Qantas Account: Notice of suspension

[Jack_OC]

Exactly. Generous return and exchange policies from online retailers are not as uncommon as one might think; that's how these businesses compete with traditional brick-and-mortar stores by offering the customer peace of mind that they will be satisfied when they purchase items without the ability to try them on.

I don't understand the accusations of fraud being levelled at the OP. It's frankly quite rude imo.

Nobody is criticising anyone for returning items for legitimate reasons - you are quite correct that it is standard for online retailers to allow free returns (in fact I think they may even be legally required to do so). That's not the issue though. The suggestion here is that people may have identified a glitch in QFF's system that has enabled them to harvest "free" points by making sham purchases that they never intended to keep. As I pointed out earlier, it may have been possible to harvest very large numbers of points by doing this.

To help you understand where this is coming from, here is a comment from the OP on another thread:

Currently you can get 10 PPD at David Jones via Qantas shopping mall, buy some clothes for $250 and either keep them or decide they don't suite you after the points drop

The OP has told us that he collected points from "3 or 4" purchases that he returned "over the past 6 months", but he still hasn't told us how many points he "earned" from those purchases. And note that the post above was a lot longer than 6 months ago. Hard not to wonder if he regularly decides that items don't suit "after the points drop" (wink wink) ........

Agree 100%.

Another QF IT loophole yet it is the OP fault? In the organisation I run if any activity such as this was occurring the customer is the last person I would shift blame on...I would have my CIO in my office with a 'please explain'.

Let's not forget we are talking about the amazing good value with awesome customer service QF Online Mall

It's absolutely QF's fault that the loophole exists - no question about that. However, that doesn't make it right for someone to go out of their way to systematically exploit the loophole, in order to take something of substantial value that they were not entitled to.

 

[rock86]

I bought my wife a handbag worth a few thousand dollars for a special birthday a few years ago through the QF mall under a promotional period, from memory netted something around the 20,000 QFF points. After a few weeks the bag was fraying and had a broken clip, when spending splurging a few K for a special present I was not impressed whatsoever. We subsequently returned the item and obtained a refund, where she went elsewhere for follow-up purchases.

The QFF points were never claimed back from my QFF account. Judging by some logic on here, I should have rang QFF and said to take my points back off me. Why is it my fault & obligation though to inform them that they implemented a cough system that doesn't track these issues?

 

[Jack_OC]

I bought my wife a handbag worth a few thousand dollars for a special birthday a few years ago through the QF mall under a promotional period, from memory netted something around the 20,000 QFF points. After a few weeks the bag was fraying and had a broken clip, when spending splurging a few K for a special present I was not impressed whatsoever. We subsequently returned the item and obtained a refund, where she went elsewhere for follow-up purchases.

The QFF points were never claimed back from my QFF account. Judging by some logic on here, I should have rang QFF and said to take my points back off me. Why is it my fault & obligation though to inform them that they implemented a cough system that doesn't track these issues?

I can't see any comments that would imply that this was your fault or that you had any obligation to inform QF. Complete false equivalence.

There is a huge difference between deliberate exploitation of a glitch on a repeated basis with the specific aim of harvesting points for free, and fortuitously benefiting from a glitch on a one off occasion, after originally making a genuine purchase.

Also, in your case the item you bought was faulty and presumably you provided evidence of that when you returned it. It would be pretty hard to allege there was any intention to rort the system there, as you could not possibly have known in advance that the item would be faulty. Buying clothes, waiting for points to post, and then "deciding" that they don't suit you is a somewhat different scenario.

Anyway, I'm not saying this is the crime of the century or anything, and it's not like anyone is calling for the death penalty. I think many of us simply suspect that there may have been a deliberate scam in action, and there is generally not going to be much sympathy if willing perpetrators of a scam get caught out.

 

[andye]

I dont find the comment referred to as damning, particularly as it was offered as a solution to someone who had fallen on hard times
The proportion of points earned on returned goods v total mall purchases is the most relevant as to whether this is gaming or not

 

[Mrmaxwell]

It's absolutely QF's fault that the loophole exists - no question about that. However, that doesn't make it right for someone to go out of their way to systematically exploit the loophole, in order to take something of substantial value that they were not entitled to.

How have you decided the OP is going out of their way to systematically exploit the loophole?

Read the original post and come back to us...talk about guilty until proven innocent!

 

[mannej]

How have you decided the OP is going out of their way to systematically exploit the loophole?

Read the original post and come back to us...talk about guilty until proven innocent!

I will give you the hint - post 63.

 

[Jack_OC]

I dont find the comment referred to as damning, particularly as it was offered as a solution to someone who had fallen on hard times
The proportion of points earned on returned goods v total mall purchases is the most relevant as to whether this is gaming or not

Yes, I agree with that, but the relevance of the OP's previous comment is that it shows he already knew about this glitch (and how to exploit it) well over a year ago.

I guess it's possible that the OP simply highlighted how to exploit this glitch for someone else's benefit, but never exploited it himself. However, we can surmise that someone at QF believes otherwise. I could be wrong, but I'd be surprised if QF would suspend an account unless there was a fairly strong reason to do so. And clearly they can see his activity statement, so they know exactly how many points were collected in this way!

 

[Hvr]

There is the possibility that the merchant has complained to Qantas that there may be funny business going on and asked Qantas to investigate.

Until the OP is informed by Qantas of the outcome all of the comments here are speculation.

 

[flighthacks]

How have you decided the OP is going out of their way to systematically exploit the loophole?

Read the original post and come back to us...talk about guilty until proven innocent!

^ this! When did I ask for anyone's opinion on whether I'm guilty or not? The only opinion I care about is the one of the QF Points Mall team

 

[Jack_OC]

^ this! When did I ask for anyone's opinion on whether I'm guilty or not? The only opinion I care about is the one of the QF Points Mall team

I would say the following comment invited that very discussion:

However, I don't see why a technical glitch in their system should result in a suspension?

 

[mannej]

^ this! When did I ask for anyone's opinion on whether I'm guilty or not? The only opinion I care about is the one of the QF Points Mall team

By posting on here you are inviting discussion

 

[flighthacks]

By posting on here you are inviting discussion

Totally understand; please accuse away. You're all entitled to your opinion.
I was mostly interested to learn if this widespread issue and if others had received a similar email, which doesn't seem to be the case (on here at least.)

 

[mannej]

You catch more flies with honey, if you want to respond in a passive aggressive manner you will end up with the thread heading in it's current direction.

 

[JohnK]

You catch more flies with honey, if you want to respond in a passive aggressive manner you will end up with the thread heading in it's current direction.

If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck.... oh wait....

 

[burmans]

I will give you the hint - post 63.

I think conflating being aware of a loophole with being exploiting it is a bit of a stretch. I became aware of a similar loophole some time ago when I cancelled a hotel booking but it didn't change my behaviour, i.e. I didn't book more often nor cancel more often.

To make an informed decision on this we need to not only understand that the OP has cancelled refunds but the percentage of purchases to refunds and whether this has changed as a result of this knowledge. I'm not trying to defend the OP here, simply stating I don't have the detailed understanding to make that assessment.

However would note that if I was of a mind to exploit something like this 3-4 times in six months is peanuts.

 

[cwphoto]

I can't see any comments that would imply that this was your fault or that you had any obligation to inform QF. Complete false equivalence.

Quoted for truth.

 

[juddles]

.....I was mostly interested to learn if this widespread issue and if others had received a similar email,...

sorry ataraxis, but I beleive you actively seek out failings in the Qantas system to fraudulently scam points. That is my assesment based on the posts you have shared in this and other threads. I suspect that you post here to (a) brag about how you have scammed them, and (b) to seek out other experiences with the intent to conduct even more scams.

Maybe I am wrong, maybe you are bewildered by the fact that you have previously received points even though you have returned the items and not actually paid any cash.... you appear to have been so bewildered quite a few times......

It appears that there are also some trying to defend your position. All this cough that it is Qantas's fault that they have not prevented this scam. I consider that very low indeed. You blame a business because it failed to lock a door that thieves have found and are using??????

 

[rock86]

It appears that there are also some trying to defend your position. All this cough that it is Qantas's fault that they have not prevented this scam. I consider that very low indeed. You blame a business because it failed to lock a door that thieves have found and are using??????

I as a shareholder certainly do blame Qantas for firstly not implementing the system correctly initially, and secondly for not actually fixing the issue with the system. It ultimately all effects the bottom line of the company.

 

[juddles]

I as a shareholder certainly do blame Qantas for firstly not implementing the system correctly initially, and secondly for not actually fixing the issue with the system. It ultimately all effects the bottom line of the company.

Then I assume you have reported to Qantas the breaches in their systems that are being exploited here?

 

[rock86]

Then I assume you have reported to Qantas the breaches in their systems that are being exploited here?

Well obviously Qantas are aware of it, hence the OP's post. You'd think fixing the system would be priority rather then suspending accounts (which if fraudulent they should still do).