Vodafone / Giftcloud / Amazon / Broadbandchoices giftcard hassle

MacGyver2021

This post is to highlight the issues I have had trying to claim an Amazon giftcard I was eligible for when signing up with Vodafone through an MSE offer.

• 19 May 2021 - Signed up to Vodafone broadband through MSE. Received email stating: If you have any questions or have not received your voucher 120 days after your purchase date, please contact customer.service@broadbandchoices.co.uk.
• 22 Sep 2021 - No giftcard, emailed broadbandchoices.
• 27 Sep 2021 - Received reply from broadbandchoices stating: In order to query your voucher please email our Giftcloud colleagues at hello@giftcloud.com. Which I did.
  
• 28 Sep 2021 - Received reply from giftcloud stating: We need to send this over to the Vodafone team for further investigation. Please do bear with us while we look into your query. It may take up to 10 working days (Monday to Friday) to provide an update on this.

As another poster stated, my learning is to avoid any future offers that include gift cards. Instead select another offer (maybe slightly more costly) that includes real cash off or another attractive offer that you won't have to chase and may never be paid. I can't believe many people bother to chase unpaid rewards given the hoops you have to jump through.

I will update this post when there are any new developments.

JJ_Egan

You should inform MSE of this .

MacGyver2021

• 06 Oct 2021 - Received reply from giftcloud stating:
  We have investigated your query and received information from Vodafone, that you are eligible for a reward, this could take up to 10 working days ( Monday to Friday).

Let's see what happens...

MacGyver2021

• 12 Oct 2021 - Received voucher from Vodafone and was able to redeem it.

Despite this I would still not recommend signing up for any offer where a gift card is part of the deal.

JJ_Egan

Thats the basic advice on the forum . Kickbacks should be thought of as an extra bonus rather than part of the price .

Owain_Moneysaver

I got my Amazon voucher okay, without having to chase it. 

Unfortunately I am now committed to Vodafone for two years which is one of the worst decisions of my life. 

James01

Owain_Moneysaver said:

I got my Amazon voucher okay, without having to chase it. 

Unfortunately I am now committed to Vodafone for two years which is one of the worst decisions of my life. 

Do you mind me asking why?  I was thinking of changing to them.

MacGyver2021

James01 said:

Owain_Moneysaver said:

I got my Amazon voucher okay, without having to chase it. 

Unfortunately I am now committed to Vodafone for two years which is one of the worst decisions of my life. 

Do you mind me asking why?  I was thinking of changing to them.

I was previously with EE (FTTC) and the internet dropped out every night around the same time and also randomly during the day. Fortunately for me switching to Vodafone (FTTC) has resolved the problem and the connection is really solid now. But yes, two year contract and not long after switching Gigaclear was offering a better deal on FTTP/FTTH which is annoying but I can wait. The Vodafone service is plenty fast enough.

Owain_Moneysaver

James01 said:

Owain_Moneysaver said:

I got my Amazon voucher okay, without having to chase it. 

Unfortunately I am now committed to Vodafone for two years which is one of the worst decisions of my life. 

Do you mind me asking why?  I was thinking of changing to them.

Customer service promise the earth, never deliver, and tell lies to get you off the phone. Promise callbacks but don't, promise compensation for no broadband for a week but don't, and will deliver a speed one smidgeonette above the level which would entitle me to leave the contract penalty-free but megasmidgeons slower than promised (and paid for) - getting 39 MB down on a 63 Mb package. Up is less than 5Mb. Technical support is seriously, seriously, thick and couldn't tell an IP address from a chocolate eclair. 

Ignoring the voucher, they're not much if any cheaper than Plusnet, who do possess moderate levels of clue. 

phillw

Owain_Moneysaver said:

Ignoring the voucher, they're not much if any cheaper than Plusnet, who do possess moderate levels of clue. 

That is not my experience with plusnet trying to resolve faults and billing issues.

I admit that I'm not particularly happy with having to commit to vodafone for two years, but I've had no problems with the service so far. I plugged the new router into my local router when I got up and was done in five minutes.

The voucher remains to be seen.

SeanM

I'm having the same issues with claiming my voucher after having changed provider to Shell Energy (recommended by MSE) - I've submitted the requested proof but they've gone quiet and seemingly no way to access the support ticket they sent me when they asked for the proof...
Offer came (branded as Shell Energy) from no-reply@giftcloud.com with message saying to contact customerservices@broadbandchoices.co.uk (which I've done)
 
Anyone else having issues?