Hello all. I just thought that you may want to know that I am currently having some small problems with ING keeping their word to credit referree sign ups with a 25$ sign up bonus. I am encouraging to keep their service ethical, rational, honest and efficient.
Hello again. I am providing more info now. It was not originally explained to my by the CS rep that I would need to explain. I figured that CS, would handle CS, but I guess I will have to do more. This is not spite or antagonism, I am just explaining my thoughts.
Situation is:
I learned about your referral program and thought it was "neat".
I decided that I would sign up with another person's referral link.
I called CS to ask questions, first. We (CS and I) got half of my account set up over the phone and I was told that I would be able to use a referral link to sign up later, online, and finish.
I waited for some time, just out of courtesy to my referral (so they would get referring commission) and to get questions answered. I had also been told that I would not be able to refer anybody else for up to 250$ commission if I didn't sign up with a referral, so I was extra careful to wait for a referral link before I signed up. Otherwise, I would have signed up, completely, on the phone the first time I called.
So, I went to this message board:
http://ibankdesign.c...topic=400&st=15 .
I registered at that message board as "BoostAddict" . I made some posts. I met "tmmycat". He helped answer my questions.
I noticed that MANY people were posting their referral links on the forum as a direct link, bypassing having to get somebody's email and then send them the link through the email. This is just a matter of fast service and convenience. This way, you see that somebody is offering a referral and instead of having to contact them with a request, wait for a response with a link in your email, then either sit around and wait for that email or sign up at your earliest convenience after waiting to receive it ... you can skip all of that time delay and just click the link that is already offered and sign up immediately.
One of my questions, before signing up, was "how are you (they) posting the links directly for faster service?" They explained that they send themself referrals via email and then they copy and paste the email to the message board. Apparently, this was working fine for them. They were receiving sign ups, commissions and everything was fine.
So, "tmmycat" had an available/unused link posted and I signed up with it. He has now edited his post to remove that link since I already signed up with it, as you can see if you read the forum.
I would not have signed up without the link. I did sign up with the referral link that was provided to me in that thread, from tmmycat, on that forum. He posted it, just like he would send it to me in an email. Same thing, different electronic interface exchange. I did this on the 14th of April just before 1:49 pm EST . I know this because I saved the confirmation email that was automatically sent to me by the ING system.
I was told that I would receive my 25$ credit to my account in about 30 days. It has now been about 2 months, and there is no 25$ credit in my account .
I called ING CS and spoke to a female rep. I explained that I would like my credit of 25$ added .
She asked me if I received my referral link via email. I said that I thought so (because I did think so at that time to the best of my memory-it has been about 2 months) but I couldn't find it. She told me that I could tell her my email address and she could check things out with it. I gave her this email address. She then told me that I did not receive an emailed referral until 4-5 days AFTER I signed up (which is incorrect) and that I would not be eligible to receive the 25$ that I should be eligible for.
I understand that she was serving me with the best of her knowledge to what the ING system is telling her, but she then passively accused me of trying to "beat the system", by saying that I "cannot beat the system". I said that I DO NOT "beat" systems, I use them appropriately to the best of my knowledge. She said that she had done all that she could. We hung up with our best regards.
I got confused and researched a bit more, starting to wonder if I had signed up through a link on the message board . I checked it out, and yes ... obviously, I did:
http://ibankdesign.c...topic=400&st=15 .
Still, he posted it, just like he would send it to me in an email. Same thing, different electronic interface exchange. HE WORKED FOR YOU, TO MARKET YOUR SERVICES. I SIGNED UP BECAUSE OF HIS WORK, WITH YOUR REFERRAL SYSTEM. I WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE SYSTEM IN REAL TIME AND IMMEDIATELY RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION EMAIL FOR MY SIGN UP. HE SHOULD RECEIVE HIS COMMISSIONS, I SHOULD RECEIVE MY SIGN UP BONUS. IF WE ARE NOT REWARDED, THEN ING IS NOT KEEPING THEIR PROMISES OR FULFILLING CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS. (The caps and boldening is not "yelling", it is simply to draw attention to critical points. )
In addition to this, there was NO email received by me sereval days later. He did not send me ANY email, NOR DID THE ING SYSTEM. I already got the link from him on the message board, he didn't need to send anything. I had already signed up and apparently he can tell that from more than the post that I made which told him that I signed up. I have no email from ING about this either. The ING SYSTEM IS FLAWED IF IT IS SAYING THAT I RECEIVED MY REFERRAL EMAIL SEVERAL DAYS AFTER I SIGNED UP. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE. 1) I WOULD NOT SIGN UP WITHOUT THE REFERRAL LINK. 2) I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF REFERRAL EMAIL AT ALL AFTER I SIGNED UP.
Still, I am being accused of fraud, essentially, and ING is not fulfilling their word to credit my 25$ sign up bonus.
In addition to this, it is my stong held opinion that I am working too much to get the customer service that I deserve as a customer. I called CS back to humbly, calmly, rationally and tactfully explain. CS is telling me to send emails to "sales" and to "ombudsman" "executives" because they cannot help me. When I say that I would like to speak with somebody on the phone and handle this simple confusion in real time then I am denied that service. This is very impersonal and is not of great caliber service. Even PayPal will solve any problems, over the phone, quickly. I FEEL LIKE I AM WORKING AS MY OWN CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR ING AND THIS IS NOT APPEALING.
There is no rational, ethical or contractual reason why I should not be credited the 25$ and why my referrer, who WORKED FOR YOU TO GET YOU MY BUSINESS, should not be cedited commissions for my sign up if he has not been.
I am now growing rational concern of letting ING handle my personal and business money in the future.
It is apparently your unequivocal obligation to credit my account with 25$ in the very near future if you would like to honor your word, rationale, ethics and any contractual obligations. I realize this is only 25$, but the principle of the situation in itself is very important to me and to the reputability of your business.
I explain this in my utmost respect.
Please keep me updated, expediently. You may call if you would like to, at....... . Thank you for your time, for your service, for supporting your reputation as a rational, ethical, honest and efficient business.
My sincere best. -.......
I'll keep you all updated. Take care.
