International Paintball group

FatVonD

I just wanted to warn everyone of my experience with this company so nobody else gets bitten.

My 13-year-old son recently purchased a set of tickets from them (I was with him and I was suckered too.) The deal was that you paid £60 for 10 tickets to go paintballing at a choice of paintballing centres (not owned by IPG) To use the tickets you had to purchase 100 paintballs for £10 at the time of booking and thereafter at the usual rate of £6.99 per hundred but the deal also included 1,000 free paintballs.

I pointed out that at his recent birthday party my son had used 600 paintballs so, by the time we'd paid the initial £10 plus another 5 x £6.99 (plus the £6 each ticket was effectively costing) this would actually work out more expensive that the £35 I paid for his birthday party that included the 500 paintballs (plus another £6.99 for an extra 100 paintballs.) At this point the salesman then 'threw in' another 1,000 free paintballs plus another 10 'free' tickets.

I did a bit of quick mental arithmetic and worked out that my son could go 4 times for £100 (the ticket price plus 4 x 100 paintballs at time of booking) and use the free 2,000 paintballs 500 each time, a saving of £16.99 per visit on his previous visit, and then just bin the rest of the tickets and foolishly let my son hand over £60 of his birthday money

Here's the catch... the 2,000 free paintballs may only be used 100 per person per visit, something the salesman didn't mention at any point and even then they will only be issued before the 11th game of the day (something he definitely didn't mention.) These important facts were on the reverse of the card which the salesman held onto at all times (in fact when my husband tried to take one to take away to read he was asked to give it back as this card is the actual product.)

I am currently in dispute with them to get a refund (I have repaid my son his £60 out of my own pocket) and am feeling well and truly suckered but if my public shame means that somebody else doesn't fall for it then so be it, do not touch this deal with a bargepole!

FatVonD

My most recent reply from IPG

Thank you for your email and sorry for the delay in responding. Unfortunately, as per the terms and conditions outlined on the reverse of the tickets, we can only refund the purchase price if a refund request is made in writing within 7 days of purchase. Telephone conversations are not accepted.

The person from whom you purchased the tickets is an independent salesperson, and the terms and conditions on the reverse of the tickets are a guideline for what is included with the tickets and what the paintball centre supplies you with when you book. As we are unable to refund your money outside the 7 day period, there are a couple of options you may like to pursue.

One is to get in contact with the seller to negotiate a refund. The seller’s contact details can be found under the VIP tickets. Another option is to resell them on e-Bay or they can be given away to family or friends as a gift.

malkie76

Sounds like your issue is with the independent sales staff, not IPG.
As with any purchase, you need to check the T&C before handing any money over - the sales staff are under no obligation to read out any of the T&C to you.

FatVonD

You're absolutely right, of course though I do think IPG should take some responsibility for the sales team marketing their company.

Fortunately I have his telephone number and my husband works close to his patch, I've not given up yet

Bowling_4_Gold

I personally believe you are in the right. You would be able to argue your case if you can prove that the salesman only allowed you access to the T's and C's of the contract after purchase.

I remember a thread on here from quite a while ago where someone was subject to an unfair Term or Condition which was printed on their receipt (after the money was paid). Obviously, they couldn't see (or were advised of) the Term or Condition before the contract was formed, therefore it wasn't valid.

popadom

I thought you got a month if the sales person came to you.
Also,if they gave you anything-eg contract then show this to the people who need to, if it dosnt mention charges then you might have a case.

FatVonD

Thank you both for your replies, I will look into the 28 day rule as I sent to IPG within 28 days and as I sent them Special Delivery I have proof that I did so.

Thanks again everyone

gibson_pete

I thought I'de have a quick check to see if anyone else had problems with IPG...

I've just got out my IPG VIP pack to book my tickets and guess what? The EXACT same problem, not a step different! I feel so angry and conned!

This is how the lousy cons worked it:

- I was at Newcastle Metro Centre and saw a stall advertising brilliant deals on paintballing. We approached the stall and started chatting to a sales rep.

- We told the rep 10 of us would be going along. Brilliant! He replies, you can make a team with 10 people and get our £60 deal. All you have to do is buy this VIP exclusive package which ends TODAY! £60 gets 10 people entry and then each person buys their own 100 paintballs for £10 each, meaning each person pays a bargain of £16!

- On top of this 'amazing' deal, I'm going to throw in 1000 free paintballs that you can book when you order, this offer will entitle your team to 100 free paintballs each as long as you buy your first 100 paintballs! (And this is exactly how he sold the 1000 free paintballs deal and VIP ticket)

- Me not being one to usually buy anything I don't trust, told the sales rep I was going to have to 'go and think about it.' To me, as I guess it does to most people at market stalls, means, 'I'm not buying'

- Unfortunately the person I was with (brilliant though she is!) talked me round to going back. We had been looking at a cheaper deal elsewhere but the Sales rep told is he knew 'all about this deal' and that the paintball company were 'basic, and provided very outdated equipment'. The deal still seemed too good to be true. So we went over everything the rep had told us, and heres where it gets interesting, we decided to go back and reiterate everything the rep had told us.

- so we reiterated. word for word to the sales rep. £60 for the 10 person ticket. An extra £10 per person for first 100 paintballs totalling £16 each. We then have 1000 free paintballs thrown in, no strings attached. The rep praises us, '*big smile* You guys... I am so happy that for the first time today someone has been able to tell me back the terms of the deal word for word. Your spot on. *Maintains big false smile*

- So... slightly reluctantly as I still sense something is just odd about this guy... I sign where he tells me to and hand over £60 for the 10 person ticket. he gives me the packet, with the 1000 free paintballs card stapled in. (After reiterating terms like that, to be honest at the time you barely consider this guy is going to have the cheek to do you over.)

- So we head home. a few days later (Now) I open the package and follow the instructions to book. I take out the stapled in 1000 paintballs deal card and see the terms on the back. Here we are: these paintballs are only to be given to players just before the final round of gameplay (round 11).


I am extremely angry. Its not a case of they may not, they WILL NOT get away with this. Con Artists make mine, and most likely anyones, blood boil. I will be contacting IPG asap and demanding that either we have the terms of sale sold to us met exactly as they were sold, a full refund, or I will persue court action. Watch this space...

WineGirl_2

Today my daughter and I were enticed to a stand in the West Swindon Centre an IPGr independent consultant. He was selling your VIP tickets and told us that if we could purchase 10 tickets at £5.99 each, as a special rate.

My daughter was interested in having a ‘Paintball party’ but my initial question to him was ‘What’s the catch?’ he laughed my comment off and said that there was no catch and that you were trying to attract business and get the name know within the area. He said that he would be able to ‘throw in’ 1000 paintballs to the deal to use and that I could purchase more paintballs at an additional cost of £9.99 for the first 100 and then at a reduced rate. I was told that we could distribute the paintballs to the children at our discretion. He did not explain the format of the day to me and initially I though that we could just turn up throughout the day and use the paintballs during a couple of hours. It then became clearer that we would need to be there from the start of the day but could drop out when we wanted to. As I had not planned to purchase my daughters birthday party package today we wanted time to think about it but he told me that he was only there until 5pm today. Usually this would not have pressured me and I would have asked for website details and contact you at a later date but the anticipation on my daughters face made me want to do this. I told him that we would discuss it while we shopped and return within about 30mins.

After speaking to my daughter she decided that she really did want a paintball party so we returned to the stall to clarify a few points before making our purchase.

I reiterated what I understood to be the ‘deal’ that we would pay for the 10 players today and receive our 1000 free paintballs to use (he then offered me 200 extra on top) and then just purchase any additional paintballs we wanted on the day, we also asked if we could add additional guests and were told that we could, by contacting the office. I thought that the ‘good deal’ was the enticement to get us there and that you would then benefit from any additional extra’s we added on the day. I was happy with this and he staples the ‘1000 free’ paintball voucher over the pack of the T&C and just lifted up the corner asking me to sign and ticking the ‘Key points’ which were explained like with the following interpretation:

Paintball not included – “But you have your 1000 free plus the extra 200 I’ve thrown in”
£9.99 for the first 100 balls – “Just buy 100 for £9.99, then the next lot will be at the cheaper rate of £6.99”
Additional balls brought on the day – “If you decided you want to top up, you can buy more on the day’
Food not included – “ You can bring a picnic or we can arrange pizza”
Minimum age = 10 – “All participants must be 10 years old”

I now know that he correctly explained 2/5 and mislead me on the other three.

When I returned home and removed the stapled on leaflet about the 1000 free paintballs I was able to read ALL of your terms and conditions for myself, something I regret not doing at the time but again, I think that I would have been told more lies even if I had questions them. I did ask a lot of questions at the time but feel hoodwinked.

I called your office, who confirmed that as per your T&C’s I would have to purchase 100 paintballs at £9.99 per back for every person in our party, which would amount to £99.99 to bring 10 children for a party. I then asked about the 1000 ‘free’ paintballs and was told that they were only for the afternoon game and could not be used any other way.

I was mortified to hear this and am now extremely upset and angry at the way I have been mis-sold to and mislead. I find it totally unacceptable. When I initially asked ‘What the catch was’ if he had been honest and told me that I would have to purchase 100 paintballs for each participant, I would not have continued the conversation as this would have been out of my budget. He lead me to believe that as a promotion, I was being given 1000 free and would only buy any additional paintballs that I wanted to.

After speaking to the office, I phoned Toby and express my feelings to him and asked him if I returned the voucher if he could refund my payment. He told me he had no authority to put a refund through. He was close to being very rude when he asked what I expect them to use! I explained that he had included the 1000 and not explained that they were for the afternoon after I had spent and additional £99.99. I told him that I had asked with my first question what the catch was and it should have been clearly explained with out any misleading before asking me to sign a half covered T&C’s form and take my money.

The worst part to this was that I had to tell my daughter that I was returning the pack and that she couldn’t have her dream party. She was distraught and cried her exact word were ‘I hate that man, why did he doe this to me?’ I was unable to answer her questions.

I know that this isn't IPG but their 'Independent sales consultant' but he is selling their product/package and needs to do so honestly to maintain their company name.

I don't mind paying for something if it is explained correctly to me and I know what I am getting for my money, my anger is at the way this has happened.

I hope no-one else is treated like this and that they get everything explained to them.

DCFC79

gibson_pete wrote: »

I thought I'de have a quick check to see if anyone else had problems with IPG...

I've just got out my IPG VIP pack to book my tickets and guess what? The EXACT same problem, not a step different! I feel so angry and conned!

This is how the lousy cons worked it:

- I was at Newcastle Metro Centre and saw a stall advertising brilliant deals on paintballing. We approached the stall and started chatting to a sales rep.

- We told the rep 10 of us would be going along. Brilliant! He replies, you can make a team with 10 people and get our £60 deal. All you have to do is buy this VIP exclusive package which ends TODAY! £60 gets 10 people entry and then each person buys their own 100 paintballs for £10 each, meaning each person pays a bargain of £16!

- On top of this 'amazing' deal, I'm going to throw in 1000 free paintballs that you can book when you order, this offer will entitle your team to 100 free paintballs each as long as you buy your first 100 paintballs! (And this is exactly how he sold the 1000 free paintballs deal and VIP ticket)

- Me not being one to usually buy anything I don't trust, told the sales rep I was going to have to 'go and think about it.' To me, as I guess it does to most people at market stalls, means, 'I'm not buying'

- Unfortunately the person I was with (brilliant though she is!) talked me round to going back. We had been looking at a cheaper deal elsewhere but the Sales rep told is he knew 'all about this deal' and that the paintball company were 'basic, and provided very outdated equipment'. The deal still seemed too good to be true. So we went over everything the rep had told us, and heres where it gets interesting, we decided to go back and reiterate everything the rep had told us.

- so we reiterated. word for word to the sales rep. £60 for the 10 person ticket. An extra £10 per person for first 100 paintballs totalling £16 each. We then have 1000 free paintballs thrown in, no strings attached. The rep praises us, '*big smile* You guys... I am so happy that for the first time today someone has been able to tell me back the terms of the deal word for word. Your spot on. *Maintains big false smile*

- So... slightly reluctantly as I still sense something is just odd about this guy... I sign where he tells me to and hand over £60 for the 10 person ticket. he gives me the packet, with the 1000 free paintballs card stapled in. (After reiterating terms like that, to be honest at the time you barely consider this guy is going to have the cheek to do you over.)

- So we head home. a few days later (Now) I open the package and follow the instructions to book. I take out the stapled in 1000 paintballs deal card and see the terms on the back. Here we are: these paintballs are only to be given to players just before the final round of gameplay (round 11).


I am extremely angry. Its not a case of they may not, they WILL NOT get away with this. Con Artists make mine, and most likely anyones, blood boil. I will be contacting IPG asap and demanding that either we have the terms of sale sold to us met exactly as they were sold, a full refund, or I will persue court action. Watch this space...

why do you feel physically sick,

do you not agree you should have done your homework or said no thankyou

trumpton

This 'independant sales consultant' title is interesting. Presumably these are self-employed people whose sole job is to flog International Paintball tickets. Surely they will be trained by International Paintball? It sounds to me like a system set up so that International Paintball can avoid responsibility for either dodgy salesmen or for actually knowing that this is what the salesmen are doing and using it as an excuse not to refund.

It seems pretty clear to me that the posters in this thread have been misled at the least, or more likely in, my opinion, blatently lied to. It also looks like they have had complaints about being misled as on their FAQ's they even have it as a question. The terse response is:

"All customers are required to sign the "How It Works" section on the back of the tickets. This outlines the full extent of the service that IPG will provide. The wording of the confirmation has been specifically approved by the Office of Fair Trading, on page 148 of its Unfair Contract Terms Guidance publication of February 2001. One is bound by what one signs."

I would try Watchdog as they might be interested in a story like this.