Coupon voucher fraud?

liam8282

vicmorrow wrote: »

I think Tesco will be well 'Lawyered up'. I think it was a selfserve checkout and the shopper concerned was subsequently 'caught' after doing it repeatedly. Did Very not charge customers who used vouchers online that they weren't entitled too the difference retrospectively?

I have heard about this, I think it was actually a couple who used tesco clubcard vouchers on a self serve till.

Instead of posting the voucher in the slot, they posted a blank piece of paper and continually used the clubcard cash to rack up thousands of pounds worth of shopping.

Tesco then traced the clubcard and caught the people.

A couple of the "fraudsters" are in this article, MSE, mentioned too! :T

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2041963/Money-vouchers-crackdown-Shoppers-face-convictions-abusing-Tesco-Clubcard-Sainsbury-deals.html

jamespir

liam8282 wrote: »

I have heard about this, I think it was actually a couple who used tesco clubcard vouchers on a self serve till.

Instead of posting the voucher in the slot, they posted a blank piece of paper and continually used the clubcard cash to rack up thousands of pounds worth of shopping.

Tesco then traced the clubcard and caught the people.

A couple of the "fraudsters" are in this article, MSE, mentioned too! :T

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2041963/Money-vouchers-crackdown-Shoppers-face-convictions-abusing-Tesco-Clubcard-Sainsbury-deals.html

that just either pure stupidity or pure greed

liam8282

jamespir wrote: »

that just either pure stupidity or pure greed

Or both.

matttaylor

Thanks for all the replies and there still seems to be some differences of opinion as to whether it is legal to do or not from a customer point of view, that's why I posted, to see if there was a definitive answer.
The key points are that you've handed to the coupon to the sales assistant directly and it's for an item you are not actually buying.

I know it is possible to do and I know of plenty of other threads discussing fraud with coupons on self-service tills so let's try not pollute this thread with more talk in those areas.

Cheers,

Matt

matttaylor

mo786uk wrote: »

when I worked at Tesco we took ANY voucher as they were redeemable at the manufacturer. So if we took a vouchers for walkers crisps, they coudl still get the money off walkers even if the customer never bought walkers crisps.

I used to work the checkout at the same store some 20 years ago. I remember once querying the use of vouchers for items that weren't being purchased with a supervisor because it didn't seem right.
I was told it was fine.

To me this means either the store are defrauding the product manufacturer by accepting the voucher without the sale of their product or the supermarket are just throwing away the vouchers and taking the hit.

Either way, I cannot see how the customer can be blamed?

liam8282

matttaylor wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies and there still seems to be some differences of opinion as to whether it is legal to do or not from a customer point of view, that's why I posted, to see if there was a definitive answer.
The key points are that you've handed to the coupon to the sales assistant directly and it's for an item you are not actually buying.

I know it is possible to do and I know of plenty of other threads discussing fraud with coupons on self-service tills so let's try not pollute this thread with more talk in those areas.

Cheers,

Matt

Matt go read the article I posted, it doesn't only tell you about coupons on self service tills, it also mentions coupons to sales assistants, with the opinions of Trading Standards Institute, legal opinions and even a quote from Martin Lewis.

I think the overall definition is, "it is fraud, but the shops will only become bothered about it when it gets into the £'000s",

It is then a question of a persons morality if they are somebody who openly abuses coupons and commits fraud, because they can.

liam8282

matttaylor wrote: »

Either way, I cannot see how the customer can be blamed?

The customer can be blamed because most vouchers have terms and conditions of use attached to them.

If these terms and conditions are broken by the person using the voucher, that is their responsibility. Just because the shop has let them do it, does not mean that it is correct.

If you murdered somebody in Tesco, and the manager of tesco said don't worry I'm not bothered, go home. You will still have murdered somebody and will still be facing jail when the police come calling.

bris

If you deliberately present the voucher knowing you are not entitled to, the yes it could very well be seen as fraud. If your intention is to commit a crime then it is your actions that make it so and nothing to do with the checkout operator. Blaming the checkout operator is is like blaming the security guard for letting you steal a tin of beans because he didn't catch you. Get caught however and your done for the attempt, I don't see any difference here.
Some are blaming the checkout operator and they will defend that, but as your on this site and looking for a definative answer, your not going to get it here, I suggest you consult a solicitor for your definative answer.

matttaylor

liam8282 wrote: »

Matt go read the article I posted, it doesn't only tell you about coupons on self service tills, it also mentions coupons to sales assistants, with the opinions of Trading Standards Institute, legal opinions and even a quote from Martin Lewis.

Ah, thanks for that. I think it answers the question suitably enough and I come to the same conclusion as you.

DelBoyPhil

bris wrote: »

If you deliberately present the voucher knowing you are not entitled to, the yes it could very well be seen as fraud. If your intention is to commit a crime then it is your actions that make it so and nothing to do with the checkout operator. Blaming the checkout operator is is like blaming the security guard for letting you steal a tin of beans because he didn't catch you. Get caught however and your done for the attempt, I don't see any difference here.
Some are blaming the checkout operator and they will defend that, but as your on this site and looking for a definative answer, your not going to get it here, I suggest you consult a solicitor for your definative answer.

So what your saying is that when a code is sent to "customers" and it is shared on this website and ANYONE that was sent the code can use it. However if you didnt get the code then you are commiting a crime.

So the thousand of customers that used littlewoods vouchers from this forum also commited a crime.