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!

[Paulw1066]

There has to be a license agreement between Vodafone and any company using their logo’s and advertising their products. They know most people will give up then fight for their consumers rights, so they calculate the cost (bean counters), on who they don’t have to pay and on who they do. There are laws against this, but they will always come out and say it was a “system error” or “human error”!

[Cynric]

@Paulw1066  I wonder whether that holds if the voucher scheme is considered in the same way as the online tech magazines which get a "bung" from click-through sales, e.g. advertising rather than re-sales. Otherwise there would be no (little) paid-for "advertorials".

[Paulw1066]

It’s the same as an advertising company! If there is an advert on that promises certain conditions, the company providing the services has fulfil the conditions or it is false advertising! The company that made the advert isn’t held responsible.

The websites promoting the deals make commissions on the sales. But it would be Vodafone that has pay off any of these vouchers through the 3rd party company contract. They try everything to limit the amount they give out, otherwise it would hit their profit margin.

A friend of mine owns a similar insurance website, the company is based in Mauritius (tax free). They don’t give anything to customers, everything comes from the company profiting from the deal. In this case Vodafone!

[Jayach]

Once again, I disagree, but that will be my last comment on the matter.

[Paulw1066]

Ok lol, it’s fine to disagree. But I have no issue taking it to court. I’ll let you know what happens! Too many companies are trying to defraud customers at the moment. I was thinking setting something up as government organisations aren’t really holding these companies to their legal requirements.

All the best

[Cynric]

@Paulw1066 Vodafone just give the introducing company a payment for the introduction. The introducer is wholly responsible for the voucher.

[Paulw1066]

Vodafone is profiting from this license agreement! They are paying these companies to provide new customers, all incentives have to be approved by Vodafone! Go look at the reviews of these companies, they always lay blame on companies like Vodafone. These 3rd parties companies are acting under Vodafone instructions! Otherwise every broadband company would be providing vouchers, but they are not. So liability rest only with the company hiring and instructing these companies.

[Jayach]

@Paulw1066 

I'm not going to comment on the legalities of who is to blame, and I assume from what you say it has happened to you.

Do you know which voucher company you went through, was it Giftcloud? And have you tried contacting them? It really does work sometimes.

Did you get any of the emails, similar to what I posted previously, although I went through Wegift (now Runa).

If you do have to take it to court, please do let us know what happens.

[Paulw1066]

Yep giftclould 

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.giftcloud.com

as you can see by the comments it is happening to loads of people. You can by their replies they are blaming the provider. But I am not surprised by this as responsibility does lie with Vodafone and the other companies. Even if they do try to blame each other. That’s why you have 130 days, so they hope you forget and try to blame each other for not providing the vouchers. It isn’t technically a scam, but there are laws preventing such dishonest actions.

[Jayach]

I disagree, but unless someone wants to take it to court, we are not going to find out.

Vodafone will pay the voucher company for "introducing" the client either way, so there is no incentive for them to be evasive.