Groupon Voucher 'In conjunction with another offer'

cazza11

Hi, i would like some advice or opinions please

I bought a voucher off Groupon for 3 hours of driving lessons for £15(instead of £57).

The driving company will not let me use this voucher because i am an existing customer and already received an 'introductory offer' when i started lessons 4 months ago.

The manager told me that Groupon fine print says that vouchers can't be used in conjunction with another offer and that the driving company website says only one introductory offer per person.

The offer i bought does not state anywhere that it i an introductory offer, just that it is an offer.

Also, i am not using it in conjunction with another offer because i had my introductory 4 months ago.

Do i have a case or am i in the wrong?

Thanks you very much in advance

arcon5

What does the small print say?

I imagine it does say so, otherwise you could just buy a load and effectively pay just £5/lesson!

cazza11

Hi

it does say that it can't be used combined with another offer, but my argument is that i am not combining it with the introductory offer?

arcon5

cazza11 wrote: »

Hi

it does say that it can't be used combined with another offer, but my argument is that i am not combining it with the introductory offer?

It cannot be combined with ANY other offer, not just the introductory offer -- which you used.
Your tuition with them will be classed as one long service for which you have already redeemed an offer against.

That aside, alot of driving instructors are owner drivers paying "rent" to the company so its not really fair to expect them to work for next to nothing (especially since Groupon take about 50% of that £15).

Simply, if they did allow you to use the offer, you could most likely expect the quality of tuition to drop pretty significantly. That and possible delay tactics when it comes to your test to get them extra few lessons.

cazza11

thanks for your reply, arcon5

i'm not really asking the driver to work for next to nothing though, i have responded to an offer that the company have decided on, it is the company's decision wether or not to advertise on groupon and give them 50% of the money. wether it is good for the business or not, and i believe i have been mis-sold this

if i go to a hairdressers i may get an introductory offer, but wouldn't be excluded from all future offers that have been made generally available with no exclusions

Googlies_2

You wouldnt be using it in "conjunction" (same time, simultaneously), I agree with you and I would probably pay under protest and then use the small claims court to reclaim.

cazza11

thanks Googlies that's a good idea

RadoJo

The thing is that the Groupon offer is presumably designed as an introductory offer so that the shortfall in the price paid for the first three lessons is made up for when the customer continues to use that company for the rest of their lessons. Does anything in the Groupon Ts and Cs mention that it is an 'introductory' offer or include stipulations about their use by existing customers?

halibut2209

Googlies wrote: »

You wouldnt be using it in "conjunction" (same time, simultaneously), I agree with you and I would probably pay under protest and then use the small claims court to reclaim.

You would get laughed out of court. No company is legally obliged to accept a voucher.

cazza11

Hi

No, Groupon don't mention anywhere in the t&c's that it is introductory or that it excludes existing customers

halibut, i understand that companies may not have to accept vouchers, but they have made a sale (admittedly a loss leader) but still a sale, and not provided the service that was promised and mis sold at the point of sale

arcon5

cazza11 wrote: »

thanks Googlies that's a good idea

Remember you should take advise on public forums with a pinch of salt. Because that's not good advise!

As part of the service they are providing you have already taken them up on one offer. The groupon voucher would still be for the same service and i'm sure it will be in the terms somewhere - whether it be groupons terms or the driving instructors terms.

And if you do start 'paying under protest' or make mention of court -- no doubt you will soon be forced to find a new driving instructor!