under they upped their offer by another £10. Total scam and waste of time. If they do not send my phone back in the next two days, I'll be reporting them to Trading Standards and Action Fraud.

Online the offer stated phone value of £150. When they received the phone they offered £78 saying that the screen was scratched and heavy battery usage - the phone was 10 months old. I refused the offer and they then came back with £95 (refused) and finally £105 which I also refused and asked them to return the phone. When I received the phone I did notice some very light scratches not visible when just looking at the screen but noticed under a bright light. I checked the phone and the battery was 100% with 160 ish charges. Total scam, avoid at all costs

Informed me £380 for me to send me phone away. Then said £105, £125, £150 then £165. AI this site and reviews and it will confirm its tactics.

STAY AWAY FROM THIS SITE.

Total SCAM. offer of £160 for Samsung flip which was only £30 below market value but when they received the phone they said the screen was damaged and only offered £40. Screen was not damaged at all so I asked for them to return the phone. After chasing them numerous times they then instructed me to get a Royal mail tracked postage label at my post and send it to them. This is not stated anywhere in their selling FAQ or process guide. Cost me £12 but I've learnt my lesson. They obviously rely on people being desperate or not being able to spend hours to get your phone back.

AVOID AVOID AVOID
So this is an update on my original review, almost a week later they still tried to buy my phone for a 3rd revised price, this time they were only £35 off the original quote, but i said my phone does everything they asked it does yet they tried to get it for nothing, there thieves, rather than pay up what they offer they hold your phone and keep chipping away at you to try and make you give in, i bet it works most the time, now were at the stage they said they will return my phone, now just need to check when it arrives that its mine, AVOID AVOID AVOID, Darren henry

Absolute scammers and if this review stops one more person being ripped off by them I will be very happy.

I sent my pretty much pristine iPhone 12 Pro Max (kept in a case from new) to them after being offered £246 via MoneySupermarket and they came back with an 'engineers' report claiming it had 'unremovable' marks to front and rear and sides (there were NO marks) promptly offering me £100 and the email then goes on to say that if you do not make contact within 14 days 'they take this as your acceptance that they can recycle your phone!!!

As this is an ongoing situation I will update with a resolution once that is achieved but PLEASE think twice before sending your tech goods to these people whom unlike other company's 'GUARANTEE' your price - well you can see how well that works...

They have currently stole my phone in plain sight,

iPhone 17 pro max cosmic orange
Sent in was valued at £791
Sent premium next day delivery for full conver off my device, knowing how these crooks work all different ways.
My device was re valuded at £200 my heart sunk. Am not desperate as I just got a new iPhone 17 pro max blue in place of the orange, so was only getting back some of what was paid. As I bought my phone in full,
After proving the device was paid and verification completed they decided to offer £200, i politely declined and asked for my device back immediately. Same delivery method used to secure and protect my iPhone.
As I was not accepting £200 after paying £1200, Harry emailed me back saying I have sent this out for delivery for next day delivery I was happy enough just to get my device back,
Actually pleased he sent me my device back no issues.
WAS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE,
( I know how these crooks work )
So I received my parcel instantly started recording the full video opening unboxing, my personal details the company whom had sent the parcel etc,
What happened next you could not make up,
Absolutely disgusting behaviour absolutely rotten. They had sent me a cheap nasty iPhone SE, Yes iPhone SE, Wow this was all captured on camera the so real moment.opening a cheap nasty phone other than my bright orange iPhone. Yes, i immediately went to chat
And scarlet liar lair lair, clearly hasn’t come across many people like me before, this ain’t my first rodeo with such lying company’s,
Anyways she immediately told me I declined there offer and was sent my device back.
Pure adamant. That was the end off the matter,
There and then clean cut, She cheekily didn’t expect me to keep full tracking history. Communication and video evidence of sending the device. But what come next she didn’t expect she said have you got video proof off unboxing and receiving the parcel?
I mean who actually videos themselfs receiving parcels and opening them? Infront of a lens!!!
WHOOOPS!! I do. Guilty
To many rouge legal crimes in this industry that am far to well aware off.
This was a new one for me,am always switched on, so anyways I told scarlet liar liar yes I do actually indeed have this proof 😂 sent it in
HARRY called, I recorded the call
He literally lied after lie after lie. That he didn’t think I was clicking to each time,won’t bore you to much about the ins and outs. But he openly admitted it was his fault he was the one whom made the error blah blah.
His excuse he had to parcels in his hands?
And put the wrong labels on the wrong parcels,
Sending one each way. To wrong customers 😂lies lies lies. So I’m to wait on this device coming back. To be returned to me. Delay tactics, that’s all these people are full of,
So am currently waiting my device back in my hands or full payment of £791,
And it’s not about the money,
It’s the principle I can comfortably afford a few iPhones 17 pro max’s if I wish.
And a court case against Handtec which may actually be the route I go down.
Absolutely disgraceful and secondly this is seen as a complete attempt at theft of reset.
Handling of stolen goods
My goods are stolen,by handtec
Untill full payment has been received of £791
Of the device returned to its rightful owner

Please guys just video yourselfs with parcels you deem expensive or just feel the need
Youl thank me later

Wish I had read the reviews before choosing to use this company. I sent in an iPhone 13 which had a slightly scratched screen, but otherwise in good condition. When the phone was received and inspected by their "engineers" I was told that the phone was faulty due to a smashed screen and chipping in the frame which was completely false. They then offered me less than half of what I was originally offered. I declined the offer and asked them to send the phone back to which they continued to offer slightly more money but still way below what I could have sold it for elsewhere.

Only saving grace is that it states in their terms and conditions that they will send the phone back free of charge if you do not wish to go ahead following the reviewed offer which I took up. I take comfort in knowing this will have cost them money as this company is clearly a bit of a cowboy outfit!

Please do not use this service to sell your device.
I was quoted a price and sent the handset. My phone has ALWAYS been protected with a high quality screen protector, I videoed my phone before sending and it's clear the screen was scratch free. Literally no marks. 1 dent on the outer part which I agreed. Anyway, there were back and forth with ridiculous offers and in the end I asked for my phone to be returned. The phone is back and the screen is badly damaged. Scuffed and scratched. I'm now not in the position to sell using another service it's that bad! I've emailed asking them what they done to the screen and they're ignoring me. SCAMMERS!

I recived a quote for £310 to buy my used phone, was sent before Christmas, had not heard any thing till I started chaseing order. Apprantly the box arrived empty no phone inside, starts sounding susptious.

They said they claim on Royal Mail for the lost stolen item and that I would only recive half the value of the quote.

They supplied the return label they should allow compenstaion for the full amount. I will never buy or sell with them again . Sounds like a scam

I cant tell you enough to not sell to this company, they will try and rob you blind. I had an iphone 12 to sell, still good condition which was quoted £125 so i sent it off, got an email of a revaluation of £26!!!!!! They go into excessive detail highly dramatising the quality of the phone (it is an iphone 12 of course there are going to be very very minor wear and tear minimal scratches in certain lights if you look close enough) i obviously rejected the offer and said to send my phone back which they ignored and said a 2nd engineer has looked at it and is willing to offer £35… still not good enough again i replied to send the phone back which they then said they have spoken to management and offer £40, this went on for several emails back and fourth with them adding on fivers until we reached £63 (clearly a system they do to try give out the least money as possible) when eventually they listened to my no and sent the phone back, i have now sold it in its condition for £92. Literally the worst company ever.

I bought a Samsung Galaxy S23 that was as advertised, having bought one from another seller that was misadvertised.
I have no qualms at all with Handtec, pleasure dealing with them

The sales of recycled technology by the firm called Handtec has a 4.7 Trustpilot rating at the time of posting this review which is what a consumer relies on. If you go onto the site to sell your technology item to them then it redirects you to a different site called sell.handec.co.uk and that’s what I want to warn people about.

I had an iPhone 12 which was in excellent condition and easily fell into their description of good. It had no screen damage and just a slight scratch near the on/off button but this couldn’t be seen from 12 inches away which is what their requirement was. They quoted £142. I sent it off in good faith, based on their 4.7 star rating and they confirmed receipt. The next response was an email saying it had multiple scratches on the casing and deep scratches in the screen! They offered me £86! Then followed multiple emails back and forth with me requesting my phone back as the report was a blatant lie! They increased their offer to £92 then £110, I said no. They had the nerve to put in one of the emails offering £110 that I should accept it so that it would save them the cost of returning the phone! I had a report from a different recycle firm saying the phone had ‘light cosmetic wear and tear damage to the casing’ which doesn’t compare to deep scratches to the screen and multiple scratches to casing! I have found other reports on different forums saying the same as me. With those they asked for their items back and they receive them back with severe damage caused by sell.handtec as the person didn’t sell their item to them at half the quote price! Luckily my item came back undamaged as I’d told them about the previous report that I have as evidence.

As you can see Handtec rely on their selling side of their company for their excellent reviews luring people into selling their items to them. Luckily I wasn’t desperate for the money and could afford to have the item back to explore other options. There must be other people that aren’t in that situation and need the money desperately and accept their reduced, fraudulent report offer. Also, luckily, my item came back undamaged.

The company address gives a PO Box number in Peterborough. I’ve reported them to trading standards. Customers need a more instant verification of the company, not the 4.7 review attached to Handtec, but the one star review sell.handtec.co.uk deserves. They are a rip off, resorting to blatant lies to scam customers out of money and should be recognised as such.