Flybuys Closed My Account without My Consent

R n b on 18/07/2024 - 23:46
Last edited 19/07/2024 - 09:58 by 1 other user

Hello OzBargainers, I need big help here.

I am following up with Flybuys from last 3 months to “REOPEN” my account as somehow my account was closed. Customer service said if we don’t use a card for a year then it automatically closed. But in my case, I regularly used it. 3 months ago when I was trying to redeem Flybuys $$$, I couldn’t, it said “glitches”. I could open my Flybuys, could see all transactions, scanned Flybuys cards everything was normal except redeeming $$$.

Last week suddenly I got email saying that my account was “closed” and I got another email after a minute saying that my account is “reopened". When I tried to open my account, I couldn’t. It looked like they permanently closed my account without my consent.

I called them immediately but no good response. I told them, I had more than $300 in my card. What gonna happened, they said they can’t do anything as they are not able to see my account. Their response was very unprofessional and irresponsible as I lost more than $300 because of their so called glitches.

Does anyone know what we can do now?

Any Flybuys contact number except 131116?

Food & Grocery Reward Points

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Comments

  • askbargain on 18/07/2024 - 23:47
    -1

    christmas came early

  • CauseNEffect on 19/07/2024 - 00:05

    Do you have a physical card or using an app. They did the same to me because i used an app - stocard. The app just keeps working. Their support then made authenticating the closed account a nightmare.

    Suss behaviour.

    • Iwantthebestprice on 19/07/2024 - 00:10

      I’ve always used the app, can’t recall if I’ve ever used the card. Does this mean that as I haven't used the card there is a chance my account could suddenly be closed and I will lose all my flybuy dollars?

      If yes, very suss indeed!

    • R n b on 19/07/2024 - 01:04
      +1

      I normally used an app card.

    • bargaino on 19/07/2024 - 01:37
      +6

      It makes no difference if you use the original card or Stocard etc for scanning - it is just a barcode.
      But you need the physical card with magnetic stripe to pay with the card, ie redeem points.

      • kerfuffle on 19/07/2024 - 06:02
        +7

        But you need the physical card with magnetic stripe to pay with the card, ie redeem points.

        Only if you want to redeem more than $10. You can now redeem $10 off your shopping with just a barcode.

  • 7ekn00 on 19/07/2024 - 00:14
    +6

    Too many accounts or gift card grifts, the T&C allow them to kill the account for any reason they like, including multiple accounts or too many points from a certain source ;)

    • CyberMurning on 19/07/2024 - 07:43

      @7ekn00 such as citi reward points?

    • Tafe on 20/07/2024 - 17:41

      Please elaborate your wink

      • 7ekn00 on 20/07/2024 - 18:17

        Check the OPs history, you can tell they have 1) multiple accounts and 2) lots of GC transactions

        Either can be a reason for cancellation … just like Amazon will cancel accounts for too many returns / refunds / cancellations / complaints …

  • jv on 19/07/2024 - 00:31
    +20

    Lodge a complaint with the Reward Card Ombudsman.

    • Hardlyworkin on 19/07/2024 - 07:23
      +15

      They are almost as busy as the Gift Card Ombudsman!

      • altomic on 19/07/2024 - 08:01
        +13

        And If they are too busy then make a complaint to the ombudsman ombudsman

  • randomusername2017 on 19/07/2024 - 01:41
    -3

    Consensual FB provides more benefits 🤔

    • mskeggs on 19/07/2024 - 07:50
      +3

      I’ve been guilty of this, but Bunnings is the worst for this behaviour. My theory is Bunnings doesn’t “feel” like a flybuys business, so it continually takes punters by surprise when asked for the card.
      Now I’m wondering what makes a place feel like a flybuys shop…

      • recycledrevenge on 19/07/2024 - 08:20

        It's probably because Bunnings and Officeworks only recently started accepting Flybuys cards (although it appears Officeworks were part of the scheme prior to 2009), whereas Coles and Kmart are well known as places that are part of the scheme.

    • smartazz104 on 19/07/2024 - 16:41
      +1

      Just browse and comment on OzBargain when you're stuck in line.

    • DoctorCalculon on 19/07/2024 - 19:47

      I just use the Bunnings app, which does it all.

      • MS Paint on 19/07/2024 - 19:49

        Thank you for your service.

        • DoctorCalculon on 19/07/2024 - 19:52

          All my digital receipts end up in there.
          But they still print out physical receipts because the door greeter has to scan them. However, they couldn't explain why they need to do this.

          • john_conner on 19/07/2024 - 20:06

            @DoctorCalculon: Why the door greeter scans them? To make sure they are doing their job and not waving people through. Or to force people to go up to the door greeter, maybe you are less likely to steal if the door greeter may remember your face?
            Twist: they normally don’t even pretend to compare the receipt with the goods.

            • DoctorCalculon on 19/07/2024 - 22:07

              @john_conner:

              maybe you are less likely to steal if the door greeter may remember your face

              They have facial recognition cameras everywhere these days.

              Twist: they normally don’t even pretend to compare the receipt with the goods.

              Maybe they are scanning them to make sure you are not walking out with goods using a receipt from your last purchase.
              Even they cannot explain why they are doing are doing it.
              They are just good soldiers following orders.

      • MeesusEff on 20/07/2024 - 04:31

        Does the Bunnings app link the flybuys card on there as well so you can just scan it in 1 app? So tired of the box of crumpled receipts stashed in the garage lol

  • CyberMurning on 19/07/2024 - 07:42
    +4

    Bikies

    • JIMB0 on 19/07/2024 - 07:45
      +4

      When that doesn't work they can contact the Bikies Ombudsman.

  • Neoika on 19/07/2024 - 07:51
    +1

    Use your card means having activities on your card, not login, update profile or try to use. However, I am not sure whether flybuys points conversion activity is considered as use your card. Each rewards scheme defines it differently.

  • bdl on 19/07/2024 - 09:14
    -1

    hellosam

  • holdenmg on 19/07/2024 - 09:17

    ACCC doesn't offer a lot of joy.
    https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/advertising-and-promotions…
    You can contact Contact the business or Report misleading behaviour to the ACCC

  • CodeXD on 19/07/2024 - 09:35
    +1

    How many Flybuys accounts do you have? How many in the household?

    • R n b on 19/07/2024 - 09:37
      -6

      Plenty….but different name.

      • CodeXD on 19/07/2024 - 09:47
        +3

        There's something else at play here. Whether it is something you've done and trying to get around it or maybe something you did but don't know it is against t&c. Your reply already sounds dodgy and you have not answered my questions.

        I could open my Flybuys, could see all transactions, scanned flybys cards everything was normal except redeeming $$$

        Can you still do this? If you can see all transactions, when was the last one?

        Customer service said if we don’t use a card for a year then it automatically closed.

        If CS couldn't access/see your account, then this advice is of general nature. So it does not mean that this is what actually happened, rather, one scenario for flybuys closing account. Did you try to transfer 'plenty' of flybuys points to the same velocity account?

        • R n b on 19/07/2024 - 10:01
          -1

          There is no dodgy business. They even didn’t know why my account was closed as i was regularly using my card, last transaction was 2 april 2024. Before last week, I could do everything except redeeming $$$, last week instead of reopening my account, they permanently shut. Now not only me, customers service also cant have access my account. They didn’t mention about household has multiple accounts. An actual reason to close my account is mystery.

          • jv on 19/07/2024 - 10:42
            +2

            @R n b:

            They even didn’t know why my account was closed

            They won't tell you if they know you had dodgy accounts.

          • CodeXD on 19/07/2024 - 12:19

            @R n b:

            last transaction was 2 april 2024

            I am following up with Flybuys from last 3 months

            Are you sure this isn't 2023? The timeline makes perfect sense if you haven't used it in 12 months and they deactivated it start of April 2024.

        • R n b on 19/07/2024 - 12:14

          I don’t use velocity points.

  • Baysew on 19/07/2024 - 10:04
    +3

    Flybuys T & C

    • neoleo on 19/07/2024 - 14:00
      -4

      Too long for me to read this. Most people don't bother to read this. I have checked this already. How many Flybuys accounts can I have under my name? I think I read someone mentioned about having more than 1 account for flybuys or everyday rewards account … Different emails of course.

      How about some people live together at the same address and each have flybuys account (different name of course). No problem, right? Can I have multiple Woolworths Everyday rewards accounts (different emails) to get the free 1500 points for each account :P

      I only use flybuys app and Wollies everyday rewards app.

  • p1 ama on 19/07/2024 - 11:05
    +2

    It looked like they permanently closed my account without my consent.

    Why do they need your "consent" to close your account?

    Do I also need your consent to not do business with you for whatever reason?

    • R n b on 19/07/2024 - 11:25

      To collect $300, i spent thousands of $$$. If they transfer or merged Flybuys’s $$$ or gave some time to spend, then close my account, or give some resaon/explanation, it’s understandable. Just because of their glitches, customer supposed not to suffer in my opinion.

      • holdenmg on 19/07/2024 - 11:55

        Either you had Flybuys points accrued or Flybuys Dollars on your Card Balance.

        Do my points ever expire?
        As long as you collect or redeem points at least once every 12 months, your points will not expire.
        https://help.flybuys.com.au/hc/en-gb/articles/9103578419983-…

        • R n b on 19/07/2024 - 12:12

          I had $40 fb dollars and rest are points.

      • Neoika on 20/07/2024 - 06:52

        Probably thousands of memberships are created and closed everyday and flybuys certainly doesn't have the human resource to take care of each case so that it is an automated process.

        • R n b on 20/07/2024 - 08:46
          -1

          Yes, this is right, happened with someone last year and they reopened in one call. I read somewhere in Facebook.

  • neoleo on 19/07/2024 - 12:28

    How many flybuys accounts are allowed for 1 person? How about Woolies everyday rewards account?

    • DoctorCalculon on 19/07/2024 - 19:49
      -1

      As many as you can open/want.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 19/07/2024 - 13:13
    -6

    Stop being so (profanity) entitled

    • neoleo on 19/07/2024 - 13:43
      +2

      Try to think more positive bro. I think it's quite normal/common to have multiple accounts for many things. $300 in a card is still $$$. What if that happened to you?

      For example I rarely buy online from Amazon. But when I need, I just create a new account to get Amazon Prime free trial with cheaper price and I don't want to pay for delivery. This is Ozbargain, a place where many people looks for bargains even free like free trial 5 months Amazon music for example.

      Many people have multiple sim cards to get more other bargains. Free Krispy Kreme donut, free Gloria Jeans coffee, free GYG burrito, etc.

      Someone previously mentioned in a HJ post that he has more than 100 Hungry Jack's accounts to get free burgers 😂

      • anonymous01 on 19/07/2024 - 21:28

        The fight between David vs Goliath.

  • HardQuiz on 19/07/2024 - 14:11
    +2

    Do you have the same mobile number on multiple accounts?

  • EFC94 on 19/07/2024 - 14:53
    +4

    Sounds like you've been caught out having multiple accounts and trying to accumulate points across them all.

    • R n b on 19/07/2024 - 15:37
      -4

      I already told its not about multiple accounts, it’s about glitches they faced. Nothing happened with other family members accounts. Seems like They couldn’t fixed the bug.

      • askbargain on 19/07/2024 - 20:40

        flybuys has the map advantage

  • namanuu on 19/07/2024 - 15:04
    +2

    I have had something similar i have been locked out of my account now for probably 6 months they wont let me change my password online
    said i have to call them in business hours and i genreally have better things to do then ..

    their loss just means I use woolies more, their points deals were getting crappier anyways.

  • Zeezoo on 19/07/2024 - 15:33
    +5

    Another reason I never leave any money in flybuys card

  • AuQld on 19/07/2024 - 19:10

    Yea there's glitches, I never got offers spent a month trying to get fuel offers in the bed they just created a new account with new card and I get all the offers now.

    They were quite responsive and helpful on the phone, more so than most banks and insurance companies.

  • DontNeedThis on 19/07/2024 - 23:29
    +6

    I spend my flybys as soon as there is $10 in it which is the minimum redeemable amount. Why would you let it get to $300? Why are you so sure you'll live to see the next day?

    • R n b on 20/07/2024 - 16:46
      +1

      Just used $40 fb dollars although account was closed, card is still working.

      • DontNeedThis on 20/07/2024 - 18:15

        So glad to hear that. Just use the rest before the next glich.

        • R n b on 20/07/2024 - 18:47

          Unfortunately I can’t redeem rest of the points as account is closed now. Those fb $$$ from before account closed. Only hope is; Useless tech team will fix the glitch and reopen my account.

  • Sammy Boi on 20/07/2024 - 14:05

    I've got nearly $650 in flyby points…. Can I really F us over this easily?
    I'm guessing I should start converting my points to money and spending it?

    • SpainKing on 20/07/2024 - 14:56
      +2

      They can (profanity) us over as easily as they want, it's their rewards scheme

      You should definitely be spending them sooner rather than later to save you from this potential headache, and so that the price gouging doesn't erode the current value of the points. Your $650 in real money can be put to better use

      • pinkybrain on 20/07/2024 - 16:54

        will ACCC be able to look into this scam/scheme if enough people complain?

        they only send ONE email (which we can missed quite easily) 1 month prior to them closing your account due to inactivity etc..

        the is a frigging CON SCAM which would easily wipe out people's points or money quite easily

        • R n b on 20/07/2024 - 18:49

          In my case, no email was sent, got to know while redeeming points. I was regularly using cards, so inactivity is useless point.

  • Jstrrrr on 04/08/2024 - 14:19

    I doubt they close your account if you have legitimate sources of points - like the the 20x GC purchases. They advertise those deals to encourage you to participate. It would be against their business to then cancel your or anyone's account for doing it "too much". You would easily be able to argue against this in VCAT.

    But they could justifiably cancel your account if you hold multiple FB accounts under your own name or do something else specifically forbidden in the T&Cs.

    I just think legitimately buying GC at 20x or 10x or 50x or whatever each time they offer it can't possibly get you banned if you acted within their T&Cs. It's something else.

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