courtesy phone problem

[godden18]

so I sent my s7 edge into repair the other day and was told by online chat support that I could pick up a courtesy phone while mine was being repaired.
so I went to the Vodafone store today to pick one up. I was talking to the man that serviced me and he told me no we don't do courtesy phones  but I could buy a cheap one if  I like.

this annoyed on a couple of things.

1. who is lying? the man in the shop or online chat support?
2.  if I do buy a cheap phone its still no good to  me as I backed up my phone on my PC and was hoping that I could restore it on the courtesy phone for the time I'm using it,as I need constant access to email. online banking etc.

anyone else had problems like this?

[BandOfBrothers]

Courtesy phones are available to customers on eligible tariffs / contracts and of one is in stock. 

Faqs here >

https://support.vodafone.co.uk/Protecting-your-device/Courtesy-phone/

[kids]

Courtesy phones are generally only available if you have the Vodafone insurance and even then a phone of the same model cannot be guaranteed unless the store has one of the same loan phones instore.

[63johnw]

Hi. As the other guys have said the courtesy phones are not always available and tend to be very basic models too, so it would be unlikely that you could restore all your current settings etc to it, you would probably be able to do your contacts but other than that I doubt you would get much else.

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @63johnw

I may be wrong but I'm sure I've read in past posts that smartphones are now being offered as courtesy phones if available too.  

[63johnw]

I think you are correct but I believe they are basic ones? Not on a par with high end ones, I may be wrong but I thought that was the case.