Recommend a friend

TheCh3f

Hi All

Long time reader, first time poster.

Recently I bought a new house with one of the big house builders. In my welcome pack they gave me a "Recommend a friend" voucher, entitling me to £1000 if I recommended a friend! Not bad eh?

Well I did recommend a friend and they went on to buy the house. I followed all the terms and conditions, however, I later found out that the Sales Team offered my friend a better deal if they did not hand in the Recommend a friend voucher.

My friend decided to go with the financially better deal and not hand in the voucher. Which I can't really complain about as I probably would've done the same thing. However, I am extremely annoyed that the House Builder gave my friend this option!

I want to make a complaint, but before I do I wanted to see if anyone wiser than me had similar experiences? Can I even complain about this or do I have any options available?

From my point of view, the House Builder has an incentive scheme which they use to attract new customers, but then simply ignore the incentive and shaft the person who introduced them to a new customer!

marksoton

Some friend!

And a sneaky developer!

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

You certainly can complain about this! But only to your "friend".

It's just lucky that you won't be seeing much of that friend in future now you have moved to a new.........oh.

pmlindyloo

I suggest that you go onto their website and check their terms and conditions.

This one, for example, says that it cannot be used with any other offer on the plot.

http://www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/london/why-us/why-buy-new/recommend-a-friend---terms-and-conditions/

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

It also says "3. Your friend must present the recommend a friend voucher to us prior to signing the reservation form on their new Barratt property.", much more to the point.

The friend chose to take £500 (or whatever) for themselves rather than present the voucher and get £1000 for the OP. The OP can have their voucher back and give it to another friend. It's not been used yet.

Marvel1

It's a strange one as they offered your friend a better deal hence losing out more.

I can only think read carefully what it says in relation to this get out clause.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Thinking about it you could give this voucher to everyone who walks through the developers's doors for the next 5 years. As the voucher would never actually get used, if they tried this trick every time they would end up giving away far more in discounts than they would if they simply gave you the £1000 once.

I imagine they are fairly confident nobody is going to do this though.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

cjdavies wrote: »

It's a strange one as they offered your friend a better deal hence losing out more.

I can only think read carefully what it says in relation to this get out clause.

I don't think he means "a better deal than £1000". Just a better deal for the friend. £500 off the price is a better deal for him.

Also, there's no get out clause. The friend never presented the voucher. The friend presenting the voucher was the start of the process, and the friend chose not to start it.

Marvel1

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

I don't think he means "a better deal than £1000". Just a better deal for the friend. £500 off the price is a better deal for him.

Ah I see, ouch, if I was the one with the £1000 to recommend, I think I would have said to my friend £500 each.

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

cjdavies wrote: »

Ah I see, ouch, if I was the one with the £1000 to recommend, I think I would have said to my friend £500 each.

Although even then some people would still end up taking an offer of £600 for them and nothing for you.

csgohan4

Did you offer your friend any money on completion to share the 1000?

If not Why should I use a voucher that doesn't give me any benefit and in fact is more expensive than if I went with the developer's offer?

Why are you annoyed at the developer for giving your friend an option? Your friend haggled for the best deal for himself and his family. Why rely on a piece of paper that only benefits you?

Clearly you have an ulterior motive and expected something from your friend doing you a favor when you didn't offer one in return.