Missold?

sol3nt

PHK said:

sol3nt said:

MattMattMattUK said:

sol3nt said:

Grumpy_chap said:

sol3nt said:

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if you could help.. I tried posting this twice but it got removed without a reason I could see.

What did you buy? 

£400 Google Advertisement 

When did you buy it? 

June 2024 

Where from? (internet or in store - it DOES make a difference) 

Internet

How did you pay? (cash/cheque/debit card/credit card etc) 

Debit 

What went wrong?

I received an offer in which one spends £400 to receive £400. No small sum of money but I purposefully spent to qualify in the given time frame. This promotion has now been rejected on the basis of me not being a new customer. This is true, but as you're able to see in the email below; 

• The email title is: "Reactivate and reconnect with a £400 offer from Google Ads." 
•  The emboldened text reads: "Reactivate and reconnect" 
•  The title above the call to action is: "welcome you back" with £400 credit, beneath the heading "Reactivate Google Ads." 
•  The email has been targeted at me 
• I was able to apply the code to my account 

This contradicts the assertion that the offer is only for new customers. 

What are the vendors telling you?

I've spoken to an ads advisor and submitted 3 tickets to no avail. I've also raised it on the Google community forum where a power user initially tried to help over the course of a few months, to no avail, and also via Reddit. Do you have any advice? Otherwise I can only think to take it to Trading Standards on the basis of false advertising. 

What solution or remedy are you looking for? (Companies may Repair / Refund / Replace) 

Refund or fulfillment of the advert. 

Any help, much appreciated,

I assume that this advert is in connection with some business or trade, in which case consumer rules will not apply.

Thank you for the reply, does it make quite a big difference? This ad was targeted at me personally but it's for something I'd like to make a business out of.

It makes all the difference, business purchase means you have no consumer rights, it is a business contract and is governed by the contract you agreed.

I see, so is there any comeback even if the advert itself is misleading? 

For a business transaction it's assumed the parties will go in with their eyes open, do due diligence etc and know what to do when something goes wrong. 

In this case your remedy is to sue them for the £400 you've lost. 

Thank you PHK, it seems like there're limited options here. 

Pollycat

sol3nt said:

sol3nt said:

user1977 said:

sol3nt said:

user1977 said:

Why would a consumer be spending £400 on Google ads?

Do all adverts have to be for a business?

Not all adverts, no. But can you help us by explaining why you, as a consumer, would be wanting to spend £400 on Google Ads?

To see if a game I developed is as fun / mentally stimulating as I find it to be!

[Quoted post removed by Forum Team]

I had no idea MSE forums would be so unfriendly... I was rather hoping I'd get advice on what I could do rather than people taking issue with my approach or the amount I spent. 

Nonetheless I thank you for your advice, much of which had been used as the basis for trying Google Ads. 

I think the post you've quoted is full of good ideas.
Unfortunately, too late for you now.

MattMattMattUK

sol3nt said:

MattMattMattUK said:

sol3nt said:

Grumpy_chap said:

sol3nt said:

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if you could help.. I tried posting this twice but it got removed without a reason I could see.

What did you buy? 

£400 Google Advertisement 

When did you buy it? 

June 2024 

Where from? (internet or in store - it DOES make a difference) 

Internet

How did you pay? (cash/cheque/debit card/credit card etc) 

Debit 

What went wrong?

I received an offer in which one spends £400 to receive £400. No small sum of money but I purposefully spent to qualify in the given time frame. This promotion has now been rejected on the basis of me not being a new customer. This is true, but as you're able to see in the email below; 

• The email title is: "Reactivate and reconnect with a £400 offer from Google Ads." 
•  The emboldened text reads: "Reactivate and reconnect" 
•  The title above the call to action is: "welcome you back" with £400 credit, beneath the heading "Reactivate Google Ads." 
•  The email has been targeted at me 
• I was able to apply the code to my account 

This contradicts the assertion that the offer is only for new customers. 

What are the vendors telling you?

I've spoken to an ads advisor and submitted 3 tickets to no avail. I've also raised it on the Google community forum where a power user initially tried to help over the course of a few months, to no avail, and also via Reddit. Do you have any advice? Otherwise I can only think to take it to Trading Standards on the basis of false advertising. 

What solution or remedy are you looking for? (Companies may Repair / Refund / Replace) 

Refund or fulfillment of the advert. 

Any help, much appreciated,

I assume that this advert is in connection with some business or trade, in which case consumer rules will not apply.

Thank you for the reply, does it make quite a big difference? This ad was targeted at me personally but it's for something I'd like to make a business out of.

It makes all the difference, business purchase means you have no consumer rights, it is a business contract and is governed by the contract you agreed.

I see, so is there any comeback even if the advert itself is misleading? 

It does not appear that the advert is misleading, more that it had a more extensive list of terms and conditions than you perhaps realised. Some of those Goggle Ad credits are complicated, I have used the reactivate ones in the past but they do often require there to have been more than a year since Ads were last used, entirely new campaigns to be used within the system etc.. It is also a business transaction regardless of how you perceived yourself.

With regard to the plastering suggestions the above are good options, if a digital game then Early Access on Steam would also be a good option.

Ectophile

Some people on here can be rather hostile, for no good reason.

You are starting a business, so you don't have consumer rights.  But you still have contractual rights, even as a business.  They made you an offer, took the money from you, then declared that you weren't eligible for the offer.

Realistically, all that seems left to you is to send a Letter Before Action to whichever part of Google you paid the money to.  Check the details - it's important that you get it right.  Then if that still doesn't work, follow it up with a court summons under the small claims procedure.

sol3nt

MattMattMattUK said:

sol3nt said:

MattMattMattUK said:

sol3nt said:

Grumpy_chap said:

sol3nt said:

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering if you could help.. I tried posting this twice but it got removed without a reason I could see.

What did you buy? 

£400 Google Advertisement 

When did you buy it? 

June 2024 

Where from? (internet or in store - it DOES make a difference) 

Internet

How did you pay? (cash/cheque/debit card/credit card etc) 

Debit 

What went wrong?

I received an offer in which one spends £400 to receive £400. No small sum of money but I purposefully spent to qualify in the given time frame. This promotion has now been rejected on the basis of me not being a new customer. This is true, but as you're able to see in the email below; 

• The email title is: "Reactivate and reconnect with a £400 offer from Google Ads." 
•  The emboldened text reads: "Reactivate and reconnect" 
•  The title above the call to action is: "welcome you back" with £400 credit, beneath the heading "Reactivate Google Ads." 
•  The email has been targeted at me 
• I was able to apply the code to my account 

This contradicts the assertion that the offer is only for new customers. 

What are the vendors telling you?

I've spoken to an ads advisor and submitted 3 tickets to no avail. I've also raised it on the Google community forum where a power user initially tried to help over the course of a few months, to no avail, and also via Reddit. Do you have any advice? Otherwise I can only think to take it to Trading Standards on the basis of false advertising. 

What solution or remedy are you looking for? (Companies may Repair / Refund / Replace) 

Refund or fulfillment of the advert. 

Any help, much appreciated,

I assume that this advert is in connection with some business or trade, in which case consumer rules will not apply.

Thank you for the reply, does it make quite a big difference? This ad was targeted at me personally but it's for something I'd like to make a business out of.

It makes all the difference, business purchase means you have no consumer rights, it is a business contract and is governed by the contract you agreed.

I see, so is there any comeback even if the advert itself is misleading? 

It does not appear that the advert is misleading, more that it had a more extensive list of terms and conditions than you perhaps realised. Some of those Goggle Ad credits are complicated, I have used the reactivate ones in the past but they do often require there to have been more than a year since Ads were last used, entirely new campaigns to be used within the system etc.. It is also a business transaction regardless of how you perceived yourself.

With regard to the plastering suggestions the above are good options, if a digital game then Early Access on Steam would also be a good option.

Thank you Matt. Personally I can't see how slogans such as "reactivate", "reconnect" and "welcome you back ..." emblazoned across a personalised email is consistent with a rejection for "not being a new customer" in the T&Cs, but clearly I did not read the fine print well enough.  

sol3nt

Ectophile said:

Some people on here can be rather hostile, for no good reason.

You are starting a business, so you don't have consumer rights.  But you still have contractual rights, even as a business.  They made you an offer, took the money from you, then declared that you weren't eligible for the offer.

Realistically, all that seems left to you is to send a Letter Before Action to whichever part of Google you paid the money to.  Check the details - it's important that you get it right.  Then if that still doesn't work, follow it up with a court summons under the small claims procedure.

Thank you Ectophile, this makes it very clear! Really appreciate you taking the time to advise me. 

Shame about the nature of this forum, it really doesn't align with the image of MSE. I won't be returning with any other problems. 

Savvy_Sue

sol3nt said:

Ectophile said:

Some people on here can be rather hostile, for no good reason.

You are starting a business, so you don't have consumer rights.  But you still have contractual rights, even as a business.  They made you an offer, took the money from you, then declared that you weren't eligible for the offer.

Realistically, all that seems left to you is to send a Letter Before Action to whichever part of Google you paid the money to.  Check the details - it's important that you get it right.  Then if that still doesn't work, follow it up with a court summons under the small claims procedure.

Thank you Ectophile, this makes it very clear! Really appreciate you taking the time to advise me. 

Shame about the nature of this forum, it really doesn't align with the image of MSE. I won't be returning with any other problems. 

This may not be the most 'touchy-feely' board on MSE, but what you will get here is an honest assessment of your situation, as it is, rather than what you would like to hear. You'll find the Employment board is similar! 

I'd also add to the previous suggestions that if this is a computer game rather than a physical board game, especially a puzzle game, I can give you other places to engage to get feedback, but I'm pretty sure they'd say the same: don't pay to advertise, get involved in 'the community', find playtesters there. 

sol3nt

Savvy_Sue said:

sol3nt said:

Ectophile said:

Some people on here can be rather hostile, for no good reason.

You are starting a business, so you don't have consumer rights.  But you still have contractual rights, even as a business.  They made you an offer, took the money from you, then declared that you weren't eligible for the offer.

Realistically, all that seems left to you is to send a Letter Before Action to whichever part of Google you paid the money to.  Check the details - it's important that you get it right.  Then if that still doesn't work, follow it up with a court summons under the small claims procedure.

Thank you Ectophile, this makes it very clear! Really appreciate you taking the time to advise me. 

Shame about the nature of this forum, it really doesn't align with the image of MSE. I won't be returning with any other problems. 

This may not be the most 'touchy-feely' board on MSE, but what you will get here is an honest assessment of your situation, as it is, rather than what you would like to hear. You'll find the Employment board is similar! 

I'd also add to the previous suggestions that if this is a computer game rather than a physical board game, especially a puzzle game, I can give you other places to engage to get feedback, but I'm pretty sure they'd say the same: don't pay to advertise, get involved in 'the community', find playtesters there. 

Thank you, Sue. I’d agree if this were an honest assessment of my current situation, but many of the replies here seem to focus on 'what I could have done' in the past, which isn’t particularly helpful.

It'd be like berating my grandfather for being 'stupid' (still surprised this seems acceptable here) after falling victim to a scam. Criticising him for not calling his bank sooner or saying "too late for you now" wouldn’t address his immediate issue, especially galling if he had already taken precautionary steps. Similarly, what I was seeking was constructive advice for my present circumstances, not judgment about past actions. Perhaps people get a kick out of that, I don't know.

Nonetheless, I did get some great responses so I'm thankful for that. Just my 2 cents as a newcomer, I'll leave it at that (and for good)!