Giftcloud £120 Voucher Scam

[JaMs8899]

I purchased a vodafone broadband contract which was supposed to come with a £120 voucher from giftcloud after 90 days. I waited the time and got nothing. I contacted giftcloud who told me that I was ineligible (and they were supposedly told this by vodafone). I contacted vodafone, who told me they couldn't help me as giftcloud is a third party, that giftcloud had not contacted them about it, and that they couldn't tell me why I was ineligible. I asked giftcloud about this but they said that they couldn't help as it was vodafone who said I'm ineligible. I checked the terms and see no reason why I am ineligible, and both companies refuse to help me, each saying it is the other companies responsibility! I really don't know what to do at this point and I am still £120 out of pocket!

[Ripshod]

Vodafone are not responsible for this. Others have posted about Giftcloud.

https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Other-broadband-queries/Gift-Cloud-90-Amazon-Voucher-Scam/m-p/270219...

To be honest I'm really surprised to see them recommended by Comparethemeerkat. It's not just on Vodafone, they've let loads of customers down with amazing sky broadband deals too (as well as others)

[Jayach]

Voucher/Cash back offers are never guaranteed. They depend on internet tracking technologies which could could be upset by something as simple as having cookies disabled.

Did you get an email at the time saying you were in the scheme. It would have come from Giftcloud, but would have been "branded" as Vodafone.

When I joined I got this at the time of joining: 

and this 5 days later:

If you didn't get something similar, the tracking can't have worked.

[Paulw1066]

As Vodafone is in a licence agreement with these companies, Vodafone has a liability to ensure the vouchers are fulfilled. Otherwise they would be in-breach of contract, as they wouldn’t be complying with Ofcom regulations. Vodafone could well have to offer compensation for failing to follow the consumer rights act!

[Cynric]

@Paulw1066 If Vodafone was liable I would have thought that Ofcom would have been involved by now given that there are prior discussions regarding various voucher schemes. Mostly it seems to be the voucher scheme operator is the source of the problem.

[Paulw1066]

The Business Protection from Misleading Marketing and Regulations 2008 prohibit misleading business-to-business advertising

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/advice-for-businesses/knowing-your-rights/gen-conditions

if you have chosen Vodafone because of the gift voucher and have proof (an email from the other businesses). Vodafone is in a license agreement with these 3rd party advertisers. These try to blame the other companies for the reason for not to give these out. As most people will give up. Even if they hide it in the small print, this would be a violation of the Consumer Rights Act.

[Cynric]

@Paulw1066 Well if that applies, then we could see something happen, but probably not here as we are appending to a stale thread.

[Paulw1066]

Sorry, yeah Ofcom are pretty pathetic at enforcing broadband regulations (they have been for years) that’s why there are so many dodgy things happening. You have to go through ADR Scheme which are funded by these companies. They rarely follow UK law. You can file it in small claims court!

[Jayach]

From what I've seen Vodafone are careful to dissociate themselves from the voucher schemes. You have to go via the offer site and are then taken to Vodafone to actually sign up.

The only real connection is via internet tracking technologies, and that is where it sometimes goes wrong.

There really is no "scam". at least not on Vodafone's part.

[Jayach]

I meant disassociate not dissociate, damn not being able to edit the post after a very short time.