12 Free Bottles of Wine loophole with Smile

chitty

grreenfingers wrote:

But inviting people to take advantage of this company still doesnt feel right. Does the company's ethical standing have no effect on you when you think about who you are actually "taking on".

In know, this is a money saving not a moral saving website.....

I understand where you're coming from, but I don't think us taking advantage of a marketing loophole is stopping someone in the third world having a meal. The ethical part of co-op is they don't invest in dodgy companies in the search for profit (e.g. no arms dealers) - at least that's my understanding.

If we were taking advantage of a dogs home or something I'd be with you, but the bank is still out there to make a profit, they just ask a few more questions about where their (and therefore their customers) money goes. Which is no bad thing.

For me, MSE is all about winning, and 12 free bottles of wine in the run up to crimbo (IF they turn up by then) sounds like a winner to me

There, that's my twopennuthworths

MSE_Martin

Dear Greenfingers and Chitty

I do understand your point. And i think its well made. I hope people read your points and then consider what to do before opening the accounts. Im not saying I agree with you, but the points you make are vaid and should be considered.

Martin

Riduna

chalkybear wrote:

My previous previous post didn't appear!

12 bottles of wine each if an existing account holder recommends a mate who opens an account.

I had an email to forward with a special code to enter.

Could do it with someone in your own household perhaps.

Hi, thanks for this tip. My brother is keen to recommend me for the 12 bottle bribe. What code does he need to do this.
Thanks for the help.

comperking

I see by the replies that you've upset the hornet's nest so won't go on about it!

But please, get a grip we are not mugging old ladies here!!!

Go into any Coop supermarket and see how ethical they are!!

Rafter

I'm with Greenfingers on this one.

Co-op is owned by its members, there are no 'greedy' moneygrabbing shareholders here. Even the directors of the co-op bank are paid modestly compared to the 7 figure salary of most bank directors.

However, the loophole is there and Smiles fault and there is nothing illegal about exploiting it.

Moaning about paying £5 for a case of wine (42p a bottle) when Smile are having to pay at least £25 for it just to cover the duty seems really mean though.

The fact is if Alliance and Leicester offered their joining offer to all their customers, they would go bust. It is unsustainable and in 12 months time I'm sure all those who have signed up to an A&L account will be moaning about rates going down and where to move next.

Meanwhile customers who have joined Smile or first direct or Nationwide for their better service and reasonable rates for all customers won't have to move.

The difference with Smile and Nationwide is that their customers own them. So the customers who stay will have to pay for the wine for those who just fancy some almost free booze.

The dilema for Smile is that they need an offer to persuade customers to switch, because a lot of people can't be bothered to switch bank accounts without some sort of incentive. Smile are also competing with the likes of A&L or Lloyds TSB with their juicy offers.

Smile and Nationwide aren't charities, but by exploiting their offers you are simply reducing the amount of interest available to distribute to their existing customers.

Your own moral stand point on this is up to you. As an existing customer though, I'd be livid if I thought my interest bill was being reduced by say £1 a year to allow people with no intention of joining the bank long term some free booze for christmas.

Personally I hope Smile change their offer so you have to transfer your salary, direct debits and standing orders in order to get this deal.

R.

Dammam

I'd say the ethics of this are in your own hands. If you feel it's unethical to exploit this, then don't.

Gabs27

I've just had a look at this and it says you have to pay in the £1,500 by 10th February not January.

I presume you don't have to switch all your banking to them - just pay in that amount.

As I have borrowed on my Egg card anniversary offer at the moment, I can just move some of that and then back again.

biglugs

Is it ethical to be bribing people with free drink in the first place?

Hear hear! Hardly ethical to encourage more alcohol drinking at a time when the country has serious problems with binge drinking and alcohol related crime!
Now 12 giant sized bars of chocolate might have got my attention

dixie_dean_2

Does the £1500 credit have to be made in one fell swoop or is it ok as long as you have paid that amount in by the 10th?

daveybuk

I started signing up for this, but then saw in the terms and conditions that you have to pay in £1000 per month.

I suppose the deal is still possible, but I think you would have to cancel the account almost as soon as it was confirmed your wine would be on that way.

Once I realised that, I decided not to do it.