Hundreds of complaints from Bradford people have been lodged with Trading Standards officers over bogus phone cash-back deals.

More than 500 customers have complained in the past 18 months about being owed money by mobile phone dealers.

Half of the complaints were about Advanced Communications Group, which is based in Liversedge.

The company has been taken to Dewsbury County Court for flouting consumer protection legislation. Trading Standards found that consumers had to wait up to 12 months to receive refunds of line rentals after making valid claims to the firm.

Under powers secured in the Enterprise Act 2002, the owner, Wasim Nazir, was served three enforcement orders on July 18 including one to make payments within eight weeks of receiving a valid claim. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £19,467.

The firm had been advertising its services in national newspapers and was featured on the BBC Watchdog programme because of complaints.

Another firm which Trading Standards has received complaints about is Talk Time, based in Towngate, Wyke.

Customer Darren Manby, 41, claims he is owed £500 on a cash-back deal from Talk Time.

The offer involved Mr Manby taking his bill into the shop to receive a cheque payment amounting to £20 per month.

Mr Manby has been chasing the shop for his money for five months. He said two cheques from the company, totalling £350, had bounced. Mr Manby, a glazing supervisor who lives in East View, Oakenshaw, said: "I have called and visited dozens of times, but each time I go they fob me off with excuses telling me to come back next week and that the boss is not there.

"When I go back, the shutters are down or the shop is closed. It opens about once a month.

"I'm struggling financially as I've been paying the bills myself to avoid court action."

Mr Manby has made a formal complaint to West Yorkshire Trading Standards.

In March, the Telegraph & Argus reported that Trading Standards officers were trying to trace the owner of Talk Time after receiving about a dozen complaints from customers who had signed up for cash-back offers but had not received payments.

A WYTS spokesman said consumers were reporting the shop had closed down and Trading Standards was trying to establish whether it had gone out of business.

The T&A highlighted the issue last month when pensioner Surjit Kaur claimed mobile phone shop Talk to Us, in Manchester Road, Bradford, had swindled her out of £700.

Since then a number of customers have called the T&A alleging similar problems with Talk Time and with Fone Zone, based in Lilycroft Road, Bradford.

Trading Standards has confirmed it has received these complaints and said it has offered advice to customers.

The T&A attempted to contact all of the named businesses but received no response.

Councillor Keith Wakefield, Deputy Chairman of the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Committee, said: "The Trading Standards service will not tolerate those companies who believe they can ignore consumers' rights."

Graham Hebblethwaite, Trading Standards chief officer, said the successful prosecution against Advanced Communications Group served as a warning to others.

The authority has also warned customers to be careful when selecting cash-back deals.

Trading Standards chief officer David Lodge said: "Study the small print carefully and be wary of cash-back deals because our experience is that some customers do not get their money back and if a company goes bust you are definitely not going to get your money back.

"It's a common technique which gives the impression it is cheaper than it is.

"We have had an increasing number of complaints as more companies follow the trend. It reflects the popularity of this type of business."

Anyone who has experienced problems can call Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506.