LivingSocial voucher problem - any advice?

protector

Hi folks,
A few weeks ago I bought a meal for two on LivingSocial (steak and champers - not my usual fare but we fancied it so why not?).

I've just tried to book a table for tonight and was informed that it is "policy" not to accept vouchers on the weekend as they are already busy. Sound enough logic, but here's the issue...

...nowhere on the voucher, the offer, the livingsocial site or the restaurant site does or did it say anything even remotely resembling a restriction on when it can be used (bar the expiration date, that is).

To their credit, the terms are really plain and easy to understand:

the fine print
Limit 1 per person, buy as many as you'd like as gifts • Normal merchant cancellation policies apply; voucher subject to forfeiture • Limit 1 per person per visit • Gratuity not included (Be nice and tip on the pre-discounted total!) • Dine-in only (not valid for takeout or delivery) • Other Conditions apply • Expires on 03/12/10

The "other conditions" are

Except where noted in the fine print:
• No cash value/cash back
• Entire value must be used in one visit
• Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion
• LivingSocial Terms and Conditions - livingsocial.com/terms

As far as I can tell the only remotely relevant part of the livingsocial terms is this part

4. Deal Specific Terms
Each Deal has specific terms associated with the Deal, which will be presented to you at the time you commit to purchase the particular Deal. Deal specific terms supersede any inconsistent terms in this Agreement, except to the extent such terms are prohibited by applicable law.

None of which suggests anything about restrictions on day of use either. No restrictions were presented at, before or after the time of purchace.

Any suggestions?

I'm sure it can't be right that they can sell a meal and then start adding terms and conditions after the sale.

Anyone?

RadoJo

As you quoted:

4. deal specific terms
Each Deal has specific terms associated with the Deal, which will be presented to you at the time you commit to purchase the particular Deal. Deal specific terms supersede any inconsistent terms in this Agreement, except to the extent such terms are prohibited by applicable law.

This suggests that the terms of the deal are specific to each deal rather than generally applicable across all purchases. Do you have a screen shot or similar to demonstrate that the terms you agreed to when purchasing did not include any restrictions about when the voucher could be redeemed?

LivingSocialAdamB

Hi protector,

Sorry for the confusion/frustration. Our vouchers do not discriminate. You are a regular customer and should be treated as such. Could you email me:

The name of the deal/merchant
The email you use to login to LivingSocial

We'll contact the merchant and get this taken care of. Also, to make up for this we'd like to offer to refund the value of your deal.

Again, sorry about this. And thanks for bringing this to our attention.

Adam B
LivingSocial
adamb@livingsocial.com

rachelcharles

Hi Adam,
I purchased a deal on social living for 10 outdoor fitness sessions on the 24th May 2011.

The next day i didn't receive an e-mail or voucher so i looked at my living social page to find the deal wasn't actually on there so i thought maybe the deal didn't go though. BUT on the 27th May I got charged £25 for the deal

I have tried calling the number on the website over 100 times during US hours as suggested on the website and it is ALWAYS Busy
I have sent 2 on line request though the website and an e-mail to the address i found on the website and i have had no response.

I have e-mailed the actual company organising the outdoor sessions to let them know about the poor quality of service i have received from living social because they are loosing business too.

as you work at social living would you let me know who i am supposed to contact when a deal goes wrong PLEASE DO NOT REFER ME TO THE WEBSITE BECAUSE IT'S NOT HELPFUL!

the customer support is terrible please help

Kind Regards
Rachel

Kpup

Hi all,

I purchased a Living Social voucher for a spa day at the Hilton in Park Lane about a year ago now. It's due to expire on the 28th March 2012 but booked it in for 23rd March 2012 a few weeks ago, so within the time limit for expiration.

The deal included a couple of treatments and a champagne afternoon tea. Nobody from the spa said anything when the day was booked a few weeks ago, but my gf just had a call from them saying that they could no longer offer the champagne afternoon tea as part of the voucher deal but they could do if she upgraded the voucher. Surely that can't be allowed?

I've included the description and ts&cs below:

Purity Spa at Hilton Park Lane

Hilton Spa Package for Two Including Champagne Afternoon Tea, Hot Stone Massage, and Manicure or Pedicure.


Expires on March 28, 2012 Appointments are required and subject to availability • Merchant cancellation/re-scheduling policy of 24 hours applies; voucher subject to forfeiture • Afternoon tea sittings are between 2pm and 6pm only 7 days a week • Hot stones is a back, neck and shoulder treatment that lasts 30 mins • All services must be redeemed during one visit and used by same couple; cannot be shared•

I can't see anything in there which mentions that Living Social or the Merchant can vary the subject of the deal.

Has anyone had the same problem?

Thanks

K

Usually_Jolly

I wish the Livingsocial advisor I spoke to was as willing to sort my issue out.

I purchased Zumba Fitness Vouchers from Living Social last year, but did not get to use them all. So when the deal came up again in January this year I went for it.

The deal offered, was ''20 Zumba classes for £10 or Four months of Zumba Classes for £25

This implies 20 classes are prepaid but not timebound and the Four months of Zumba is unlimited access but time bound.

The next minefield is that only AFTER you have made the purchase and printed the voucher, the wording is Americanised (PROMOTIONAL VALUE VALID THROUGH) and therefore not clearly understood, purely due to the missing word 'TO'.

If the voucher had said ''PROMOTIONAL VALUE VALID THROUGH 'TO' or VOUCHER EXPIRY DATE it would be more clearly undestood if you get my drift.

Tried to contact the Zumba company within the 7 days but there was no response so I spoke to two people at Living social who confirmed that I only needed to activate the voucher before the expiry date.

Tried to book a class this week only to find out that my voucher expired last week, when I did not purchase based on time but on quantity.

As I have only been able to use 2 out of the 20 classes I contacted Zumba company.

Zumba company insists vouchers are expired but have offered a free class. They also say that Living social advisor I spoke with gave the wrong information verbally. They agree various terms with Livingsocial but Livingsocial issued templated terms & conditions which were generic across all their deals, rather than specific. Because of this, the voucher when printed it is out of their full control. I want a refund from Livingsocial as they are unwilling to accept any responsibility which is disgusting. Does anyone have any advice on my unused zumba vouchers from Livingsocial which are apparently expired?
Really frustrated!
who say I have checked this with my other vouchers and found this to be true as per Protectors qoute of those conditions....

mynameistallulah

Usually_Jolly wrote: »

I wish the Livingsocial advisor I spoke to was as willing to sort my issue out.

I purchased Zumba Fitness Vouchers from Living Social last year, but did not get to use them all. So when the deal came up again in January this year I went for it.

The deal offered, was ''20 Zumba classes for £10 or Four months of Zumba Classes for £25

This implies 20 classes are prepaid but not timebound and the Four months of Zumba is unlimited access but time bound.

The next minefield is that only AFTER you have made the purchase and printed the voucher, the wording is Americanised (PROMOTIONAL VALUE VALID THROUGH) and therefore not clearly understood, purely due to the missing word 'TO'.

If the voucher had said ''PROMOTIONAL VALUE VALID THROUGH 'TO' or VOUCHER EXPIRY DATE it would be more clearly undestood if you get my drift.

Tried to contact the Zumba company within the 7 days but there was no response so I spoke to two people at Living social who confirmed that I only needed to activate the voucher before the expiry date.

Tried to book a class this week only to find out that my voucher expired last week, when I did not purchase based on time but on quantity.

As I have only been able to use 2 out of the 20 classes I contacted Zumba company.

Zumba company insists vouchers are expired but have offered a free class. They also say that Living social advisor I spoke with gave the wrong information verbally. They agree various terms with Livingsocial but Livingsocial issued templated terms & conditions which were generic across all their deals, rather than specific. Because of this, the voucher when printed it is out of their full control. I want a refund from Livingsocial as they are unwilling to accept any responsibility which is disgusting. Does anyone have any advice on my unused zumba vouchers from Livingsocial which are apparently expired?
Really frustrated!
who say I have checked this with my other vouchers and found this to be true as per Protectors qoute of those conditions....

Why did you buy something that had terms you did not understand?

gingenie

Hi,

I bought a webcourse from living social, costing £145, supposed value £495. On trying to book I realised the discount was bogus as merchant was offering at the lower price consistently for months ( and still are). Groupon have been in trouble with OFT for this ( discount must be "generally" available at the higher price), so I queried with LS who said they'd "check the deal" and get back to me.

(Instead of their stated 48hrs!), no returned phone call or email for 2 months of chasing!. Eventually got someone who denied the deal was bogus, (though merchant has been selling at lower price (and continues to do so). Despite apologising that things went wrong at their end re lack of response, won't refund though voucher now expired due to LS's disgusting lack of customer care.

Will never buy from them again, obviously. Groupon are actually great, and have never quibbled about refunds. But LS are just out for a fast buck- not taking any responsibility, even though they ADMIT the voucher has expired due to their lack of response - any ideas on how to tackle this anyone please?

Usually_Jolly

The terms were clear before purchase. It was only after I had made the purchase that they added additional terms which I called them to clarify.