OddsMonkey - Change in online service provision and asking for a refund

Endstation

Maverick192 said:

born_again said:

Could be bookmakers have changed their software to block access to these sorts of companies, so OddsMonkey are  unable to use the tools they had before?

It's related to a merger between the two big players in the market, OddsMonkey and Outplayed.  Where they used to be two companies with two sets of tools, they are now all under one ownership and they are (rightly from their business perspective) trying to consolidate the platforms.

Everyone on Odds Monkey is being migrated to the Outplayed tools, but no consideration was given to the differences between features in those tools which is where the problems originate from.  Hence Odds Monkey customers feeling somewhat short changed.  

Partly could also be the big legal battle Entain have brought against them
hurried removal and alteration of a website to avoid further copyright infringement
maybe other things too, does not seem well thought out or planned and seems to have been rushed for otherwise inexplicable reasons.

https://gaming-awards.com/NEWS/entains-legal-battle-against-matched-betting-companies/

Sg28

Its a shame the MSE matched betting forum no longer exists. You would probably get more accurate responses there. 

Im lucky in that is exactly where I stated my matched betting (later pro gambling) exploits and only later on around 2019 joined om. So I have completely seperate bet tracking using spreadsheets, plus I only pay a fraction of the om fee you do because of their price guarantee. 

So many of the issues don't effect me. The inferior tools do however. If I was paying full price I would certainly be demanding a refund for the months where full service is not provided. 

I find it incredible how or why they have implemented this change over that so obviously does not work. 
I can't see the site being back to the pre migration standard for many many months. The issues are seemingly endless. 

Maverick192

Sg28 said:

So many of the issues don't effect me. The inferior tools do however. If I was paying full price I would certainly be demanding a refund for the months where full service is not provided. 

Yeah, that was the reason I posted really.  I'm probably at the point where I'd like to have my sub refunded pro rata, but I wanted to be armed with some sort of legislation that I could point to to support my demand.

From the responses so far, it seems like there's not a straight up consumer protection I could cite.  Going to a solicitor seems expensive for what might be a refund of a few hundred, although perhaps if I put out some feelers in the OM forum maybe some others will join me to share the costs of legal counsel, and then we can all ask for money back at the same time.

born_again

Have you contacted them to see, given a major change if they will release you from the contract & refund?

seagull56

Sg28 said:

Its a shame the MSE matched betting forum no longer exists. You would probably get more accurate responses there. 

Im lucky in that is exactly where I stated my matched betting (later pro gambling) exploits and only later on around 2019 joined om. So I have completely seperate bet tracking using spreadsheets, plus I only pay a fraction of the om fee you do because of their price guarantee. 

So many of the issues don't effect me. The inferior tools do however. If I was paying full price I would certainly be demanding a refund for the months where full service is not provided. 

I find it incredible how or why they have implemented this change over that so obviously does not work. 
I can't see the site being back to the pre migration standard for many many months. The issues are seemingly endless. 

I too  have been with them for many years with the price guarantee - but looking on my account details I have been moved from the old "All Access" subscription to their "Advanced" one and showing next renewal [June 2026] at the current rate of £349.99!! Haven't seen anywhere whether this is just another error in the migration or whether they are not honouring the price guarantee anymore.

Sg28

seagull56 said:

Sg28 said:

Its a shame the MSE matched betting forum no longer exists. You would probably get more accurate responses there. 

Im lucky in that is exactly where I stated my matched betting (later pro gambling) exploits and only later on around 2019 joined om. So I have completely seperate bet tracking using spreadsheets, plus I only pay a fraction of the om fee you do because of their price guarantee. 

So many of the issues don't effect me. The inferior tools do however. If I was paying full price I would certainly be demanding a refund for the months where full service is not provided. 

I find it incredible how or why they have implemented this change over that so obviously does not work. 
I can't see the site being back to the pre migration standard for many many months. The issues are seemingly endless. 

I too  have been with them for many years with the price guarantee - but looking on my account details I have been moved from the old "All Access" subscription to their "Advanced" one and showing next renewal [June 2026] at the current rate of £349.99!! Haven't seen anywhere whether this is just another error in the migration or whether they are not honouring the price guarantee anymore.

I expect its just another error. 

I certainly won't be renewing at that price!

PHK

Maverick192 said:

PHK said:

These things are sold to people as a form of (high risk) investment. Legally they aren’t a form of gambling except HMRC consider them so and treat profits as tax-free. 

It’s not really a consumer rights question. 

Luckily, the terms and conditions state that English Law applies. The OP should seek advice from a specialist solicitor as it MIGHT  be possible to sue for breach of contract unless the terms say that the tools available may change. Or that it MIGHT be an unfair contract. 

It’s unregulated.  The FCA and ASA are looking at these along with other high risk investments such a CFDs which sometimes are marketed to the wrong people. 

Thank you, appreciate the reply.

So firstly, I don't feel like this is any sort of mis-selling or anything like that.  I knew what I was getting, I knew what I was doing, and it's all been good for a year.

It's not as if I feel OM has mis-sold me on what matched betting is or on how much money can be made from it, it's more akin to the tools I trialed and paid for have been removed and replaced with inferior tools (and in some cases features I used have just been removed).  Like I said to the poster above, to me the analogy is having an Office 365 sub, paid for a year in advance, and then they remove Excel from the package.

As you say it may be more a breach of contract perhaps if its not a consumer rights thing.

I didn't say that it was mis-selling. I said you MIGHT have grounds for breach of contract or an unfair contract. 

Maverick192

seagull56 said:

I too  have been with them for many years with the price guarantee - but looking on my account details I have been moved from the old "All Access" subscription to their "Advanced" one and showing next renewal [June 2026] at the current rate of £349.99!! Haven't seen anywhere whether this is just another error in the migration or whether they are not honouring the price guarantee anymore.

They have said before that its just another mistake/bug and people on the forum have reported legacy prices being honoured when renewals kick in.

Maverick192

born_again said:

Have you contacted them to see, given a major change if they will release you from the contract & refund?

No, not yet.

I do intend to complain (according to their procedure) and take things from there.  As I mentioned elsewhere, I was just hoping to have a bit of consumer law I could quote to make things easier.