Uswitch Gas & Elec wine switching offer: Are you having problems?

stressed_and_confused

My mum switched through uswitch in Aug 08 and received her wine, I switched (different address) in April 2009 and was told the usual story of you didn't go throught the link (i did!) and you don't get any wine. My mum swicthed again in Sept 2009 and got yet more wine!
The wine was awful though, some of it was lambrussco and 2 bottles were corked. I say stick with the cash back sites and go buy some nice wine with it

w81

If it's any help, I just called up uSwitch, and the lady there knew about the competition, and said that the site had not properly tracked my link from MSE. But she did say it would be 4months - sure it was originally 3 though! But still going to wait another month - could have made my own vintage in this time!!

Grumpy_Old_Duffer

Have switched twice with USwitch and have never received the promised offers for switching using their website.

Their so called savings are suspect as well ...... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2209611

pete22

I seem to have fallen foul of this apparent "con" too.

I switched (Duel Fuel), with uSwitch on the 3 October 2009, I was very careful to follow the correct links:

On the MoneySavings Expert site:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/you-switch-gas-electricity

which led to this page on the uSwitch site:

http://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/landingpages/free-wine-offer/

Querying uSwitch (email sent 8.01.10), as to why I have not received voucher for a case of wine, they say in their reply (today - 19.01.10):

[FONT=&quot]"Tf[/FONT][FONT=&quot]hank you for contacting uSwitch.com with your enquiry.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Sorry for the late reply.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]First of all thank you very much for choosing uSwitch to change energy suppliers, I hope you have found a good deal.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I have checked your details and unfortunately have to let you know that you are not entitled to the free case of wine. The ‘free wine case’ o[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]fer is something that is run in conjunction with one of our partners that we work with and in order to be eligible you have to go via the link that they have on their website – this is clearly explained on the partner website. This offer is not something that uSwitch advertises or promotes and we are only allowed to give the wine to customers who switch via the partner website.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]As you are aware of this promotion then you may well know the partner website I am referring to and therefore I should let you know that there is nothing to stop you from switching again via the correct link to the uSwitch.com website and claiming your free wine case in the future. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]However this maybe an oversight if you have your confirmation email and it refers to the free wine case offer. Please forward this on to me and we will have the voucher sent to you.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I do apologise for any confusion over this matter but I hope that you understand now how the promotion works, it is not something run directly through the uSwitch website. I hope that this will not deter you from continuing with your switch and enjoying your savings, if there is anything else you would like my help with please let me know.[/FONT]" [My Bold. My underline].

I do have my confirmation email still, and despite having followed the correct links, it says nothing about a free case of wine???

Do other people's confirmation emails (and who have received their wine), mention anything about a [edit: free and no strings attached], case of wine?

I've emailed uSwitch back indicating the links I used, but need to know whether other people's confirmation emails refer to the wine offer as outlined in uSwitch's email back to me.

So very annoyed at the non-receipt. I certainly would not use uSwitch again.

EssexMum_3

This is what came attached to my confirmation email, along with a couple of ads for credit cards... "as a THANK YOU for switching with U Switch". But what happened to the FREE case of wine I was promised by following the link from MSE?
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The voucher can only be used once and is subject to a minimum spend of £39.99 after applying the voucher, plus £6.99 post and package. So you will need to order £79.99 or more of wine, then the voucher will be deducted.[/FONT]

pete22

Hi Essex Mum

Yes that is on my confirmation email too, but it's not the offer we are "promised": a completely free case of wine and no strings.

EssexMum_3

What's going on MSE?? You think maybe the "LINK" is the weak link here... maybe it's just not working correctly? We can't ALL be doing something wrong

pete22

Essex Mum

At the front of this thread in the first post there is this:

If you're still having problems specifically with the wine voucher, and Uswitch can't help, please send me a PM (Private Message) by clicking on my name to the left and sending your full name and postcode or customer reference number; and we'll try and help.

Archna

Recommend that you PM him as I have just done... Would still like to know of anyone who received their free wine, whether their confirmation email mentioned this.

EssexMum_3

Thanks, Pete, I'll make a note of that. In the mean time, I have just spoken to U Switch customer services, and the chap says I should receive a code via email sometime in the next 4 months, which wil be valid for use on the Virgin Wines website. That's not what I expected when I read this on the offer page:

"When you have switched, you will receive a confirmation email from uSwitch - it is essential that you keep this email as proof that you are entitled to the case of wine."

Of course "switch" doesn't mean the same thing as "application to switch" - it must be completed for the offer to stand. So the initial confirmation email you get isn't the one we're required to hang on to.

So, to avoid confusion that sentence should read, "Some time within four months of switching, you will receive email confirmation of your entitlement to the case of wine - it is essential... etc".

pete22

Yes that's right, we should receive a voucher (a code), which should arrive 3/4 months after the initial switch request. Which I have not received, and apon asking uSwitch to investigate, they tell me I am not entitled to because I have not used the correct links (completely wrong).

The confirmation email mentioned refers to the change of supplier request, not the wine voucher itself. As they say in their email to me:

"[FONT=&quot]if you have your confirmation email AND it refers to the free wine case offer. [/FONT]"

In other words, you must have received your confirmation of switching AND it must refer to the free case of wine offer.

Later on 3/4 months later, you'll receive your code as a separate email (not received by me as I do not qualify apparently!)

EssexMum wrote: »

Thanks, Pete, I'll make a note of that. In the mean time, I have just spoken to U Switch customer services, and the chap says I should receive a code via email sometime in the next 4 months, which wil be valid for use on the Virgin Wines website. That's not what I expected when I read this on the offer page:

"When you have switched, you will receive a confirmation email from uSwitch - it is essential that you keep this email as proof that you are entitled to the case of wine."

Of course "switch" doesn't mean the same thing as "application to switch" - it must be completed for the offer to stand. So the initial confirmation email you get isn't the one we're required to hang on to.

So, to avoid confusion that sentence should read, "Some time within four months of switching, you will receive email confirmation of your entitlement to the case of wine - it is essential... etc".