Strange disclaimers in Virgin Customer Service Email

[Puffing Devil]

I found this lurking at the end of a (useless) response from Virgin Customer Services:

Any opinions expressed in this email message are those of the sender and do not represent those of Virgin Trains or affiliated Companies in any way and reliance should not be placed upon its contents. Unless otherwise stated this email message is not intended to be contractually binding. Where an Agreement exists between our respective companies and there is conflict between the contents of this email message and the Agreement then the terms of that Agreement shall prevail​

I'm wondering what is the point of a Customer Service response if it does not represent the views of the company?

 

[185]

It's perhaps a get-out for a rogue threatening/defammatory/abusive reply from their CS/HR staff.

Regardless of the disclaimer, I reckon as a business, they are wholly legally liable and responsible for their own CS/HR replies.

 

[AlterEgo]

There are pointless disclaimers on most corporate emails. They're not usually legally binding.

 

[Greenback]

It's just trying to cover their backsides in case someone makes a mistake. How effective it would be is arguable.

 

[LexyBoy]

So that if a customer service agent makes a mistake then it's their "opinion" whereas if they get it right it's a "fact"?

 

[endecotp]

a (useless) response from Virgin Customer Services

I think you know the answer; you said the reply was useless, and they also know it's useless. Don't rely on it.

For useful answers, ask here on this forum.

 

[PeterC]

No doubt a standard disclaimer across the company regardless of whether the topic is a simple passenger query or a discussion of a multi million rolling stock leasing deal.

It looks more relevant to a business to business email than to a business to customer one.

 

[Greenback]

So that if a customer service agent makes a mistake then it's their "opinion" whereas if they get it right it's a "fact"?

Basically, I think that they are trying to limit the consequences of any mistake by one of their employees that could affect their legal relationship with other companies in the group.

No doubt a standard disclaimer across the company regardless of whether the topic is a simple passenger query or a discussion of a multi million rolling stock leasing deal.

It looks more relevant to a business to business email than to a business to customer one.

Agreed.

 

[Clip]

No doubt a standard disclaimer across the company regardless of whether the topic is a simple passenger query or a discussion of a multi million rolling stock leasing deal.

It looks more relevant to a business to business email than to a business to customer one.

Quite. ours get sent with a similar disclaimer too but it gets added after you click send, or ive never noticed t below my normal email sig at work which I never scroll down tii.

 

[maniacmartin]

I note that they say that any opinions do not represent Virgin in any way. It might have been a good idea for them to have added the word 'necessarily'.