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

ForumUser7

They replied quickly at least, but its frustrating they didn't side with you.

Have you got any evidence to show that the Refer a Friend Scheme which launched in November 2020 ended at any point (or was relaunched) before December 2022? If so, I'd go for an Ombudsman review. If not, it would be difficult to convince them.

Bridlington1

ForumUser7 said:

They replied quickly at least, but its frustrating they didn't side with you.

Have you got any evidence to show that the Refer a Friend Scheme which launched in November 2020 ended at any point (or was relaunched) before December 2022? If so, I'd go for an Ombudsman review. If not, it would be difficult to convince them.

All I've got is that the Ts&Cs were different when I switched my first account to them to when I switched my second to them. If the FOS are saying that the increasing of the offer amount to £125 did not signify the beginning of a new offer then it's certainly not looking promising for me. 

Ed-1

ForumUser7 said:

They replied quickly at least, but its frustrating they didn't side with you.

Have you got any evidence to show that the Refer a Friend Scheme which launched in November 2020 ended at any point (or was relaunched) before December 2022? If so, I'd go for an Ombudsman review. If not, it would be difficult to convince them.

Hope for those who did both £125 offers then as the first clearly was ended on 16th December 2022.

Bridlington1

Ed-1 said:

ForumUser7 said:

They replied quickly at least, but its frustrating they didn't side with you.

Have you got any evidence to show that the Refer a Friend Scheme which launched in November 2020 ended at any point (or was relaunched) before December 2022? If so, I'd go for an Ombudsman review. If not, it would be difficult to convince them.

Hope for those who did both £125 offers then as the first clearly was ended on 16th December 2022.

At least that's something I suppose. The issue for me is that I didn't do the second £125 offer because I was waiting for the FOS to respond regarding the first £125 offer.

[Deleted User]

How long ago did you complain to the Ombudsman? I have a separate complaint that I’ve been waiting a very long time for…

ForumUser7

Bridlington1 said:

ForumUser7 said:

They replied quickly at least, but its frustrating they didn't side with you.

Have you got any evidence to show that the Refer a Friend Scheme which launched in November 2020 ended at any point (or was relaunched) before December 2022? If so, I'd go for an Ombudsman review. If not, it would be difficult to convince them.

All I've got is that the Ts&Cs were different when I switched my first account to them to when I switched my second to them. If the FOS are saying that the increasing of the offer amount to £125 did not signify the beginning of a new offer then it's certainly not looking promising for me. 

I think the problematic clause is 4.1 'We can withdraw this offer at any time and should we choose to do so, we will update our website with the final switching date on which we will honour any payments.'

If they didn't update their website with a final switching date for the 'old' offer, then I suppose they could argue it was never withdrawn, and therefore it is the same offer - which seems to be what they are saying. The terms have changed, but there isn't a date in the new ts and cs that it says the offer is effective from. It is still referred to as the 'refer a friend' promotion.

I guess there is no harm in getting an ombudsman decision - but I wouldn't have high hopes.

I think for clarity the CO-OP should've specified that customers would not be eligible for the £125, if they had received any refer a friend payment before.

For example something along the lines of amending clause 3.8 to: We reserve the right to withhold any payment (or to reverse any payment already made) where we have reasonable grounds for suspecting you have sought to materially abuse or profiteer from the offer, or that you have already received a payment from any of our 'refer a friend' promotions. For example this may arise if we have grounds for believing that you have sought to engage in a marketing campaign to solicit applications from individuals who are not from within your family or immediate circle of friends, or if the bank finds evidence of a payment made to you under this version, or any previous versions of our 'refer a friend' promotion.

~ https://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/assets/pdf/bank/currentaccounts/refer-a-friend-terms-and-conditions.pdf (this is the version of the ts and cs I've referenced in my post)

Bridlington1

[Deleted User] said:

How long ago did you complain to the Ombudsman? I have a separate complaint that I’ve been waiting a very long time for…

29th December.

Bridlington1

ForumUser7 said:

Bridlington1 said:

ForumUser7 said:

They replied quickly at least, but its frustrating they didn't side with you.

Have you got any evidence to show that the Refer a Friend Scheme which launched in November 2020 ended at any point (or was relaunched) before December 2022? If so, I'd go for an Ombudsman review. If not, it would be difficult to convince them.

All I've got is that the Ts&Cs were different when I switched my first account to them to when I switched my second to them. If the FOS are saying that the increasing of the offer amount to £125 did not signify the beginning of a new offer then it's certainly not looking promising for me. 

I think the problematic clause is 4.1 'We can withdraw this offer at any time and should we choose to do so, we will update our website with the final switching date on which we will honour any payments.'

If they didn't update their website with a final switching date for the 'old' offer, then I suppose they could argue it was never withdrawn, and therefore it is the same offer - which seems to be what they are saying. The terms have changed, but there isn't a date in the new ts and cs that it says the offer is effective from. It is still referred to as the 'refer a friend' promotion.

I guess there is no harm in getting an ombudsman decision - but I wouldn't have high hopes.

I think for clarity the CO-OP should've specified that customers would not be eligible for the £125, if they had received any refer a friend payment before.

For example something along the lines of amending clause 3.8 to: We reserve the right to withhold any payment (or to reverse any payment already made) where we have reasonable grounds for suspecting you have sought to materially abuse or profiteer from the offer, or that you have already received a payment from any of our 'refer a friend' promotions. For example this may arise if we have grounds for believing that you have sought to engage in a marketing campaign to solicit applications from individuals who are not from within your family or immediate circle of friends, or if the bank finds evidence of a payment made to you under this version, or any previous versions of our 'refer a friend' promotion.

~ https://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/assets/pdf/bank/currentaccounts/refer-a-friend-terms-and-conditions.pdf (this is the version of the ts and cs I've referenced in my post)

I think the most logical thing for them to have done is to keep the original cut off time in the Ts&Cs as they did when it was still at £50. Regardless I think they could have made the offer Ts&Cs a bit clearer to avoid any misconceptions.

Dustybee

Ed-1 said:

ForumUser7 said:

They replied quickly at least, but its frustrating they didn't side with you.

Have you got any evidence to show that the Refer a Friend Scheme which launched in November 2020 ended at any point (or was relaunched) before December 2022? If so, I'd go for an Ombudsman review. If not, it would be difficult to convince them.

Hope for those who did both £125 offers then as the first clearly was ended on 16th December 2022.

Do you have a screenshot or actual confirmation of this?  I've got a screenshot of the latest referral stating the end date of 28th February.

bristolleedsfan

ForumUser7 said:

Bridlington1 said:

ForumUser7 said:

They replied quickly at least, but its frustrating they didn't side with you.

Have you got any evidence to show that the Refer a Friend Scheme which launched in November 2020 ended at any point (or was relaunched) before December 2022? If so, I'd go for an Ombudsman review. If not, it would be difficult to convince them.

All I've got is that the Ts&Cs were different when I switched my first account to them to when I switched my second to them. If the FOS are saying that the increasing of the offer amount to £125 did not signify the beginning of a new offer then it's certainly not looking promising for me. 

If they didn't update their website with a final switching date for the 'old' offer, then I suppose they could argue it was never withdrawn, and therefore it is the same offer - which seems to be what they are saying. The terms have changed, but there isn't a date in the new ts and cs that it says the offer is effective from. It is still referred to as the 'refer a friend' promotion.

£50 offer did not get withdrawn, it was increased to £125 on 1 November ....