Advice Please ... [my PC account is 'locked']

[oz_mark]

I would still appreciate hearing about other's experience, in how PC / IHG / SCH deals with these issues. Or ... is that too going to be a 'taboo' topic that can't be spoken about ???

The reality is that we can only go on what has happened prior with quizzes and the like. You just have to wait for the decision, and you account may or may not be reinstated.

 

[medhead]

Why are we even trying to help him? Only got himself to blame! What did he THINK would happen?

Because we like to help. Because it might serve as a warning to others. Because the OP deserves to make some sort of recovery. Because the OP might learn from the help and help others in turn.


Sent from the Throne

 

[anat0l]

I don't think you ARE ALL as innocent as you make out ...

Never downloaded a 'second' program, where you've only paid for one? Never ( somehow ) viewed something online - where you 'should' have paid for it? Never used a valid train ticket you found, just before you needed to buy one? Never picked up a coin or note from the street, and kept it? Never read the paper you found on your train seat - because YOU DIDN'T PAY FOR IT !!!!

Come on ...

This isn't about what's been paid for, or deemingly 'stolen' etc.

This is about clicking a button on a computer !!!

I've often 'tried out' things online - just to see what will happen. ( except paying for certain types of credit card downloaded material )

My position on the matter is, and will be, that if the system allowed me to do it - then it's not 'all' my fault. I DID NOT click onto any type of 'agreement' prior to entering the promo concerned, to say I would agree to enter ONLY ONCE.

A kitchen knife is used to assist in cutting work when cooking, primarily. AFAICT most knives don't come with an instruction manual on how you should use it or cautions in using one. If you hurt yourself, is it the knife manufacturer's fault? After all, they had no warnings, they didn't even tell you "here is the sharp part of the knife", and nothing on the knife is designed to stop you from hurting yourself (accidentally or deliberately). The "system" allows you to do anything with that knife, but in the end no matter what happens, the consequences are your responsibility.

I know that analogy may not necessarily align with what you're insinuating, but I'm not content with the way you are trying to allay a significant proportion of the blame away from yourself when, in my honest opinion, that blame is almost wholly deserved.

I don't think anyone is owed anything in terms of warnings or what not here. In fact, from AFF on the relevant thread for this promo, until recently it was never insinuated that this loophole could be exploited. So no one could really get this advantage scheme from AFF (except 2 days ago, when PC probably started to come around).

As for any other scheme, most here do their homework, their due diligence and....most importantly... their common sense check before heading into something unusual, irrespective of what gets initially reported. I thought most people did this for most activities, so warnings may be useful but they don't replace looking out for yourself! Especially when something appears to skirt on the edge of morality or legality.

Again, if you are that unhappy, please see FT to see if a class action or other kind of regulatory complaint is being arranged; consider your legal options. If you can prove that what you did was 'innocent' with no intent to defraud or get around the system, then you may get off the hook; that is, take the argument you have here and see if you can bring it forth in some legal environment.

 

[boylero]

I certainly like to gear things in my favour or "work the system" as the say, but I think we all no in our minds eye when we are reaching the "tipping point" on most things. Once you cross, you know deep down the may be consequences down the track, you simply prey it wont come back to bite you. However to look elsewhere for somebody to share the blame is a bit of a stretch really?

 

[Rick93]

Obviously, I'm not finding much 'support' here, on this matter.

"What did he THINK would happen?" ..... Not this. Isn't that obvious? If myself or any other person really thought they would lose big time, do you think we would do it?

As for "stealing". I simply do not agree. Technically, nothing has been 'stolen'. ( After now reading ) the T&Cs, PC points have no monitary value. So what has been "stolen". If a report to police was made, that PC points were stolen ... how do you 'value' them. Police will ask, what is the replacement value etc.

I can see us going 'round and round' on this ...

Nothing I've read here so far ( on this matter ) has caused me to accept that I'm to blame 100%.

In my profession, 'blame' for errors is given a percentage of accountability.

Eg. ( an actual case in the 1990s ) A junior nurse gave an oral drug intravenously, and the patient died.

Who was at fault ??? Would you believe, the nurse was only attributed 20% of the blame - and still practices as a registered nurse today ??

The agency who sent the nurse to the hospital got 20% blame.
The Nurse Manager who assigned the nurse to the ICU got 20% blame.
The nurse in charge of the shift at the ICU got 20% blame.
The doctor who wrote out the order for the drug got 20% blame.

.... and the nurse who drew up the thick orange liquid, stored in an opened container in the fridge, and pushed it down a syringe into a sterile central venous line ( in the patient's neck ), also got ( only ) 20% blame.

'Blame' is not always obvious.

GORDO

 

[markis10]

As for "stealing". I simply do not agree. Technically, nothing has been 'stolen'. ( After now reading ) the T&Cs, PC points have no monitary value. So what has been "stolen". If a report to police was made, that PC points were stolen ... how do you 'value' them. Police will ask, what is the replacement value etc.

Reality suggests you could not be more wrong:

An Australian man illegally collected 17.6 million frequent flyer points and is now in jail for fraud.
Austin Perrott, 45, pleaded guilty to nine counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and will be in jail for six months.

freqeunt flier arrest - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[anat0l]

Obviously, I'm not finding much 'support' here, on this matter.

You want support? Here's a pat on the back then: *pat on the back*. Happy?

Commiserations on your loss of points and booking; I hope it was not too much, nor too costly to replace.

"What did he THINK would happen?" ..... Not this. Isn't that obvious? If myself or any other person really thought they would lose big time, do you think we would do it?

It's not that you would lose out big time, but the risk was there. Just like if you speed, you risk getting a ticket (if you so happen to pass a camera). Now speeding even if you don't get caught is still illegal, but getting caught cements the consequences.

As for "stealing". I simply do not agree. Technically, nothing has been 'stolen'. ( After now reading ) the T&Cs, PC points have no monitary value. So what has been "stolen". If a report to police was made, that PC points were stolen ... how do you 'value' them. Police will ask, what is the replacement value etc.

But using your line of argument at the same token, if you say that points have no value, then why are you annoyed that you lost, well, nothing?

Nothing I've read here so far ( on this matter ) has caused me to accept that I'm to blame 100%.

Then how much blame would you attribute to yourself? I am not going to stake 0%.

Irrespective of the answer, the fact remains is that you have faced the consequences of your actions. That is probably the part you are more annoyed about rather than who is to blame in this situation. Nothing will change that unless you pursue your options for remediation.

 

[boylero]

Reality suggests you could not be more wrong:



freqeunt flier arrest - FlyerTalk Forums

oh dear, let that be a warning to us all?

 

[serfty]

If, as indicated by the OP, the iteration was done some 17 times, I believe it more likely than not that they will find their account re-activated soon enough, less 5100 or so PC points.

I doubt there would be any further sanction given the minimal value of those points.

 

[anat0l]

If, as indicated by the OP, the iteration was done some 17 times, I believe it more likely than not that they will soon find their account re-activated shortly, less 5100 or so PC points.

Well, that'd be awfully nice. At least the OP may also get his redemption stay back.

 

[markis10]

If, as indicated by the OP, the iteration was done some 17 times, I believe it more likely than not that they will find their account re-activated soon enough, less 5100 or so PC points.

I doubt there would be any further sanction given the minimal value of those points.

Maybe, but by the same token accounts have been closed for less in the past, and tolerance tends to diminish when a pattern of persistent behaviour is established. Given the response to the many chinese who took advantage in 2010 of a similar flaw, I am suggesting PC may be less tolerant, this is certainly been the case when compared to quizgate of 2009 when pretty much all were unlocked.

Accounts closed with nearly half million points - Page 27 - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[serfty]

Maybe, but by the same token accounts have been closed for less in the past, and tolerance tends to diminish when a pattern of persistent behaviour is established. ...

No doubt, but one can garner 5000 PC points far more legitimately for little enough effort.

Aside from that I doubt the OP would have a "pattern of persistent behavior" that would lead to a diminished level of tolerance in their case.

 

[oz_mark]

Well, that'd be awfully nice. At least the OP may also get his redemption stay back.

The redemption stay may well still be there - although it may be hard to get at, although ou may be able to find it by the confirmation number.

At this point there is not much that can be done, but contacting PC to confirm what is going on. If it is being audited, wait for an outcome.

But given the smalish number of times it was used, the sloppy IT that was involved from PC, and that the points don't seem to have been instantly used for an award, I would be hopeful that the account will be reinstated. But who knows. It's just a bit of a waiting game.

 

[whatmeworry]

I think the OP's account should be reinstated considering he didn't use for points for some instant redemption and he wasn't one of those script kiddies racking in tens of thousands of points (300k I heard in one case). Plus I think T&C's were a bit ambiguous, however the T&C's of PC are quite wide ranging, meaning in theory your account could be closed for using bonus point codes that were not meant for you.

PC needs to have a look at their IT department, as this is not the first time this type of stuff has happened.

This taken from another site

he hustle blog MOD • a day ago • parent

• −
• +

As per the last time this happened in 2010, they will probably audit and take away the excess points, leaving you with what is rightfully yours - 300 points. I don't think they'd take away any more than that.

300 Free Priority Club Points! (Potentially Unlimited) - the #hustle blog

 

[markis10]

Aside from that I doubt the OP would have a "pattern of persistent behavior" that would lead to a diminished level of tolerance in their case.

I wasnt saying the persistent behaviour was from the OP, its coming from the membership in general which is causing them to loose tolerance.

While 5K is a small amount, the risk is there no matter how small and a reasonable person would ask them self is the risk worth the reward when such obvious repeated abuse is easily detected with intent obvious for all to see.

 

[serfty]

....
While 5K is a small amount, the risk is there no matter how small and a reasonable person would ask them self is the risk worth the reward when such obvious repeated abuse is easily detected with intent obvious for all to see.

Fair enough - I have come across reports of members having issues with their PC account for other reasons such as using promotion codes that were not intended for the user.

As indicated in the FT "Master Promo Thread":":

Q: "Can I register for all these promos?"
A: It's up to each person to see if they are eligible for the various promotions and you should only register if you’re happy that it will not have any effect on your account. Basically if you have any doubts then either ask or don’t register.

So even using these codes could conceivably result in a locked account.

Back on topic, irrespective of any perspective of risk - in the OP's case I don't see much more happening than the account being reopened with maybe 4800 points removed.

 

[straitman]

OK - so reading this, the OP tried to game the system by taking advantage of some technological loophole in an offer, got found out and is now banned. Why are we even trying to help him? Only got himself to blame! What did he THINK would happen?

We are trying to help him because we are reasonable people and we would be asking for help if it was one of us in trouble. If nothing else then I'm sure some here have learnt not to push the PC boundaries too far.

Because we like to help. Because it might serve as a warning to others. Because the OP deserves to make some sort of recovery. Because the OP might learn from the help and help others in turn.
Sent from the Throne

I agree with medhead here that there are lessons and warning here for others as well as the OP.

 

[whatmeworry]

I must note topguest points did not post on Aug 13 into PC.

 

[Fantic125]

One of the key characteristics of people on this forum is maximizing points.
I don't think Gordo should be lambasted for trying to do this (the precedents are there ; Amex points, cat food and taco seasoning, etc).

Do it deliberately to maximise points within the T&C's is ok, but if you try to rort, well, ...?

 

[burmans]

OMG !!! Noooooooooo !!

Despite the general "your account will be closed" theory, I've had a read of the thread everyone refers to myself today. While certainly accounts were temporarily closed most were eventually re-opened and they even got to keep 5K points. No doubt some serious abusers were closed though from the thread there is no actual evidence I was able to find of anyone (who posted) who did not get re-instatement so would suggest it was only the serious abusers who got canned. So the question is how seriously did you abuse the offer.