Carphone Warehouse launches handset auction site

Second-hand mobiles sold legitimately

Wondering what to do with your old mobile? Carphone Warehouse has set up an auction site for unwanted phones.

The website - www.mymobileauction.com - offers second-hand handsets for sale to the highest bidder.

According to Carphone Warehouse, this kind of approach has a major advantage over other auction sites as users are asked to provide their phone's unique IMEI number. This is then checked against the CheckMEND stolen property database. Stolen phones will be rejected, stopping thieves abusing the site.

Carphone Warehouse marketing director Tristia Clarke said that with customers changing their phones so often the new site "offers the perfect opportunity to sell on old handsets".

It is currently free to place phones on the site but customers will be charged £1.25 per handset from 17 November.