Uswitch/virgin Rip Off

MRS_MUPPET · 20 February 2008 at 9:43PM

Having just completed my switch with USWITCH as I'm partial to the odd drop of wine, I was very pleased to recieve the link to Virgin Wines in order to claim my free wine.

Or not. Unfortunately and conveniently for VIRGIN you can only redeem your £40 voucher when you spend minimum of £79.99 (exc p&p). Plus how convenient that Virgin have a special offer on their homepage advertising a case of wine for £79.99.
I should also mention that you have to use the voucher by 31 March 2008.

So what would the average person do but feel obliged to spend the voucher on the offer and part with £40 cash.

This doesn't appear to be a good deal to me but more of a scam between Virgin and USWITCH - shame I expected better. I would have used moneysupermarket but it wouldn't recognise my bank details, despite several attempts.

Grrr......

jstvj · 20 February 2008 at 10:04PM

Yes, I am waiting for my wine now.

The Scam goes further though, because once you order, having giving CC details they propose to charge the account £20 a month for the next three months to meet the next order and so on.

I have searched the web site for somewhere to cancel further orders and cannot find anything, so when I receive the first order, I shall email my cancellation to them.

MRS_MUPPET · 20 February 2008 at 10:12PM

I think MSE should give them a kick up the backside. My conspiracy theory goes like this.... USwitch don't want to part with any cash for getting us to switch with them so they set up a scheme which makes it look like you get £40 but Virgin buy the wine in for less than that and sell it off at a profit and give a slice back to USWITCH. So USWITCH are then getting cash for switching us from the utility company and cash from Virgin for directing us to them.

bristolleedsfan · 20 February 2008 at 10:20PM

Thats y i never use Uswitch. cashback from quidco is best every time.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=753905

jhp · 21 February 2008 at 3:50AM

Martin MSE still seems to be under the impression that you do get a case of wine see his article here.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

Perhaps he could have a word in there shell like.

Uswitch still say you do here
http://www.uswitch.com/CorporatePages/Information/Incentive-TCs.aspx?ref=winecase

"

What wine will I be receiving?
You will receive a case of wine containing 12 x 75cl bottles with a value of at least £60. This will be supplied by our wine partner, Virgin Wines.
How do I qualify for the offer?
To qualify for your free case of wine, you must complete a dual fuel* switch** to a new supplier using the uSwitch.com comparison and switching service on the following link "

eyespy · 22 February 2008 at 12:33AM

i never got my voucher rang uswitch they gave me a uk number which was a recorded message telling me to call back in office hours even though i was calling at 10am what hours do they work grrrrrrrr most annoyed

BexTech · 22 February 2008 at 1:46AM

uScam haven't been called uScam for all these years for no reason!

jstvj · 22 February 2008 at 1:31PM

I am really confused now. After switching electricity, the web page showed the wine voucher for £40, which stated "" The voucher can only be used once and is subject to a minimum spend of £39.99 after applying the voucher, plus £5.99 post and package. So you will need to order £79.99 or more of wine, then the voucher will be deducted" I clicked the claim your voucher now, which too me to Virgin wines web site, where I had to register and my account showed £40.00. credit.

I duly orderred the case of wine for £39.99, which was acnowledged. The details stated Wine £39.99

Sub Total £79.99
Delivery 5.99
Less Account Balance 40.00
Amount Charged 45.98

I received the case of wine this morning, worth I assume £39.99, for which I have paid £45.98 and I still haven't got my £40.00 voucher deduction.

I am querying this now and will inform Virgin Wines that I do not want them to charge any further amounts to my credit card

Eydon · 22 February 2008 at 1:42PM

jstvj wrote: »

I am really confused now. After switching electricity, the web page showed the wine voucher for £40, which stated "" The voucher can only be used once and is subject to a minimum spend of £39.99 after applying the voucher, plus £5.99 post and package. So you will need to order £79.99 or more of wine, then the voucher will be deducted" I clicked the claim your voucher now, which too me to Virgin wines web site, where I had to register and my account showed £40.00. credit.

I duly orderred the case of wine for £39.99, which was acnowledged. The details stated Wine £39.99

Sub Total £79.99
Delivery 5.99
Less Account Balance 40.00
Amount Charged 45.98

I received the case of wine this morning, worth I assume £39.99, for which I have paid £45.98 and I still haven't got my £40.00 voucher deduction.

I am querying this now and will inform Virgin Wines that I do not want them to charge any further amounts to my credit card

Looks to me (from what you've said here) that you ordered a case for £79.99 (which was the minimum value you could order to be able to use your voucher). It's then deducted your £40 voucher and added on the P&P.

So, you've received a case of wine (worth £79.99 according to Virgin) for £45.98. I can't see the problem.

jstvj · 22 February 2008 at 1:52PM

Sorry to be thick, but it seems to me that I have beem sold a £39.99 case of wine for £39.99 plus delivery. They do not say the wine is worth £79.99. Confusing

Eydon · 22 February 2008 at 1:57PM

The sub total does say £79.99 though.

Which case of wine was it?

And if you have bought a £39.99 case of wine for £39.99 plus delivery, then again I can't see the problem. The voucher was only valid if you bought a case for £79.99 or more.

Uswitch/virgin Rip Off

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