Stung by halifax web saver reward scam. Advice?

helifox

rb10 wrote: »

Online adverts for bank accounts don't have to have an asterisk, or a note that T&Cs apply, provided they link directly to a page that does have these further details. It's considered 'good practice' to have this further information 'above the fold' (i.e. you don't have to scroll down the page to see it - it's straight there in front of you).

So in marketing terms, it would be considered completely acceptable to have an advert saying that they have a 2.8% savings account, with no further detail.

It is fair to assume that the advert you clicked on either linked you to the product page (which had the 'Important' message at least once on it, and it was above the fold), or directly to the application form (which, as you have already posted, also had this message, right at the top).

So I really can't see how seeing the advert can help. There's no requirement for the advert to describe the mechanics of what boxes to tick when applying. That' what the 'important information' at the top of the application is for.

Thanks for that clarification. Is it also fair to assume that if you click on an ad. offering 2.8%, and were taken to an application form, that that application form should be for the product advertised. The application informs me that what I was applying for was a Variable Rate Web saver (that's the heading, and the welcome message) and then warns me re: card/no card options on another product entirely - the Web Saver Reward. How am I supposed to detect which I am applying for? and in terms of clarification, it took till 6th August before they spelled out the consequences of that yes card click.

I fail to see how this set-up passes the standards test set by the BCOB re: clear fair, and not misleading. And I am willing to risk court to see what a judge thinks.

Archi_Bald

helifox wrote: »

Is it also fair to assume that if you click on an ad. offering 2.8%, and were taken to an application form, that that application form should be for the product advertised.

Yes, fair assumption. Though wrong links sometimes do happen. However, in this case, the form was indeed the application form for the 2.8% Web Saver Reward. If you thought it wasn't, why did you proceed to fill in the form and apply?

helifox wrote: »

How am I supposed to detect which I am applying for?

How about:

- Important: please note that if you are applying for a Halifax Web Saver Reward you must select the no card option within the application form.

helifox

Archi_Bald wrote: »

It doesn't make it it someone else's problem if you didn't see it (or were in a hurry, or were under stress because you were the carer for people with dementia etc etc).

It also occurs to me you seem to want to claim all sorts of mitigating reasons for yourself, but expect total perfection from the people that are behind Halifax's website.

Not total perfection - but a tooltip maybe. It's one line of code. Something, preferably bigger than 6pt., which said that the interest reduced to .25%...

As I indicated earlier in the thread, Halifax had made numerous errors on our account, errors which cost us interest, time and energy to resolve. We forgave them all that... probably out of some deluded Scottish patriotism. I don't expect them to be responsible for my problems - but I did make allowances for theirs.

You can take cases for up to £100K to MCOL https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/court-fees. For a claim value of £1,000 to £1,500, your initial fees will be between £70 and £80. You should, of course, allow for losing the claim, in which case you might face a bill of possibly tens of thousands if you have to pay Halifax's costs. You might also want to allow for the costs of your own Solicitor, unless you believe you can represent yourself. Going by the evidence you presented in this thread, I would think it is in your interest to take advice from a Solicitor before you open a Court case. Not least because you can be 100% certain that Halifax would respond to any Court case exclusively through their Lawyers.

Yes - that is all very stressful and scary. But without weapons training to fall back on, I don't have many other options. It is hard to move on when the television keeps informing you how Halifax is giving a little extra help to everyone.

rb10

helifox wrote: »

Thanks for that clarification. Is it also fair to assume that if you click on an ad. offering 2.8%, and were taken to an application form, that that application form should be for the product advertised.

Yes, but it doesn't have to be solely for that product. It can be for another as well.

helifox wrote: »

The application informs me that what I was applying for was a Variable Rate Web saver (that's the heading, and the welcome message) and then warns me re: card/no card options on another product entirely - the Web Saver Reward. How am I supposed to detect which I am applying for?

But you (presumably) hadn't read any of the bit at the top, as if I saw an advert for a Web Saver Reward at 2.8% and read the below, I'd be sure to 'select the no card option within the application form'.

- Important: please note that if you are applying for a Halifax Web Saver Reward you must select the no card option within the application form.

helifox wrote: »

and in terms of clarification, it took till 6th August before they spelled out the consequences of that yes card click.

But that was just on the main product information page, which the advert that you clicked didn't take you to. Making this page completely irrelevant (yes, I know it was me who initially brought this up, but that was before we found out that the advert took you straight to the application form).

I am assuming that on the date you applied, the 'Important' message at the top of the application form was present.

helifox wrote: »

I fail to see how this set-up passes the standards test set by the BCOB re: clear fair, and not misleading.

Clear: The 'Important' message is placed in a prominent position (i.e. at the top of the first page you see after clicking on the advert). It is written in plain English, with no use of banking jargon. It is just two lines long, so the message doesn't get buried within the text. And prefixed with Important:, just to make sure it's seen.

Fair: It's hardly unfair to have this message there.

Not misleading: It says exactly what it means - to get the Web Saver Reward, you have to choose the no card option.

helifox wrote: »

And I am willing to risk court to see what a judge thinks.

I admire your willingness to take risks. I hope you have deep pockets - it's not something I'd risk doing. If you do actually go down this route, then it would be worth being absolutely clear what you are complaining about -
- the advert? Even though it linked to a form with a clear instruction on to select the 'no card' option. And though you don't even have a copy of the advert (although this would be of dubious benefit)?
- the structure of the application form? Even though it had a simple instruction and an option to have the higher-rate account.

Whilst I agree that it could have been clearer, ultimately, Halifax did tell you that to get the Web Saver Reward, you had to take a specific action. You (inadvertently) chose not to do this & have paid the price.

I think this should be a lesson to everyone (not just you!) to always check, double-check and triple-check your actions, not just in relation to savings accounts, but any other financial service transaction.

helifox

How about:[/QUOTE]

How about the Title: Variable rate Web Saver application?
No mention of Reward there...

If I was applying for the Web saver Reward - where's the Reward?

Aah, yes,if you click the button then you are no longer applying for the Web Saver reward.
But then why does the product that turns up in our internet banking bear the title : Saver Reward?

Ya know - its just not clear. Even they admit it. Not clear like a tooltip right there on the button. Not clear like a purpose- built form for the product you're applying for. Not clear like the phrase 'Giving a little extra help' in't clear.

Archi_Bald

helifox wrote: »

As I indicated earlier in the thread, Halifax had made numerous errors on our account, errors which cost us interest, time and energy to resolve.

Yet, despite having made that experience, you just filled in a Halifax form, without reading/understanding it properly, and expected that all would work as you thought it should work?

Honestly, your position is quite untenable when seen in the cold light of day and without emotion. I do hope you will come to realise that you have no case before this whole thing spins out of control for you. Find a good Solicitor and take proper legal advice about your chances before you take any action.

Not sure how you would undo this thread though, because it offers the Halifax Lawyers some brilliant ammo against you (your admission you hadn't read the "Important" notice, you were in a hurry, you were stressed because of caring for an ill parent etc).

helifox

rb10 wrote: »

I am assuming that on the date you applied, the 'Important' message at the top of the application form was present.

I have no way of knowing. I had presumed so... But this is certainly a lesson is stopping making presumptions.

What about the fact that at the top of the application it reads Variable rate Web Saver application - and that although we didn't get a Web Saver reward because of our actions, the account title in our internet bank account reads: Reward Saver?

Clear: The 'Important' message is placed in a prominent position (i.e. at the top of the first page you see after clicking on the advert). It is written in plain English, with no use of banking jargon. It is just two lines long, so the message doesn't get buried within the text. And prefixed with Important:, just to make sure it's seen.

Its in 6pt. Its talking about a different product form the title of the Application and it doesn't mention why it is important.

Fair: It's hardly unfair to have this message there.

Fair would be informing of the rate drop. Fair would be, after admitting that the process might have been clearer, and addressing it in the application, contacting people who may have been misled and checking whether they had.

Not misleading: It says exactly what it means - to get the Web Saver Reward, you have to choose the no card option.

...But the application is for another product. there is no indication that both products have been segued onto one form.

I admire your willingness to take risks.

well, thanks. Oh I'm scared, make no mistake. And I don't have deep pockets...

Whilst I agree that it could have been clearer, ultimately, Halifax did tell you that to get the Web Saver Reward, you had to take a specific action. You (inadvertently) chose not to do this & have paid the price.

Which is why it is unclear why we got an account titled 'Reward Saver'.

BlindLeadingTheBlind

OP you say the account showed on your accounts page as Reward Saver. Do you have a screen print of this? The application Halifax has sent you as being supposedly the one you completed was for the variable account. You say you didn't get any confirmation in writing & yet the guy in the article did. And when he saw it was the variable he closed the ac. Should you have received some form of confirmation do you know?

helifox

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Yet, despite having made that experience, you just filled in a Halifax form, without reading/understanding it properly, and expected that all would work as you thought it should work?

Yes, sentence me for naivety. The errors were in branch - or in POA back office hq, so I hadn't realised the on-line service was infected. My bank is First Direct - so I had grown used to trusting on-line banking...

Honestly, your position is quite untenable when seen in the cold light of day and without emotion. I do hope you will come to realise that you have no case before this whole thing spins out of control for you.

Oh no, you're scaring me. Untenable. Have you looked at the BCOB stuff. It seems to overrule terms and conditions detail - and instead put emphasis on a kind of ethical behaviour that the bank should adopt.

Not sure how you would undo this thread though, because it offers the Halifax Lawyers some brilliant ammo against you (your admission you hadn't read the "Important" notice, you were in a hurry, you were stressed because of caring for an ill parent etc).

You think that a company with a reputation for Giving a little extra help would feel comfortable behaving like that. It would be like kneecapping yourself - but who knows, they might...

Chuck away £10 million's worth of advertising value to get a £1000?
That really is 'Giving a little extra'.

John1993_2

helifox wrote: »

...I'd be keen to get your advice on how to deal with dementia while you're at it.

You should see your GP. He or she will be able to direct you far better than posters here can. If, as seems possible, you're not capable of managing your affairs any longer it may be worth while asking a relative to take over them for you.