Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Google Wallet, ate my Gift card and wont spit it out

  1. #1
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    50
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    5 times in 4 posts

    Google Wallet, ate my Gift card and wont spit it out

    Hi,

    No sure if this is the right place to post this, looking for help on how to fix this...

    Basic scenario is ...

    • Purchased a Google Play Gift Card, and added redeemed it on my Google account.
    • Tried to buy an App upgrade, but got a message saying something like 'payment type not valid'. (nothing to say I need a CC not Google Play credit... I found this out later)
    • Added a Credit card to my Google Wallet, and got an error.
    • Tried adding again, this time using full name not name on card and error message again.
    • Tried one more time, and 'Account was Suspended'
    • Now Google are sending back canned replied to say I need to scan photo ID and Utility bill to unlock my account and have access to any funds.


    I cannot transfer credit, reclaim credit until I send this scanned documents.

    Searched online and found many others in the same situation, with so many complaining about sending prime identity theft documents to Google... other indicate they already sent them multiple times an no reply.

    Anyone in this situation, how do you go about complaining to an external body and getting a resolution (either refund the Google Play credit, or unlock account without CC and be able to use Google play credit only).

    I still have proof of purchase of purchase and Google Play card. I don't see what right a company has to take your money and lock it up (after failing to accept credit card details for a card which has previously been used to buy something from Google ) and force your to verify yourself using sensitive documents. (How are they going verify anyway).... I already scanned a photo ID but censored Unique information, leaving only my Name and Address... no play.

    Anyone suggest options or share experience? Its not a lot of money but more the principle of that act.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    jim
    jim is offline
    HEXUS.clueless jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Location: Location:
    Posts
    11,435
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked
    1,639 times in 1,304 posts
    • jim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z
      • CPU:
      • i5 2500K @ 4.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Sandisk SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX650
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT03
      • Operating System:
      • 8.1 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2716DG
      • Internet:
      • 10 Mbps ADSL

    Re: Google Wallet, ate my Gift card and wont spit it out

    An external body would be small claims court. Usually writing a formal letter and suggesting that it's your intention (assuming it truly is), will be sufficient to make them take action though. And it would be the very minimum the court would expect as an effort to resolve it yourself.

    As for whether you'd want to go down that road for "not a lot of money", I'm not sure.

    A lot of people will talk about "complaining to trading standards" and so on. From what I've gleaned over the years, the only authority companies have to answer to is court. With a bit of polite correspondence, you can make progress, and that's usually the best route, but if that doesn't work, the only option is a court. There isn't an organisation out there who will hear your complaint and actually do something significant about it.

  3. #3
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    50
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    5 times in 4 posts

    Re: Google Wallet, ate my Gift card and wont spit it out

    Thanks Jim,

    I am at 26 emails now (since mid December 2013)... all have been very polite and calmly structured requesting my options and explanation of why this happened.

    First few replies appear to be helpful, then you realise its a copy paste job on their part. Telling you your case has been escalated further up, you have three days to respond else your account is closed, we cannot do any more until you comply.

    A lot of people talking about is, just not many stories of resolution. It just seems like robbery really...(at least that how many have viewed this).

    I wonder .. should I blog my experience, put on some Google Ads and get my return that way

  4. #4
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    30,748
    Thanks
    1,787
    Thanked
    3,285 times in 2,647 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Google Wallet, ate my Gift card and wont spit it out

    The ICO and the like have the powers to take companies to court that are within their jurisdiction, but I don't know if it's possible for non-UK companies.

  5. #5
    jim
    jim is offline
    HEXUS.clueless jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Location: Location:
    Posts
    11,435
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked
    1,639 times in 1,304 posts
    • jim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z
      • CPU:
      • i5 2500K @ 4.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Sandisk SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX650
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT03
      • Operating System:
      • 8.1 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2716DG
      • Internet:
      • 10 Mbps ADSL

    Re: Google Wallet, ate my Gift card and wont spit it out

    Quote Originally Posted by ali73 View Post
    Thanks Jim,

    I am at 26 emails now (since mid December 2013)... all have been very polite and calmly structured requesting my options and explanation of why this happened.

    First few replies appear to be helpful, then you realise its a copy paste job on their part. Telling you your case has been escalated further up, you have three days to respond else your account is closed, we cannot do any more until you comply.

    A lot of people talking about is, just not many stories of resolution. It just seems like robbery really...(at least that how many have viewed this).

    I wonder .. should I blog my experience, put on some Google Ads and get my return that way
    Have you written a physical letter? Much more likely to find the target IMO.

  6. #6
    Mostly Me Lucio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Tring
    Posts
    5,163
    Thanks
    443
    Thanked
    448 times in 351 posts
    • Lucio's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-970A-UD3P
      • CPU:
      • AMD FX-6350 with Cooler Master Seldon 240
      • Memory:
      • 2x4GB Corsair DDR3 Vengeance
      • Storage:
      • 128GB Toshiba, 2.5" SSD, 1TB WD Blue WD10EZEX, 500GB Seagate Baracuda 7200.11
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire R9 270X 4GB
      • PSU:
      • 600W Silverstone Strider SST-ST60F
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF XB
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1 64Bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung 2032BW, 1680 x 1050
      • Internet:
      • 16Mb Plusnet

    Re: Google Wallet, ate my Gift card and wont spit it out

    Bear in mind that being morally right is not the same as being legally correct, and if after 26 emails have been exchanged they're still not agreeing to your request then you need to try a new tact.

    You will need to find a suitable point of law to make a case under, ensure that the T&C's don't require either arbitration or a suit filed under a particular U.S. jurisdiction and that you have sufficient funds to cover losing the case and having costs awarded against you.

    In my opinion you're extremely unlikely to be able to "win", most companies this large have their policies and processes checked by legal experts and if they're telling you that you're wrong then the chances are you've missed something or are caught up in the principle.

    It's annoying and frustrating but law is for the rich

    (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/) (\___/)
    (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=) (='.'=)
    (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(") (")_(")


    This is bunny and friends. He is fed up waiting for everyone to help him out, and decided to help himself instead!

  7. #7
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    50
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    5 times in 4 posts

    Re: Google Wallet, ate my Gift card and wont spit it out

    Quote Originally Posted by Lucio View Post
    In my opinion you're extremely unlikely to be able to "win", most companies this large have their policies and processes checked by legal experts and if they're telling you that you're wrong then the chances are you've missed something or are caught up in the principle.
    Hi,

    There are not really saying I am wrong, more like ignoring my requests when I ask

    - Why I need to provide them with photographic ID and Utility Bill. I did not need to do this BEFORE putting money in to the account via top up.

    - Why they wont clarify why after having correctly entered my details during credit card signup, they suspended my account (even though I have used the cc card to by a Nexus phone from them)

    - Why they cant simply remove the credit card and release my account leaving gift card credit that I topped up (why cant I use this, I mean if someone had gifted me £50 why does that get locked up waiting for me to prove my ID... why has the money effectively been taken from the gifter and tied so no-one can get at it)

    - Why they continue to copy/paste badly written up canned responses instead of allowing someone to call me to discuss the actual issue.

    *sigh*

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •