Is this fraud, theft, or maybe its legal? It's fucked up either way. - GoFuckYourself.com

Rob · 12-18-2005, 04:32 PM

A guy I know drafts up complaint letters and sends them out in mass and gets free food coupons. He will draft up a letter stating that he had a terrible experience at a restaurant and mail it to their corporate head quarters. He sent out 40 letters last month and now has over $500 in free food coupons (T.G.I.Fridays sent him a $50 coupon!!!).

This has to be fraud. If he goes to a restaurant he will send a complaint letter (or even just complain to the manager when he's there) but the fraud part is that he doesn't even have to go to the restaurant and he will still send the letter.

This is the same guy from H.S. that would call Oakley and get a free pair of sunglasses. He would call to check up on a pair of glasses that he never sent (they had the lifetime warranty offer). They wouldn't be able to find the glasses he allegedly mailed in so they would just send him a free pair.

*I just ran into him at the grocery store and he reminded me about it by telling me the story that I posted above. That's the reason I posted about it.

JamesK2 · 12-18-2005, 04:34 PM

Sounds like a plan

Rob · 12-18-2005, 04:35 PM

Damn, I just realized that I gave a bunch of deadbeats a gameplan.

I'm going to delete the thread.

Mike Okitch · 12-18-2005, 04:35 PM

It's perfectly legal but he is a scumbag for doing this.

Companies would rather spend $50 on a scumbag, even if he's entirely wrong than taking the risk of having further pr problems.

baddog · 12-18-2005, 04:35 PM

It is theft, and the sign of a true loser.

baddog · 12-18-2005, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Okitch

It's perfectly legal

How is it legal?

Rob · 12-18-2005, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

It is theft, and the sign of a true loser.

I was getting upset when I was talking to him. I haven't seen him since H.S. and he's still up to his fucked up games.

I should turn the idiot in.

After Shock Media · 12-18-2005, 04:36 PM

Why do I recall this from a movie that I can not place right now.

Rob · 12-18-2005, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

How is it legal?

It's legal to complain while you're there or if you actually did dine at their restaurant. It's illegal if you haven't.

Mike Okitch · 12-18-2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

How is it legal?

Writing a letter and bitching is legal.

I'm not saying that the guy is right for doing this, but I'm saying it's legal.

Bluewire Ross · 12-18-2005, 04:38 PM

some people can get away with what they want--all in the name of "customer service."

RayBonga · 12-18-2005, 04:39 PM

So you're friends with Analhobit.

Mike Okitch · 12-18-2005, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

It's legal to complain while you're there or if you actually did dine at their restaurant. It's illegal if you haven't.

The problem is how to prove he hasn't? It's his word against theirs and the whole "the customer is always right" bullshit comes into play here.

wtfent · 12-18-2005, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

A guy I know drafts up complaint letters and sends them out in mass and gets free food coupons. He will draft up a letter stating that he had a terrible experience at a restaurant and mail it to their corporate head quarters. He sent out 40 letters last month and now has over $500 in free food coupons (T.G.I.Fridays sent him a $50 coupon!!!).

This has to be fraud. If he goes to a restaurant he will send a complaint letter (or even just complain to the manager when he's there) but the fraud part is that he doesn't even have to go to the restaurant and he will still send the letter.

This is the same guy from H.S. that would call Oakley and get a free pair of sunglasses. He would call to check up on a pair of glasses that he never sent (they had the lifetime warranty offer). They wouldn't be able to find the glasses he allegedly mailed in so they would just send him a free pair.

*I just ran into him at the grocery store and he reminded me about it by telling me the story that I posted above. That's the reason I posted about it.

Well I think thats pretty cool of TGI Fridays and I am going to eat there this week instead of chilis since they obviously they know how to treat their customers. Looks like they just made that $50 back. Great fucking marketing TGI.

If you keep your cusomters happy and go out of the way for them alot of times the word will get out such as it did in this case, TGI fridays just one a new customer (Ive never been there before) when all their millions of advertising was never able to get me there. Damn thats fucking powerful marketing.

Rob · 12-18-2005, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluewire Ross

some people can get away with what they want--all in the name of "customer service."

Exactly and I think that's bullshit.

If I had a dollar for everytime someone threatened me with calling the Better Business Bureau for something that was clearly their fault...

baddog · 12-18-2005, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Okitch

Writing a letter and bitching is legal.

Yeah, if he actually dined there, but if he did not go the the restaurant and said he did, then it is petty theft.

Penthouse Tony · 12-18-2005, 04:43 PM

Is he one of those guys that doesn't like sitting on hold so he dials random numbers so he can get ahold of someone? I hate those guys. I usually transfer them to the end of the queue so they can wait and avoid doing that a second time.

Rob · 12-18-2005, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wtfent

Well I think thats pretty cool of TGI Fridays and I just might eat there this week since there are so many places to eat but obviously they know how to treat their customers. Looks like they just made that $50 back. Great fucking marketing TGI.

If you keep your cusomters happy and go out of the way for them alot of times the word will get out such as it did in this case.

Marketing is not always good when it shows that your company is a pushover. Out of the 100 customers they receive from publicity like this, they will receive 200 more people attempting to defraud them.

baddog · 12-18-2005, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Okitch

The problem is how to prove he hasn't? It's his word against theirs and the whole "the customer is always right" bullshit comes into play here.

Just because you can't prove the guy was never there does not make it legal.

Mike Okitch · 12-18-2005, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baddog

Just because you can't prove the guy was never there does not make it legal.

No it doesn't make it legal.

Just that the company is really dumb enough to cave to every letter they receive.

warlock5 · 12-18-2005, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Okitch

It's perfectly legal but he is a scumbag for doing this.

Companies would rather spend $50 on a scumbag, even if he's entirely wrong than taking the risk of having further pr problems.

Its illegal. There was just a news story about 2 days ago about a 500 lbs guy who was arrested for scamming fast food places for going in and claiming there was hair in his food just to get it for free. Can't find the article..

Rob · 12-18-2005, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warlock5

Its illegal. There was just a news story about 2 days ago about a 500 lbs guy who was arrested for scamming fast food places for going in and claiming there was hair in his food just to get it for free. Can't find the article..

http://www.local6.com/news/5527928/detail.html

sfera · 12-18-2005, 05:00 PM

i think you are giving people ideas lol

12-18-2005, 04:32 PM	#1
Rob I'm a great bowler. Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Right Outside of Normal. Posts: 13,309	Is this fraud, theft, or maybe its legal? It's fucked up either way. A guy I know drafts up complaint letters and sends them out in mass and gets free food coupons. He will draft up a letter stating that he had a terrible experience at a restaurant and mail it to their corporate head quarters. He sent out 40 letters last month and now has over $500 in free food coupons (T.G.I.Fridays sent him a $50 coupon!!!). This has to be fraud. If he goes to a restaurant he will send a complaint letter (or even just complain to the manager when he's there) but the fraud part is that he doesn't even have to go to the restaurant and he will still send the letter. This is the same guy from H.S. that would call Oakley and get a free pair of sunglasses. He would call to check up on a pair of glasses that he never sent (they had the lifetime warranty offer). They wouldn't be able to find the glasses he allegedly mailed in so they would just send him a free pair. I just ran into him at the grocery store and he reminded me about it by telling me the story that I posted above. That's the reason I posted about it. __________________ Last edited by Rob; 12-18-2005 at 04:33 PM..*

12-18-2005, 04:34 PM	#2
JamesK2 Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 6,589	Sounds like a plan __________________

12-18-2005, 04:35 PM	#3
Rob I'm a great bowler. Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Right Outside of Normal. Posts: 13,309	Damn, I just realized that I gave a bunch of deadbeats a gameplan. I'm going to delete the thread. __________________

12-18-2005, 04:35 PM	#4
Mike Okitch Confirmed User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Posts: 4,126	It's perfectly legal but he is a scumbag for doing this. Companies would rather spend $50 on a scumbag, even if he's entirely wrong than taking the risk of having further pr problems. __________________ SIG TOO BIG! Maximum 120x60 button and no more than 3 text lines of DEFAULT SIZE and COLOR. Unless your sig is for a GFY top banner sponsor, then you may use a 624x80 instead of a 120x60.

12-18-2005, 04:36 PM	#8
After Shock Media It's coming look busy Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn". Posts: 35,299	Why do I recall this from a movie that I can not place right now. __________________ [email protected] ICQ:135982156 AIM: Aftershockmed1a MSN: [email protected]

12-18-2005, 04:35 PM	#5
baddog So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the beach, SoCal Posts: 107,089	It is theft, and the sign of a true loser.

12-18-2005, 04:38 PM	#11
Bluewire Ross Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,169	some people can get away with what they want--all in the name of "customer service." __________________ Cam2CamLive! Feature Rich Flash-Based Cam Site Script MAINSTREAM WEB DESIGN CUSTOM ILLUSTRATIONS [email protected] ICQ:259-582-973YahooIM: ross_collado1975

12-18-2005, 04:39 PM	#12
RayBonga too cool for highschool Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: East side, West side, Worldwide! Posts: 12,164	So you're friends with Analhobit.

12-18-2005, 04:43 PM	#17
Penthouse Tony Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 5,835	Is he one of those guys that doesn't like sitting on hold so he dials random numbers so he can get ahold of someone? I hate those guys. I usually transfer them to the end of the queue so they can wait and avoid doing that a second time. __________________ aamos AT FFN dot com Penthouse.com Business Development ICQ: 49090846 \| Yahoo IM: ff_aamos

12-18-2005, 05:00 PM	#23
sfera Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: ICQ: 248877409 Posts: 8,597	i think you are giving people ideas lol