Could not find similar threads when looking at this problem myself however the correct method i found is as follows should others be having the same issue which i found was due mainly to setting up icloud when setting up the phone for the first time.
1) Go to c:/users/user name/contacts
2) Click on "Import" contacts from *.csv file (if this is your old contacts backup file) if you havent used windows contacts before. Once imported, check and delete "unknown.contacts" in this folder which are created from non conforming csv files (i had about 50)
3) next, TURN OFF contacts in settings / icloud / contacts on your iphone.
4) then via itunes, click your phone icon on the left then click "info" on the upper task bar'
5) sync contacts with windows contacts is now available whereas before contacts would sync only with icloud. Select windows contacts (or others) and then press Sync. All contacts will be imported from windows to your iphone
6) once the sync is complete, "turn on" contacts under icloud on your iphone, return to itunes and sync again as it will now upload the new contacts to icloud