Apple have been good to friends of mine with phones bought via network shops. Well worth asking if you have an Apple Store nearby.

Inside or outside of warranty?

Outside - one was 2 weeks out, the other was 2 months. The first got an exchange'd device for free (4s) and the other had to buy a replacement, but at a basic price and got a 1 year warranty on the replacement I believe (5s). I wasn't there for that one.

2 weeks is within discretion, at 2 months they would always be charged for out of warranty exchange (which would have been free if they had bought direct). Warranty and OOW replacements only get 90 days warranty though, not a further 12 months.

A manufacturers warranty does not effect your statutory rights. If you have a phone that is still under a two year contract that you have not damaged then the retailer MUST repair it or offer a replacement. Yes the onus is on the buyer but if you turn up with your still shiny unmarked phone after 18 months it is pretty indicative that you have looked after it well. And if the retailer sold you a contract for two years then it is reasonable to expect the phone to last that long.

As I said in an earlier post it is how you approach it. I have successfully got refunds and repairs one for all kinds of items in and out of warranty (and most of them things that I knacked myself and didn't deserve any kind of help with at all but I am a very convincing liar when I want to be. I once microwaved a phone to hide the fact it was running a custom rom). And if you don't get a result at the first shop there are loads of others to try.

Yes this is key, the retailer (usually network store, or Carphone Warehouse) has sold a device and service contract at the same time - so its safe to assume the device will last that long. As long as it has not been mistreated. (Dropped / Got water in (including Rain) etc).

There is no MUST involved unfortunately, sometimes the only way to pursue your statutory rights is by taking the uncooperative retailer to court and you can't just turn up with your "still shiny unmarked phone", you WILL need to have commissioned an independent report for the court that details the fault and confirms it is an inherent fault that should be covered under statutory rights.

Retailers know this, that's why some are as bad at dealing with OOW claims as they are.

Got absolutely nowhere with both Apple and Vodafone today and am off on holiday on Sunday so need to go for a refurbished phone.

If I want to:-

(a) retain my same number;
(b) continue with my monthly contract until February 2016

Does the following phone tick all the boxes to allow me to do this?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...=AVXB5JQRCA15O

(used phone @ £80.99; not the new phone @ £197.93).

Any unlocked or Vodafone locked outright phone purchase does that. All you really do is move the Sim.

Anyone had any experience of purchasing from this website?

http://preowned-mobiles.theshoppad.com/#/product/ip416u

Never heard of them, but why the fixation with an iPhone 4? If you shop around you could get a 4s for similar money, and for not much more an iPhone 5. Have you checked Gumtree in your area?