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

StevenGude

Dustybee said:

I've just had an email refusal of the bonus as a referred friend.  I already had a bonus from the last referral but had switched out the account so had no current account with co-op at the time of this current bonus.  

Interestingly the referrer refusal email says that 'my friend' has been referred by someone else and therefore they only pay the first referral friend.  Which is a nonsense because there has only been one referral friend on both referrals and they were the same person.

Would be interested if anyone else has had the bonus paid with the same circumstances.  I read earlier in the thread some were trying again as nothing in the T's & C's said this wasn't valid.

Just had same email

Messaged them saying TandC only say not have a current account - which we didn't

I've messaged them complaining and saying I'll refer to FCA

Let me know how you get on

Dustybee

StevenGude said:

Dustybee said:

I've just had an email refusal of the bonus as a referred friend.  I already had a bonus from the last referral but had switched out the account so had no current account with co-op at the time of this current bonus.  

Interestingly the referrer refusal email says that 'my friend' has been referred by someone else and therefore they only pay the first referral friend.  Which is a nonsense because there has only been one referral friend on both referrals and they were the same person.

Would be interested if anyone else has had the bonus paid with the same circumstances.  I read earlier in the thread some were trying again as nothing in the T's & C's said this wasn't valid.

Just had same email

Messaged them saying TandC only say not have a current account - which we didn't

I've messaged them complaining and saying I'll refer to FCA

Let me know how you get on

Did you message them by replying to the email or another method.

I'll definitely do the same complaining.  I've had another scan through the T & C's and can't find anything specific to their refusal on these grounds.

StevenGude

Dustybee said:

StevenGude said:

Dustybee said:

I've just had an email refusal of the bonus as a referred friend.  I already had a bonus from the last referral but had switched out the account so had no current account with co-op at the time of this current bonus.  

Interestingly the referrer refusal email says that 'my friend' has been referred by someone else and therefore they only pay the first referral friend.  Which is a nonsense because there has only been one referral friend on both referrals and they were the same person.

Would be interested if anyone else has had the bonus paid with the same circumstances.  I read earlier in the thread some were trying again as nothing in the T's & C's said this wasn't valid.

Just had same email

Messaged them saying TandC only say not have a current account - which we didn't

I've messaged them complaining and saying I'll refer to FCA

Let me know how you get on

Did you message them by replying to the email or another method.

I'll definitely do the same complaining.  I've had another scan through the T & C's and can't find anything specific to their refusal on these grounds.

We messaged on the online banking

Told them to take this as a formal complaint and would be referred to FCA unless rectified.

Prob worth ringing them though. 

flaneurs_lobster

Dustybee said:

I've just had an email refusal of the bonus as a referred friend.  I already had a bonus from the last referral but had switched out the account so had no current account with co-op at the time of this current bonus.  

Interestingly the referrer refusal email says that 'my friend' has been referred by someone else and therefore they only pay the first referral friend.  Which is a nonsense because there has only been one referral friend on both referrals and they were the same person.

Would be interested if anyone else has had the bonus paid with the same circumstances.  I read earlier in the thread some were trying again as nothing in the T's & C's said this wasn't valid.

Just been bounced too. Co-Op are playing hardball. The only clause in the T&C I can see that is relevant is

3.6 The Recommended Friend is entitled to only one payment even if they switch more than one account to us or if more than one Recommender refers them.

If they take this to mean a payment from a previous offer then I'm bang to rights.

StevenGude

flaneurs_lobster said:

Dustybee said:

I've just had an email refusal of the bonus as a referred friend.  I already had a bonus from the last referral but had switched out the account so had no current account with co-op at the time of this current bonus.  

Interestingly the referrer refusal email says that 'my friend' has been referred by someone else and therefore they only pay the first referral friend.  Which is a nonsense because there has only been one referral friend on both referrals and they were the same person.

Would be interested if anyone else has had the bonus paid with the same circumstances.  I read earlier in the thread some were trying again as nothing in the T's & C's said this wasn't valid.

Just been bounced too. Co-Op are playing hardball. The only clause in the T&C I can see that is relevant is

3.6 The Recommended Friend is entitled to only one payment even if they switch more than one account to us or if more than one Recommender refers them.

If they take this to mean a payment from a previous offer then I'm bang to rights.

Have you received the payment in this offer period?

My understanding is that the above refers to this offer.

Previous offers, although the same amount, should be considered as separate as they were ended, not paused.

bristolleedsfan

StevenGude said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Dustybee said:

I've just had an email refusal of the bonus as a referred friend.  I already had a bonus from the last referral but had switched out the account so had no current account with co-op at the time of this current bonus.  

Interestingly the referrer refusal email says that 'my friend' has been referred by someone else and therefore they only pay the first referral friend.  Which is a nonsense because there has only been one referral friend on both referrals and they were the same person.

Would be interested if anyone else has had the bonus paid with the same circumstances.  I read earlier in the thread some were trying again as nothing in the T's & C's said this wasn't valid.

Just been bounced too. Co-Op are playing hardball. The only clause in the T&C I can see that is relevant is

3.6 The Recommended Friend is entitled to only one payment even if they switch more than one account to us or if more than one Recommender refers them.

If they take this to mean a payment from a previous offer then I'm bang to rights.

Have you received the payment in this offer period?

My understanding is that the above refers to this offer.

Previous offers, although the same amount, should be considered as separate as they were ended, not paused.

It is same £125 offer merely a different offer period.

flaneurs_lobster

StevenGude said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Dustybee said:

I've just had an email refusal of the bonus as a referred friend.  I already had a bonus from the last referral but had switched out the account so had no current account with co-op at the time of this current bonus.  

Interestingly the referrer refusal email says that 'my friend' has been referred by someone else and therefore they only pay the first referral friend.  Which is a nonsense because there has only been one referral friend on both referrals and they were the same person.

Would be interested if anyone else has had the bonus paid with the same circumstances.  I read earlier in the thread some were trying again as nothing in the T's & C's said this wasn't valid.

Just been bounced too. Co-Op are playing hardball. The only clause in the T&C I can see that is relevant is

3.6 The Recommended Friend is entitled to only one payment even if they switch more than one account to us or if more than one Recommender refers them.

If they take this to mean a payment from a previous offer then I'm bang to rights.

Have you received the payment in this offer period?

My understanding is that the above refers to this offer.

Previous offers, although the same amount, should be considered as separate as they were ended, not paused.

Payment was for the previous offer, was paid 16/01. Can't remember when the current (just ended yesterday) offer started.

The crucial statement you make is "my understanding is....". That's not what the clause says.

StevenGude

flaneurs_lobster said:

StevenGude said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Dustybee said:

I've just had an email refusal of the bonus as a referred friend.  I already had a bonus from the last referral but had switched out the account so had no current account with co-op at the time of this current bonus.  

Interestingly the referrer refusal email says that 'my friend' has been referred by someone else and therefore they only pay the first referral friend.  Which is a nonsense because there has only been one referral friend on both referrals and they were the same person.

Would be interested if anyone else has had the bonus paid with the same circumstances.  I read earlier in the thread some were trying again as nothing in the T's & C's said this wasn't valid.

Just been bounced too. Co-Op are playing hardball. The only clause in the T&C I can see that is relevant is

3.6 The Recommended Friend is entitled to only one payment even if they switch more than one account to us or if more than one Recommender refers them.

If they take this to mean a payment from a previous offer then I'm bang to rights.

Have you received the payment in this offer period?

My understanding is that the above refers to this offer.

Previous offers, although the same amount, should be considered as separate as they were ended, not paused.

Payment was for the previous offer, was paid 16/01. Can't remember when the current (just ended yesterday) offer started.

The crucial statement you make is "my understanding is....". That's not what the clause says.

They don't refer to any other offer. Just because the payment is the same, doesn't mean they can claim its the same offer. The T&C have materially changed- they have added several terms.

I'm quite happy to test it with the ombudsman. I may lose but I'm happy to give it a go.

Dustybee

flaneurs_lobster said:

3.6 The Recommended Friend is entitled to only one payment even if they switch more than one account to us or if more than one Recommender refers them.

If they take this to mean a payment from a previous offer then I'm bang to rights.

I take the 3.6 clause to mean switching more than one account into the same co-operative current account. Even if you've just opened it.

I think we can all agree that it's open to interpretation and so they have left themselves open to complaints.  

Bridlington1

StevenGude said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Dustybee said:

I've just had an email refusal of the bonus as a referred friend.  I already had a bonus from the last referral but had switched out the account so had no current account with co-op at the time of this current bonus.  

Interestingly the referrer refusal email says that 'my friend' has been referred by someone else and therefore they only pay the first referral friend.  Which is a nonsense because there has only been one referral friend on both referrals and they were the same person.

Would be interested if anyone else has had the bonus paid with the same circumstances.  I read earlier in the thread some were trying again as nothing in the T's & C's said this wasn't valid.

Just been bounced too. Co-Op are playing hardball. The only clause in the T&C I can see that is relevant is

3.6 The Recommended Friend is entitled to only one payment even if they switch more than one account to us or if more than one Recommender refers them.

If they take this to mean a payment from a previous offer then I'm bang to rights.

Have you received the payment in this offer period?

My understanding is that the above refers to this offer.

Previous offers, although the same amount, should be considered as separate as they were ended, not paused.

There's at least 2 people on this forum, myself included who have run into this issue and have complaints with the FOS as a result.

Back in May I was referred to Co-op for the £50. When they launched the first £125 switching offer I switched my Co-op account to Bank of Scotland. I then opened a Co-op current account once the switch had completed and switched a donor account I had laying around back to Co-op.

Once the switch had completed  I had an email telling me I wasn't eligible for the £125 because I had "already benefitted from this offer". I complained and Co-op who told me that they would not give me the £125 because I was classed as an existing customer and therefore ineligible, so a different reason to the one they'd originally given. 

I took the complaint to the FOS back in December and in January received an email telling me that a case handler would be in touch within the next 4 months. 

Either way if my memory serves me correctly there have been several people in this thread who have received £50 during the first Co-op offer, switched out before they launched the first £125 offer then successfully received £125 as well so if you fully switched out before they launched the 2nd £125 offer you should be eligible for £125 again.

It is my opinion based on the above that it is not you having received a refer a friend offer in the past that's causing issues but the definition of an "existing customer", which is not defined in the Ts&Cs. In the original £50 offer it stated clearly:

The Recommended Friend must:
• Not already hold a Co-operative Bank current account of any type as of 1 June 2021

The £125 offers did not include a term like this and thus the issues arise.