Some Accounts suspended for "potentially" dodgy points transfers

[Deleted member]

Some Velocity members are reporting having accounts suspended for "potentially" dodgy points transfers.

 

[dec540]

What's considered 'dodgy'? Buying points?

 

[serfty]

I suspect contravening section 9.1 of the T&C's.

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com/content/ProgramBenefits/TermsConditions/#terminationmembership

 

[Dr Ralph]

Qantas called me recently to examine a large points transfer that was made into my account from a relative.

There was nothing fraudulent about the transfer.

But shows that airlines are proactive about these things.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

What's considered 'dodgy'? Buying points?

Yes buying/selling would be.

 

[blackcat20]

Either dodgy movement of points, or dodgy set up of family pooling (given the requirement to live at the same address).

 

[Jurahn]

Qantas called me recently to examine a large points transfer that was made into my account from a relative.

There was nothing fraudulent about the transfer.

But shows that airlines are proactive about these things.

They certainly seem to be these days - see this OzBargain discussion from March this year: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/237052

Regardless, people are still (stupidly) advertising and selling QFF and VFF points on the site (and no doubt plenty of other sites as well). They must think Qantas and Virgin won't find out, but it seems like both airlines are cracking down on this now.

 

[Milefest]

You've just got to make sure the VFF account isn't affiliated with your real one and use different details and you'll be able to get J flights in points for the price of a cash economy flight. A friend of a friend told me...

 

[mannej]

You've just got to make sure the VFF account isn't affiliated with your real one and use different details and you'll be able to get J flights in points for the price of a cash economy flight. A friend of a friend told me...

Posting this is a good way to get loopholes closed...

 

[VOZ102]

They tried it on with a couple of my friends - issued letter to terminate ..let's say after some legal professionals were shown the letters, a strongly worded legal letter was sent back. Within 12 hours all accounts were reinstated. Amateur hour as usual at velocity. Even for a SG member, they weren't shown any courtesy to be asked for an explanation. Just a letter saying your account and all your points will be gone in 14 days... pathetic.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Posting this is a good way to get loopholes closed...

Loopholes? I don't think it is a loophole at all as a loophole is something that you can take advantage of, but which is not actually breaching a rule.

Personally I believe that doing this particular practice is extremely foolish. ie Setting up a second FF account to your main account to buy points/flights.

FF programs are the golden goose.

While we all, or at least most of us, regularly take advantage of loopholes, bend rules, or as in this case the actual breaking of a rule, etc, to indulge in a practice that may see you denied access to the golden goose is just IMO a risk not worth taking.

I can perhaps understand taking the risk with a FF program that you may rarely use, and particularly if based offshore, but to risk one of the probably 3 to 5 most valuable FF programs for Australian residents being denied to you is just a risk not worth taking.

With myself KF, QF and Velocity are just way too lucrative to risk.

 

[clipped_wings]

This is infuriating. We have 4 children and all 6 of us have been Velocity members since it's inception. We have enjoyed family pooling as it allowed husband to attain WP with me and our 2 youngest pooling,(older girls stopped pooling when they reached 18, but I still transfer all their points over).

We have supported Velocity since Day One and do everything by the book. The fact that we move lots of points around to maximize our benefit - is undoubtedly a giant pain for anyone trying to interpret it, but we have no choice. There's no point all 6 of us living under the one roof and staying Red with 200,000 points each. I transfer and funnel all points and SC where applicable into the one account and that is my right to do so.

The kickback for 4 Velocity credit cards, annual expenditure on 4 Velocity Debit Visas and 6 family members flying Virgin Australia as their preferred carrier - has to weigh heavily in the VA corner. So, if they want to come looking for me to challenge the validity of how I support THEM - well, bring it on.

 

[anat0l]

This is infuriating. We have 4 children and all 6 of us have been Velocity members since it's inception. We have enjoyed family pooling as it allowed husband to attain WP with me and our 2 youngest pooling,(older girls stopped pooling when they reached 18, but I still transfer all their points over).

We have supported Velocity since Day One and do everything by the book. The fact that we move lots of points around to maximize our benefit - is undoubtedly a giant pain for anyone trying to interpret it, but we have no choice. There's no point all 6 of us living under the one roof and staying Red with 200,000 points each. I transfer and funnel all points and SC where applicable into the one account and that is my right to do so.

The kickback for 4 Velocity credit cards, annual expenditure on 4 Velocity Debit Visas and 6 family members flying Virgin Australia as their preferred carrier - has to weigh heavily in the VA corner. So, if they want to come looking for me to challenge the validity of how I support THEM - well, bring it on.

I... think it's unlikely you'll be audited.

 

[williamsf1]

This is infuriating. We have 4 children and all 6 of us have been Velocity members since it's inception. We have enjoyed family pooling as it allowed husband to attain WP with me and our 2 youngest pooling,(older girls stopped pooling when they reached 18, but I still transfer all their points over).

We have supported Velocity since Day One and do everything by the book. The fact that we move lots of points around to maximize our benefit - is undoubtedly a giant pain for anyone trying to interpret it, but we have no choice. There's no point all 6 of us living under the one roof and staying Red with 200,000 points each. I transfer and funnel all points and SC where applicable into the one account and that is my right to do so.

The kickback for 4 Velocity credit cards, annual expenditure on 4 Velocity Debit Visas and 6 family members flying Virgin Australia as their preferred carrier - has to weigh heavily in the VA corner. So, if they want to come looking for me to challenge the validity of how I support THEM - well, bring it on.

Why? It sounds like you are playing within the rules and nothing to worry about.

The ones they are after are people who break the rules…

 

[Major]

This is infuriating. We have 4 children and all 6 of us have been Velocity members since it's inception. We have enjoyed family pooling as it allowed husband to attain WP with me and our 2 youngest pooling,(older girls stopped pooling when they reached 18, but I still transfer all their points over).

We have supported Velocity since Day One and do everything by the book. The fact that we move lots of points around to maximize our benefit - is undoubtedly a giant pain for anyone trying to interpret it, but we have no choice. There's no point all 6 of us living under the one roof and staying Red with 200,000 points each. I transfer and funnel all points and SC where applicable into the one account and that is my right to do so.

The kickback for 4 Velocity credit cards, annual expenditure on 4 Velocity Debit Visas and 6 family members flying Virgin Australia as their preferred carrier - has to weigh heavily in the VA corner. So, if they want to come looking for me to challenge the validity of how I support THEM - well, bring it on.

Why is it infuriating? Have you done something wrong ?

 

[williamsf1]

Some Velocity members are reporting having accounts suspended for "potentially" dodgy points transfers.

There were quite a few people “taking the P%$$” by having ridiculous amounts of people living at the same address and fraudulently transferring points. Also selling / buying points.
Anyone who plays by the rules has nothing to worry about

 

[clipped_wings]

They tried it on with a couple of my friends - issued letter to terminate ..let's say after some legal professionals were shown the letters, a strongly worded legal letter was sent back. Within 12 hours all accounts were reinstated. Amateur hour as usual at velocity. Even for a SG member, they weren't shown any courtesy to be asked for an explanation. Just a letter saying your account and all your points will be gone in 14 days... pathetic.

But the above reference wasn't breaking the rules either. And I don't have immediate access to legal professionals, at least not without clocking up the old Velocity credit card.

How ironic.

 

[clipped_wings]

Why is it infuriating? Have you done something wrong ?

It's infuriating to hear potentially damaging information that makes me audit myself. I can't blame the people who relate factual accounts of their own experiences. But I get nervous at the prospect of information affecting me in a negative way if it's delivered in a less than factual way.

I've done nothing wrong, but then again, neither have a lot of people here on this forum. Doesn't make me less worried.

 

[Major]

It's infuriating to hear potentially damaging information that makes me audit myself. I can't blame the people who relate factual accounts of their own experiences. But I get nervous at the prospect of information affecting me in a negative way if it's delivered in a less than factual way.

I've done nothing wrong, but then again, neither have a lot of people here on this forum. Doesn't make me less worried.

There is no need to worry if you play by the rules...and you have

 

[lovetravellingoz]

There is no need to worry if you play by the rules...and you have

Well technically he was playing by the rules, but no longer is.

I do agree that he is unlikely to get audited, and if he is that in this case will probably be more that youra naughty boy, rather than anyuthing harsh. And if he does he can either plead ignorance or try and claim said kids are still at home. I would tend to think that the airlines are scoring their data for signs of those that buy and sell points.

However it is a bit like my health fund. It used to cover all 5 family members, but one daughter started full time work and so no longer was covered. Yes it would be nice if she was still covered, but she isn't

All sorts of businesses offer various family "benefits".

Maybe VA should change their rules, but that is their rules at present.


Meanwhile we all play the game and it is up to each of us to decide how much we "push" or "bend" things and which rules we break.