This is not the case in all situations, I think you were just unlucky with the policy of that company. Last phone I bought was paid for in cash, no questions a

This is not the case in all situations, I think you were just unlucky with the policy of that company. Last phone I bought was paid for in cash, no questions asked. It wasn't from one of the large phone retailers, but not from anywhere dodgy, either [edit: it was from the Internet café here http://goo.gl/maps/DkMa2 http://goo.gl/maps/DkMa2]. The SIM card was also purchased in cash from a newsagent without having to provide any identifying details. I wasn't even going out of my way to avoid being traced - like you, I just needed a phone in an emergency, as my screen had broken on the old one.