Bluewater gift card

DVardysShadow

fozmcfc wrote: »

I don't think the OP has a leg to stand on, but if I was them, I would press them to explain why they need to have an expiry date on them.

Can anyone think of why they would have an expiry date on them?

All I can think of is that the cards are issued with all/some of the shops being part of the scheme (I don't know the scheme, so assuming how it works). But because shops close and new ones open fairly frequently, it would be unfair on the new stores to have to accept the vouchers.

There is really no need for an expiry date. Book tokens never expire [unless that has changed]. As zandoni says [http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=36143691&postcount=21], the money should go to a separate account held somewhere. There is no disadvantage to new shops whatsoever - I have never heard of a new bookshop refusing book tokens - in either case, the shop is reimbursed from the central fund.

gaucious

Becles wrote: »

For accounting reasons? They need to balance the books at some point, so it's fair to assume if someone hasn't spent it after a period of time, the card could be lost, not wanted etc. It would make cash flow forecasts difficult if you were holding credits open for an indefinite period of time.

Yeah for accounting reasons, also Bluewater Giftcards are classed as Mastercard and therefore are legally required to have an expiry date.

halibut2209

This thread is nearly 2 years old...

Jolouieanne

I am currently having the same issue with vouchers given to us for wedding gifts.Vouchers are a safer way of giving money rather than having cash.
The vouchers I received do not have a date on them and also how can you expect wedding guests to state rules and regulations to the bride and groom when handing them their gift.


I spoke to customer relations and it seems that they are now actually putting the dates on the vouchers so it seems like this is a reoccurring problem.


The vouchers should not expire as they are cash. I used a River Island voucher recently that was over 3 years old and this was still accepted as cash as the original amount had been handed over to the company.


I would definitely agree that this is a legal way of stealing and I will not let this matter go with such a large blue chip company!

jkkne

You could use your River Island giftcard because it was in the T&C's that you could. RI are rolling 24 month giftcards

It's a bit like putting a big steak from Waitrose in your fridg, ignoring the sell by date and leaving it for 8 months then complaining when its gone off. It's not like Bluewater have hid the fact its valid for 12 months. Most stores are pretty explicit on that front.

I do sympathise with the consumer but I also see the business side. OP saw the terms and conditions. The store makes money when the card is used but they don't tend to count as income, and in the meantime the income is carried on the balance sheet and not counted as income. The company keeps adatabase information on all the cards until they are used or expire at a cost. So, along with the simple reason that it's easy income, there is some logic to making the cards expire if they get old or have no activity. At end of the day it's a business not a bank

tomwakefield

Jolouieanne wrote: »

Vouchers are a safer way of giving money rather than having cash.

Why do you say this? From my experience, they're essentially cash with a pretty picture, limits to where you can spend it and an expiry date.

fluffnutter

halibut2209 wrote: »

This thread is nearly 2 years old...

It's even older now.