Money Moral Dilemma: Should I keep the rewards for a broadband package I couldn't sign up to?

gocurlygirl

Found a gift card in the street and spoke to the company customer service department.They told me to use it or destroy it.Of course I used it.£10 but I felt I had permission to spend it.( I have found £10 and £20 notes ,a plastic coin bag with money in, as well as a couple of gold rings- always handed them to shop etc .I just wish that I got feedback that the people got them back, I am concerned that it may be someone's last amount of money.  P S my husband lost his wedding ring and didn't get it back,in a shopping centre gent's.☹️

jenniewb

I'd weigh up how much effort I put in to trying to get the broadband sorted out. I rarely like to switch as it's effort and even switching between switching would stress me out so I'd include that in my effort. I'd also wait. Give the company time to chase me and then assume it was the case they didn't want the voucher back.

In all likelihood I'd keep the vouchers if no one chased me. I know they'd chase me if I owed money in bills so I would expect the chasing to come from their end. I wouldn't chase them to pay them. 

If I were keeping the voucher, I would spend it. But I'd feel bad spending it on myself totally. I'd most likely spend it pimping the gifts for relatives (kids, too many of them!) and friends I'd normally gift. I say kids firstly because I wouldn't want to pimp the gift of a friend who then may end up indirectly feel indebted to me (they shouldn't, and never should). Not impromptu gifts but birthday/Christmas gifts and cards I'd otherwise normarily gift. I would probably feel bad spending it on myself but don't think anyone else should, that's just how I roll. Each to their own, you do you and no judgement from me. 

DannyHotPotato

I can't believe anyone would destroy/cut up a prepaid card because technically 'it was not theirs'.
The company sending the card will have paid money to have the card credit added.
It would be the same as the company send cash and 'because technically it was not yours' you burnt it.
Would you set fire to a bundle of £10 notes regardless of whose they were?
No.

Ralph_the_Cat

retired19 said:

Write to the company saying you have received the card and it's available for them to collect or arrange return from your address for the next three months. Tell them that if they do not contact you for collection or return in that time you will assume that they wish you to have the benefit of it and will use it.

I agree with this approach. Also, make sure you keep an audit trail of the correspondence.

Cambsmum

Write to them giving them 14 days to send you postage to return them, if they don’t, consider them yours.

Afourteen

Return them. 

But return to the Chairman with an explanatory letter. Explain about the bad service you have received from the company when trying to setup a contract with them.
Most companies want to please their prospective customer more than their existing customers. 

jedav

To get the legal position, check carefully the wording of the pre-paid card offer (is it for signing up to the contract, or for enquiring?).  Your wording implies that the card was a reward for signing up, which you didn't, thus aren't morally entitled to the reward.  You could contact the company, offer to return the cards and see what they say.  They may not have a process for such a return.  It may be a "corporate company" but the other customers or the shareholders (including our pension funds) will pay in the end.

Emerion

In this circumstance, I contact the company by email, and tell them what has happened, offering to return the cards if they provide postage, or cut them up if they would prefer. 2 times out of 3 a company will tell you to keep the item. Then make sure you keep the email.

 I think it’s unlikely that they will pursue you if you keep the cards without telling them, unless you signed for the cards, in which case you must return them. But I don’t like to take the risk, and it is dishonest. 

MollyR

retired19 said:

Write to the company saying you have received the card and it's available for them to collect or arrange return from your address for the next three months. Tell them that if they do not contact you for collection or return in that time you will assume that they wish you to have the benefit of it and will use it.

I seem to remember that the above is always the advice when any company sends you something in error.  All you have to do is to notify them (only once!) and the ball is then in their court to retrieve it.  In this case, it could mean anything from sending a courier to collect it to sending you a stamped addressed envelope to return it.  If they do not take this action within the time stated, it is legally yours to keep.  In the meantime, keep it safe just in case they decide to take it back.

EndOfAbsence

DannyHotPotato said:

I can't believe anyone would destroy/cut up a prepaid card because technically 'it was not theirs'.
The company sending the card will have paid money to have the card credit added.
It would be the same as the company send cash and 'because technically it was not yours' you burnt it.
Would you set fire to a bundle of £10 notes regardless of whose they were?
No.

Yes, agreed! All that's meant is that the broadband company has lost their £150, you've had nothing and the company running the cards has gained £150 without paying anything out (to add to all the money they already keep because it's hard to spend the full balance on the card!).