NP Rank:
Trading Your Old Phone for Cash
Apparently lots of people get new mobiles for Christmas, though I've never been one of them. Anyway, it turns out that most of them stick the old cell phone in a drawer or just throw it away.
If you live in the UK, then stop! That old phone could be worth a few quid to groups such as Fonebank, which buys old handsets and ships them off to developing nations. Also, groups such as the Red Cross are always looking for your unwanted phone.
During November Fonebank sent out £200,000 worth of cheques, with an average per person of £50, although an iPhone can raise much more.
"One of the most popular ones traded in during October was Nokia's N95 which can raise £102 for the owner," said Mr Tagg.
"People recycling their phones make a bit of money and feel they are doing the right thing. The whole process takes three minutes online and then they just have to stick their phone in a jiffy bag," he added.
Crowd Power
-
roland
Vancouver (South Grandview- Woodlands / NE Kensington), British Columbia, Canada -
Dred242
San Jose, California, United States -
viss
United States -
James Chutter
Vancouver (NE Downtown / Harbour Centre / Gastown / Yaletown), British Columbia, Canada -
tyfn
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada -
pyxopotamus
Austin, Texas, United States -
shilgert
O Fallon, Missouri, United States -
Jerrica Joy
Canada -
Mateusz K.
Poland -
xexi
Spain -
subaudible
Singapore -
frerieke
South Africa -
Valentin.Ottone
France -
hello kyomi
United Kingdom -
brownrecluse0134
Coal Township, Pennsylvania, United States -
alvarado523
United States -
dustinj
United States -
ardvark
United States -
tiny owl
United States -
sajgill22
United States -
heather jerdee
Rochester, Minnesota, United States -
chocolatemoney9
United States -
SamPac
United States -
obkimmer
United States
Recommendations (8)
-
harringtola
Town-send, Massachusetts, United States -
Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan 
Anonymous user














Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (7)
at 08:53 on December 26th, 2008
Good tip! I know in the States a lot of women's shelters collect old cell phones to donate to domestic abuse victims. One person's trash is another's treasure, as they say.
http://www.shelteralliance.net/cell-phone-donations/index.cfm
at 09:26 on December 26th, 2008
Nice catch! I'll add that to the body of the story.
at 12:37 on December 26th, 2008
If you all check on Verizon Wireless.com they also opened up a program where they will pay for shipping and mail you an envelope to send in your old phone for victims of abuse as well. Just wanted to tell you all that, I got an email yesterday about this from VZW.
at 09:32 on December 26th, 2008
I would not mind a new mobile phone for the holidays either. Or a least get my sin card working as supposed.
Maybe I should collect of phones for cash and then buy a new one my self.
at 09:46 on December 26th, 2008
This phone was donated by a bunch of Americans to Lukhona, living in a Township in South Africa. The phone will enable Lukho to be a mobile reporter for http://www.afrigadget.com
frerieke has contributed a photo to this story.
at 12:36 on December 26th, 2008
I purchased this beast of a cell phone a month ago and it works fantastic since the firmware update. It comes with 2 batteries and when you have a Premium plan, you can download everything!!! MVP, Nav, Email Sync, Backup Assist, Fieldforce Manager, plus Music Player, Camera, Video, Flash, So, Much, More.
brownrecluse0134 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 13:14 on December 26th, 2008
I was looking for something like this. I knew it existed but had lost my link. thanks for getting it out there.