Co-operative Refer a Friend Switching Offer £125 (Nov 2022)

bristolleedsfan

Alex9384 said:

So I applied on the 1st Feb, received an email on the same day saying I was approved.

Yesterday received a letter with my new account details, but I still can't register for online banking. I called their CS and gave them the account details and they asked if it's a new account because it doesn't come up in their system.... They said I just need to wait a few more days, possibly for some additional checks.

Anyone else has similar experience?

Should be able to log in with your previous log in details ( I and other did) if not now within a few days.

WillPS

AmityNeon said:

soulsaver said:

I've had a Co op ac for years.

However I've now opened a new account with them and intend to do a switch in. I'm hoping to get a referral bonus even though I'm an existing customer as IMO the terms do not exclude this.

I fully expect an argument from them, which equally I fully expect to win.

Anybody else tried? Failed or succeeded? 

There's an ongoing FOS case from when they refused to pay their previous incentive. If you hold a Co-op current account on or after the offer start date, they will not consider you a new customer even if you close the account before applying again. Their terms are vague and sloppy, hence the FOS involvement.

I think @soulsaver seems to believe they're eligible despite already holding an account, which I think they're on a hiding to nothing on since it's pretty clear in their terms that these are excluded.

I agree the case of closing any accounts and shortly after opening a new one is not adequately excluded as the terms are written. Frankly I'm not minded to try it on since the opportunity cost of not having an account to refer people to, even temporarily, is rather higher than the reward from proving a point via the FOS.

soulsaver

WillPS said:

AmityNeon said:

soulsaver said:

I've had a Co op ac for years.

However I've now opened a new account with them and intend to do a switch in. I'm hoping to get a referral bonus even though I'm an existing customer as IMO the terms do not exclude this.

I fully expect an argument from them, which equally I fully expect to win.

Anybody else tried? Failed or succeeded? 

There's an ongoing FOS case from when they refused to pay their previous incentive. If you hold a Co-op current account on or after the offer start date, they will not consider you a new customer even if you close the account before applying again. Their terms are vague and sloppy, hence the FOS involvement.

I think @soulsaver seems to believe they're eligible despite already holding an account, which I think they're on a hiding to nothing on since it's pretty clear in their terms that these are excluded.

I agree the case of closing any accounts and shortly after opening a new one is not adequately excluded as the terms are written. Frankly I'm not minded to try it on since the opportunity cost of not having an account to refer people to, even temporarily, is rather higher than the reward from proving a point via the FOS.

Where does it say in the terms that you can't already be a customer?

Zanderman

soulsaver said:

WillPS said:

AmityNeon said:

soulsaver said:

I've had a Co op ac for years.

However I've now opened a new account with them and intend to do a switch in. I'm hoping to get a referral bonus even though I'm an existing customer as IMO the terms do not exclude this.

I fully expect an argument from them, which equally I fully expect to win.

Anybody else tried? Failed or succeeded? 

There's an ongoing FOS case from when they refused to pay their previous incentive. If you hold a Co-op current account on or after the offer start date, they will not consider you a new customer even if you close the account before applying again. Their terms are vague and sloppy, hence the FOS involvement.

I think @soulsaver seems to believe they're eligible despite already holding an account, which I think they're on a hiding to nothing on since it's pretty clear in their terms that these are excluded.

I agree the case of closing any accounts and shortly after opening a new one is not adequately excluded as the terms are written. Frankly I'm not minded to try it on since the opportunity cost of not having an account to refer people to, even temporarily, is rather higher than the reward from proving a point via the FOS.

Where does it say in the terms that you can't already be a customer?

Here:  https://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/products/bank-accounts/refer-a-friend/

But, I think, not here:  https://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/assets/pdf/bank/currentaccounts/refer-a-friend-terms-and-conditions.pdf

Which is odd.

But the full terms do include the catch-all: 

5.1 Our accounts are subject to eligibility criteria, status and our lending policy. We reserve the right to decline your application. Where we decline your application, we will not make a payment to either the Recommender or Friend

Which they might well invoke if someone tries to claim the incentive when they already have an account.

bristolleedsfan

soulsaver said:

WillPS said:

AmityNeon said:

soulsaver said:

I've had a Co op ac for years.

However I've now opened a new account with them and intend to do a switch in. I'm hoping to get a referral bonus even though I'm an existing customer as IMO the terms do not exclude this.

I fully expect an argument from them, which equally I fully expect to win.

Anybody else tried? Failed or succeeded? 

There's an ongoing FOS case from when they refused to pay their previous incentive. If you hold a Co-op current account on or after the offer start date, they will not consider you a new customer even if you close the account before applying again. Their terms are vague and sloppy, hence the FOS involvement.

I think @soulsaver seems to believe they're eligible despite already holding an account, which I think they're on a hiding to nothing on since it's pretty clear in their terms that these are excluded.

I agree the case of closing any accounts and shortly after opening a new one is not adequately excluded as the terms are written. Frankly I'm not minded to try it on since the opportunity cost of not having an account to refer people to, even temporarily, is rather higher than the reward from proving a point via the FOS.

Where does it say in the terms that you can't already be a customer?

Crystal clear  "Recommended Friend "To qualify for this offer as an eligible new customer you must" .....

flaneurs_lobster

There's no point rehashing this discussion about who is interpreting the T&Cs (or lack thereof) correctly. Either the Co-op cough up or they don't.

If someone has referred them to the regulator then lets wait to see if it's upheld or not.

soulsaver

bristolleedsfan said:

soulsaver said:

WillPS said:

AmityNeon said:

soulsaver said:

I've had a Co op ac for years.

However I've now opened a new account with them and intend to do a switch in. I'm hoping to get a referral bonus even though I'm an existing customer as IMO the terms do not exclude this.

I fully expect an argument from them, which equally I fully expect to win.

Anybody else tried? Failed or succeeded? 

There's an ongoing FOS case from when they refused to pay their previous incentive. If you hold a Co-op current account on or after the offer start date, they will not consider you a new customer even if you close the account before applying again. Their terms are vague and sloppy, hence the FOS involvement.

I think @soulsaver seems to believe they're eligible despite already holding an account, which I think they're on a hiding to nothing on since it's pretty clear in their terms that these are excluded.

I agree the case of closing any accounts and shortly after opening a new one is not adequately excluded as the terms are written. Frankly I'm not minded to try it on since the opportunity cost of not having an account to refer people to, even temporarily, is rather higher than the reward from proving a point via the FOS.

Where does it say in the terms that you can't already be a customer?

Crystal clear  "Recommended Friend "To qualify for this offer as an eligible new customer you must" .....

It doesn't say those words in the terms. 

soulsaver

flaneurs_lobster said:

There's no point rehashing this discussion about who is interpreting the T&Cs (or lack thereof) correctly. Either the Co-op cough up or they don't.

If someone has referred them to the regulator then lets wait to see if it's upheld or not.

You're right, it doesn't need rehashing - it's 'crystal' clear: It doesn't say the friend needs to be a new customer in the terms - it says they need to open a new account.

I know it says otherwise elsewhere, but those words aren't the Terms & Conditions.

flaneurs_lobster

Oh yes it does.

Oh no it doesn't.

etc etc

WillPS

soulsaver said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

There's no point rehashing this discussion about who is interpreting the T&Cs (or lack thereof) correctly. Either the Co-op cough up or they don't.

If someone has referred them to the regulator then lets wait to see if it's upheld or not.

You're right, it doesn't need rehashing - it's 'crystal' clear: It doesn't say the friend needs to be a new customer in the terms - it says they need to open a new account.

I know it says otherwise elsewhere, but those words aren't the Terms & Conditions.

Given that all references to the offer point to that Refer a Friend page, and there is no manual version which relies on those printed terms, you are taking the mickey if you expect those terms to be what is considered in isolation.

But sure, waste your time, the ombudsman's time and the bank's time and money if you believe otherwise.