Credit checks delay iPhone 3G sales

Our band of bolshie iPhone buyers has been out on the streets of London today, and while many are still stuck in queues, one has managed to snag himself Apple’s 3G handset, but not before a lengthy wait caused by the collapse of O2’s credit checking systems.

After dashing between three central London stores, our man on the ground finally found stock of the 16GB iPhone 3G at a Carphone Warehouse store.

However, he was forced to wait for almost three hours, after first O2’s upgrade line went unanswered to constant calls from the Carphone Warehouse store, and then the network’s credit checking systems failed, meaning the store had to switch to Carphone Warehouse’s own system.

Eventually, however, our intrepid money-spender grabbed his prize: “It wasn’t a total disaster, it was just that O2’s systems became overloaded with the demand,” he said. “Quite a successful launch, but O2 could have done it better.”

To be fair, O2 had warned of delays while credit checks were made, and advised customers in advance of all the paperwork that would be needed.

Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for our pre-ordered 16GB iPhone 3G to be delivered by DHL.

What’s your experience been today? Good? Bad? Let us know in the comments section below.

Out now | From £free | Apple, O2, The Carphone Warehouse

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