Topcashback...again :(

michaels

So I found what looked like a good deal on fibre broadband - a BT package with Unlimited 50mbs fibre, tv, line-rental and sim for £11 after BT incentives and cashback.

Unfortunately TCB was offering the highest cashback rates and rather than going with quidco and getting them to match I went with TCB.

Big mistake.

Firstly although TCB had been offering £205 for weeks for this package it tracked at about £140 which was not a rate they were offering at that time for any package.

Now 5 months later (it was due in 2) the cashback has been turned down as normal no reason given. I use a dedicated browser, no add-ons and clear all cookies before I do cashback transactions so have very few failures.

Is it just a one of story of cashback not tracking? No. I made the mistake of sharing the deal on HotUKDeals and many others have had exactly the same experience.

TCB have been as much use as a chocolate teapot in all this, just telling me to wait when it took much longer than advertised and now telling me to submit an enquiry - except I can't on their system because I already did for the amount being wrong.

A very expensive lesson learned for me and all those others who followed my advice. Don't use topcashback, their customer service budget goes on TV ads not looking after their customers. Quidco will match their rates and stuff generally tracks with them and if it doesn't their CS sort you out.

Thinking of using TCB? You have been warned.

gunshot

Just wanted to add that Im in the same boat. For me the deal originally tracked at £185 (instead of the advertised £205) and now 5 months later the deal has been declined.

Wonder who took all the lovely commissions for these deals??? hmmm

Clueless969

Following on from the opening post, which reflects my experience of this TCB deal, here is what I posted this morning on the TCB site...

Hello - I have just discovered that my claim has been declined.

I and a LOT of other people who have gone through TCB would like to know why our claims have been declined and what has/is being done about it???

All of our claims are for activated contracts and so there can be no legitimate (?) reason for them to be declined. We all feel robbed of what would have been a value for money contract when the cashback is included and expect a full explanation of why these cashback claims have been declined?

I am very careful with my purchases and only took this "deal" because of the cashback that you promised. I am now out of pocket by £200. Please fix this for all of those declined and live up to your reputation as Cashback site of the Year.

Justice13075

I had a claim with Standard Life Insurance declined after 8 months. This was on a rival cashback site, they were useless as well. So I wrote to Standard life explaining the meaning of cashback and that if they didn't pay i would take them to the FOS Financial Ombudsman Service. Within 10 days they changed their decision and paid out. Contact the merchant yourselves. Don't quote me on this but I think it cost the merchant around £500 if the claim goes to the FOS.

dacouch

I used to love TCB but recently have had a few of cashbacks declined or not tracked.

I tend to think twice about using them and no longer recommend them to friends

michaels

Justice13075 wrote: »

I had a claim with Standard Life Insurance declined after 8 months. This was on a rival cashback site, they were useless as well. So I wrote to Standard life explaining the meaning of cashback and that if they didn't pay i would take them to the FOS Financial Ombudsman Service. Within 10 days they changed their decision and paid out. Contact the merchant yourselves. Don't quote me on this but I think it cost the merchant around £500 if the claim goes to the FOS.

Interesting idea but I'm not sure if the FOS would cover BT and ofcom might claim it is nothing to do with them

Tom_Jones

Same here just had a 33 quid cashback declined on TCB which is the second successive cashback declined from them, maybe I should contact Saga directly and ask for my 33 quid


No more TCB for me but in my view Quidco are just as bad.

Sooler

michaels wrote: »

Interesting idea but I'm not sure if the FOS would cover BT and ofcom might claim it is nothing to do with them

Yep, complain to the merchant. The cash back site are using the merchant to pee off the merchants customers, not good for the merchant. Suggest the merchant take action to stop the cash back site doing it.

bristolleedsfan

michaels wrote: »

Interesting idea but I'm not sure if the FOS would cover BT and ofcom might claim it is nothing to do with them

BT complaints procedure together with whom to contact if not resolved

Complain about Cashback Contract Misselling

http://www.btplc.com/Thegroup/RegulatoryandPublicaffairs/Codeofpractice/CustomerComplaintsCode/Complaints_code_of_practice.pdf

michaels

Thanks blf

s10cr

teddysmum

Some time ago, there was a thread about Plus and Classic membership, the latter offering less cashback,but the former needing a £5 fee which could reduce a small deal to lower than Classic payment.


People found that a general look at the site quoted the Plus rates, but when they logged in they saw the lower Classic rate.


I was automatically enrolled as Plus, having let my account lapse and asked to be downgraded to Classic. However, before and after logging in the higher rate for the manufacturer (Medion) shows . I have queried this with them and am still waiting for a reply.