Messina App Cancels User Points without Warning

LVanquility on 09/03/2017 - 22:30

Hi all,

So I found this great deal on the new Messina Gelato app, whereby you can 'check in' to each gelato store based on your phone's GPS location. With each check in, you accumulate points to be used towards either free ice cream, ice cream appreciation seminars or a Messina Tote bag. In exchange, Messina posts 'check in' details on my facebook, for my network to see.

I've been diligently checking in and accumulating points to hopefully use one day, and my friends have been doing the same so we can all attend the ice cream appreciation events.

Unfortunately, because the app didn't register that I had any transactions with Messina, and that I had a high balance, I got sent an email today saying that I have not had any transactions via the app and all my points have now been reset to 0!! (down from 9,000 points!).. no warning…I have actually been using cash to pay for my ice creams since it's less cumbersome..

On reading the T&C, all they said was

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Store check ins should be used as additional points when in store buying gelato. Customers who check in multiple times to get lots of free points, but don’t ever buy anything, we’ll be watching…

  1. Does anyone else have this issue?
  2. Should I complain to the company/regulators

Thanks Oz Bargain community!

General Discussion

Related Stores

Gelato Messina
Gelato Messina

Comments

  • Pharos5 on 09/03/2017 - 22:41
    +4

    Well, it's right there in the t&c so firstly I would taper expectations.

    Instead of complaining, maybe contact customer service/messina fb and say you've been purchasing via cash and saving up with your friends. Essentially tell them what you just told us.

  • tomclancy on 09/03/2017 - 22:55
    -2

    Stop eating so much gelato

  • hell0 on 09/03/2017 - 23:14
    +1

    Wow, what a dodgy company. I will phone them for your and report back Friday when they are open.

  • twadds on 09/03/2017 - 23:19
    +4

    I thought you only got 50 points for each check in?

    I'm guessing they didn't believe that you went to 180 messina stores, made sure to check in every time to get the points then didn't pay via the app (which really isn't at all cumbersome to pay with) even though that would have given you a heap more points which you seem to be trying very hard to collect.

    I can see why they would be suspicious of you.

    • Vanquility on 11/03/2017 - 13:10

      Clearly you're not a fan of the fantastic ice cream flavours and service that they offer… and clearly don't realise that cash is the simplest form of payment.. assuming the app actually worked of course

  • madreece on 09/03/2017 - 23:34
    +10

    Oooops. Someone got busted gaming the system.

  • ozhunter on 10/03/2017 - 00:00
    +2

    It does say in the description from the Google Play store.

    Earn cool rewards and pay on your mobile at any Gelato Messina store! Earn 10 points for every $1 you spend using the app once you’ve connected your card to the app via the Aston Club payment system.

    You get points by paying using the app, not cash.

  • TopCat on 10/03/2017 - 08:35

    How do you check-in to a store?

  • blehgg on 10/03/2017 - 09:34
    +1

    did you use the gps hack as well?

  • try2bhelpful on 10/03/2017 - 12:00

    I had something similar happen with Qantas, however, that was a heap of points - enough to get get two around the world tickets. I just kept pestering them until they forked over the points; it took six months and me pointing out they had stopped notifying me on when the points would expire in their emails. We had to book everything in a week or the points would disappear again. My suggestion is to ring them and explain you have been paying for icecreams by cash to save up for the seminars and beg their forgiveness. Don't get snarky just cooly explain you are a loyal customer and promise to use the points for purchases in the future. Then make sure you do it the way they want you to in the future.

    • madreece on 10/03/2017 - 15:28
      +2

      Think you missed the point here."Earn 10 points for every $1 you spend using the app" Do you really think the OP has bought $900 worth of icecream. They got busted using a gps hack to say that they had visited the stores."50 points for each check in" = 180 store visits? no wonder the company took the points, and then they have the nerve to come on here and complain like they are hard done by. Yeah right.

      • try2bhelpful on 10/03/2017 - 19:43

        ahhhh. Yeah that is not playing by the rules.

    • exc3113nce on 12/03/2017 - 09:19

      But clearly OP wants to "attend the ice cream appreciation events."

  • bnjmn on 10/03/2017 - 15:50
    +2

    So you want us to help you re-scam Messina, after they caught you scamming them? Priceless.

  • Vanquility on 11/03/2017 - 13:12

    Well if you're not that keen on customer loyalty, promotions and good old word of mouth…. seeing how one scoop of ice cream costs about 10c

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