Stung by halifax web saver reward scam. Advice?

helifox

pqrdef wrote: »

I've had trouble twice with Halifax online applications. The first time, I thought I was applying for an instant-access account and I ended up with a one-withdrawal-a-year account. I have no idea how that happened - I only know the account I got wasn't the one I read the description of.

What I don't get is the willingness of the willy-wavers on here to say it's the customer's fault. Even if I'm too stupid to live, it's not my fault. There's nothing I can do about it. Mass-market businesses are supposed to protect me from my own stupidity.

As someone who needs to be protected from his own stupidity (occasionally) I expect someone who claims to be 'giving a little extra help' to be doing what they say they are doing. I expect advertisements delivered to me inside my own on-line banking portal to be honest and true. And I consider that to be good business...

helifox

rb10 wrote: »

Have you actually looked at the earlier screenshots?

Yes, they changed parts from time to time, but the thing you will notice is consistent throughout is the large bold text stating that you have to select the no card option.

In the screen shot posted earlier in the thread, the warning is no larger, bolder or more obvious than in previous versions of the page.

Have you looked - properly? None of the screenshots in the archive apply to someone who was already logged in as a customer. They all contain Register or Log in buttons. The logged in version - which this website will not allow me to show as I'm a newbie is exactly as I said. Small print under the header, 4 screens away from the Q. about the card options.

helifox

opinions4u wrote: »

The answer to the bolded bit is "because the customer wanted an ATM card".

Case closed.

We never used the card, nor withdrew any money. We didn't need one - but my Mum liked the idea of it...even though she couldn't leave the house to use it. the card was thus always purely ornamental. I just didn't realise that clicking the yes option would make a difference, as in, mean I was effectively applying for a different account.

helifox

Dimey wrote: »

The Advertising Standards Authority might be a more appropriate recourse than County Court.

http://www.asa.org.uk/Consumers/How-to-complain.aspx

The Advertising Standards Authority - sweet, well intentioned people though they may be, are not a statuory authority, and have no real power. The FCA do have the power to redress misleading advertising. Whether they will use it or not is something else...

jem16

helifox wrote: »

The logged in version - which this website will not allow me to show as I'm a newbie is exactly as I said. Small print under the header, 4 screens away from the Q. about the card options.

Why don't you post the website details with some parts changed like dots to spaces? Someone else can then turn it into a proper link.

Dr_Cuckoo3

opinions4u wrote: »

Please an you explain how this process works.

Thanks.

jem16 wrote: »

The FCA clearly state on their website that they don't handle individual complaints. It is likely that they would simply pass it the FOS where you have been.

http://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/complaints-and-compensation/how-to-complain

This is one area where the FCA act on contact from an individual

http://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/protect-yourself/misleading-adverts/reporting-form

It appears that those who did not know that are in the majority in this thread and I wonder whether their other posts are erroneous in regard to the OP's issue

jem16

Dr_Cuckoo3 wrote: »

It appears that those who did not know that are in the majority in this thread and I wonder whether their other posts are erroneous in regard to the OP's issue

Where does the OP initially say that s/he is complaining to the FCA on the grounds of a misleading advert?

That part was only added in later.

helifox

jem16 wrote: »

Perhaps you would be best not using online applications and going into the branch where someone can guide you through it.



What a load of twaddle. There are too many people who now refuse to accept any responsibility for anything. It's always someone else's fault.

Businesses can only do so much but they cannot force people to read applications and T&Cs properly. There comes a time when everyone has to grow up and accept responsibility - that's what being an adult is all about. Mummy and Daddy can't always fix it for you.

In our case the branch were always an utter catastrophe. It took two months for them to sort out POA, because the photocopy of my passport that they took was rejected as not being good enough by head office, and returned to branch where it sat in an email holding account for three weeks. I was never informed there had been a problem. When the branch helpfully filled in an account transfer application for me, because I had a two year old in my lap, they filled in the wrong account number - and we had to re-do the whole thing, and lost a months interest. Halifax never managed to sort out telephone banking for POA. Really, we have forgiven the Halifax a lot. That is why this galls. BTW, I worked out the interest lost: it is over £1000.

Dr_Cuckoo3

jem16 wrote: »

Where does the OP initially say that s/he is complaining to the FCA on the grounds of a misleading advert?

That part was only added in later.

here - and earlier

helifox wrote: »

The FCA do have the power to redress misleading advertising. Whether they will use it or not is something else...

helifox wrote: »

1.No -
2.The FCA have accepted the complaint.

opinions4u wrote: »

Please an you explain how this process works.

Thanks.

http://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/protect-yourself/misleading-adverts/reporting-form

helifox

jem16 wrote: »

Why don't you post the website details with some parts changed like dots to spaces? Someone else can then turn it into a proper link.

Here you go. www%inkthing%net/halifux%jpg
Replace the % with .

(However I have no way of knowing if this is the correct application because there is no date... Halifax sent me the wrong application screens twice before I got this dreadful photocopy..)
And it is all something of a red herring. It is the misleading banner advert that is the true culprit.