Some Accounts suspended for "potentially" dodgy points transfers

[cove]

Naturally I would be unhappy to get a letter/email seeing we have two commas in our points tally. Love my red status and I enjoy the business class on points.

 

[basso]

Whilst members have been coy on here about this, my comments are based on conversations that I have had with an affected member. The treatment has been shoddy to say the least.

I guess if I had received a letter like the one shown here I would be a little miffed. But it doesn't look shoddy. Perhaps a precious petal? Just go through the investigation, and move on.

 

[MarkD]

But if you did refuse, what is the charge against you? I'd be very surprised if you refused a breathalyser test and the charge is automatically that you were driving under the influence. What would they establish as the BAL - the maximum?

Suffice to say the penalty may be greater than driving under the influence... to tie it back, at least the test you undergo for each is (more or less) the definitive breaker as to whether you are guilty or not, e.g. if you blow under 0.05 and the machine says this, in almost all case you are free to go. The 'test' VFF requires here is not clear cut - VFF decide in this case (they could very well refuse to read the stat dec and declare you guilty; that's not entirely fair, but you wouldn't be none the wiser on the actual process anyway).

OT I know, but if you refuse, its an automatic UIL. ie high range / over 0.15. / faiil to supply a specimen. Penalty and offence is the same as high range and you would more than likely get a contravene requirement charge as well.

 

[anat0l]

OT I know, but if you refuse, its an automatic UIL. ie high range / over 0.15. / faiil to supply a specimen. Penalty and offence is the same as high range and you would more than likely get a contravene requirement charge as well.

Wow - that's interesting. So driving under the influence actually puts the burden on you to prove you are not drunk. That's fascinating.

 

[Greggsy]

Do you believe that you've breached the T&Cs? Keep us updated

If I've been deemed to have breached the T&Cs then I'll take the punishment on the chin.

As an update, lounge access was no problem this morning. Even had the lounge angels do a fly ahead for the return flight this afternoon.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Except they haven't cut the meals - they never had them.

Ah, do we forget the dreaded flexi wrap?

 

[mella2007]

Hi All. Old member here, haven't posted in a very long time!

I'm one of the accounts that has also been suspended. Velocity's handling of this situation with it's generic heavy handed emails (and even when I've replied and asked for more information, the replies back are just a generic attachment) is just ridiculous.
Firstly, they got the terms and conditions incorrect in their emails on what they're quoting, no-one has bothered to pick up the phone or reply to MY questions regarding the matter and the matter of the statutory dec hasn't been given to everyone that's received the generic suspension email.

No-one has broken the rules (and I know quite a few of the suspended accounts). Many of the suspended accounts have never even done any family transfers or pooling (they're being suspended by association/marriage etc).

Some long term Velocity members would remember when they had the family transfer option for "friend" in the drop down box and you could use extra points to do this. I did this one occasion by their rules a few years back, everything else since has been family transfers with pooling only from my spouse.

So where to from here? I honestly do not know. I've never had any sort of account cancelled in my living history, and I would like the chance to speak to someone from Velocity about the matter or they respond factually to my emails (Call centre is useless and won't put me through to anyone from the Velocity Guest Team and my emails remained unanswered).

It's a distressing situation to be in.

Honest loyalty and dollars spent across a range of Velocity products and VA flights account for nothing in this situation. I can provide a legiti statutory declaration and still have them turn around and decide to cancel the account and lose the points if they still have cause for reason.

 

[pauly7]

Except they haven't cut the meals - they never had them.

You object to VA's stale biscuit food offering?

But back on topic, a few people at work have been caught up in this. So it feels really significant, I wonder how many accounts they have gone after - tens of thousands??

 

[Milefest]

But back on topic, a few people at work have been caught up in this. So it feels really significant, I wonder how many accounts they have gone after - tens of thousands??

Velocity claims that these suspensions are not new and have been ongoing for a while now. Not sure whether there was a blitz recently or whether these reportings have been a coincidental cluster.

 

[drron]

mella2007 obviously a few trying to PM you.Your inbox is full.

 

[mella2007]

mella2007 obviously a few trying to PM you.Your inbox is full.

Hi Drron. Inbox cleared!

 

[MarkD]

Velocity claims that these suspensions are not new and have been ongoing for a while now. Not sure whether there was a blitz recently or whether these reportings have been a coincidental cluster.

No offence to you, but I call bullsh1t on that. Velocity, like Virgin generally, are clutching at straws. Im gonna burn all my points

 

[blackcat20]

No-one has broken the rules

Somehow I dont believe that, particularly given this statement on AusBT:

When contacted by Australian Business Traveller, most members with suspended accounts admitted to having made or received a transfer of frequent flyer points with somebody other than an ‘eligible family member’ as defined by Velocity

Even I know of people who have been suspended who have pooled from people they don't actually live with. And the constant jokes on Facebook about transferring points to "cousins" would also suggest that people are playing outside the rules.

 

[bcworld]

Even I know of people who have been suspended who have pooled from people they don't actually live with. And the constant jokes on Facebook about transferring points to "cousins" would also suggest that people are playing outside the rules.

You'd have to be more than a little unwise to boast about that on Facebook e.g. in the FFA group. I mean, the group has several thousand members, including employees of VA and Velocity.

 

[anat0l]

Somehow I dont believe that

I think the context intended was the accounts suspended, comprising of the poster's and the accounts connected to the poster, had not broken the rules.

It wasn't a general statement saying that everyone who was suspended in the entire VFF system had not broken the rules.

 

[blackcat20]

I think the context intended was the accounts suspended, comprising of the poster's and the accounts connected to the poster, had not broken the rules.

It wasn't a general statement saying that everyone who was suspended in the entire VFF system had not broken the rules.

That's not how I read it at all, it seems very general to me.

 

[Princess Fiona]

You'd have to be more than a little unwise to boast about that on Facebook e.g. in the FFA group. I mean, the group has several thousand members, including employees of VA and Velocity.

You'd have to be unwise to boast about that anywhere including here but for the record the Facebook group mentioned isn't FFA and has way less members.

 

[mella2007]

Somehow I dont believe that, particularly given this statement on AusBT:


Even I know of people who have been suspended who have pooled from people they don't actually live with. And the constant jokes on Facebook about transferring points to "cousins" would also suggest that people are playing outside the rules.

I really couldn't care less if you believe it or not. And I'm one of the sources AudBT got their info from however I don't know other member's suspended situations, only my own which is unjust and unfair.
As for family pooling the ONLY person I've ever done it with is my LEGAL spouse yet their account has also been suspended (same legal address and the only one who's ever family pooled to me)
As a VA shareholder and someone who has spent and continues to spend money with them via credit cards, online shopping, phones, insurance etc the whole generic email and lack of personal communication from them is a complete joke.

 

[blackcat20]

I really couldn't care less if you believe it or not. And I'm one of the sources AudBT got their info from however I don't know other member's suspended situations, only my own which is unjust and unfair.
As for family pooling the ONLY person I've ever done it with is my LEGAL spouse yet their account has also been suspended (same legal address and the only one who's ever family pooled to me)
As a VA shareholder and someone who has spent and continues to spend money with them via credit cards, online shopping, phones, insurance etc the whole generic email and lack of personal communication from them is a complete joke.

Which is exactly what I said. Not everyone is innocent. I said nothing about your case.

 

[Milefest]

No offence to you, but I call bullsh1t on that. Velocity, like Virgin generally, are clutching at straws. Im gonna burn all my points

Could be the case, just relaying what was officially stated.