worried about voucher

dancer11_2

I saw a code online which I used to order lots of stuff with a great saving, and the stuff was delivered yesterday, but I'm really worried now, as some people who also placed orders have received calls from the company saying they weren't entitled to order using the code unless they had received a paper one in the post.

As I say, I found this voucher online (did check with a couple of voucher sites and it was the same details on them all so seemed legit to me) and ordered using the code. That was Thursday last week, and some stuff arrived Monday and other stuff is still in transit having been despatched Monday.

I'm scared to open it though! I really don't want them to send debt collectors round or try to take extra from my bank account (I paid the total less the discount, by debit card). They accepted the code repeatedly and then despatched the orders without advising me that there has been an error. I'm sick with worry about this, I really thought I was getting a bargain load of bits for my little girl's Christmas and feel so upset that I don't know what to do.

Am I being paranoid? Surely if they had made an error with the codes, they would have cancelled the orders? Or been in touch to ask if I wanted to pay full price or cancel the order or delay despatch til it was sorted out? Maybe I'm being naive, I've never used voucher codes before except to order pizza!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Browntoa

which site was it ??

ColinFishwick

The worse that can happen is that you pay full price. Dont worry

Was it very or little woods by chance?

dancer11_2

It was Hope Education. and I saw the code on Piggy something and also myvouchersites and ukvoucher something or other.

Yes, it's the paying full price that's the problem! I can't afford to, and only bought it because of the excellent discount. Their stuff is quite expensive otherwise, so I'd have chosen to buy what I needed elsewhere at a lower price.

If they had got in touch before the stuff was sent out it would have been so much easier. They haven't got in touch with me at all, but from some of the horror stories I'm hearing, they could take their time and then tell me, by which point I'm already using the stuff!

It seems a bit mad that this could happen - i put in the code, they told me the new price (ie, retail cost less discount applied), there were no consumer terms and conditions, and no voucher terms and conditions, I paid what they told me, they sent confirmation, and then posted the stuff.

To my mind that is them accepting the price as they took my money, and sent me the goods and havent advised me that there is a problem. But some folk have been saying that 6 months down the line they can come asking for it back or full price, or send you to a debt recovery company.

bright_side

Using voucher codes that weren't issued personally to you or that don't show complete terms and conditions is ALWAYS a risk. It does seem very unfair that companies can reclaim the money months down the line when you no longer have the opportunity to return the items, but unfortunately they appear to be well within their rights. If it's going to worry you that much, I'd return them and be done with it. It's a case of you win some you lose some I'm afraid. Personally I would never buy anything with a code that I wasn't prepared to pay full price for if it went t*ts up.

ColinFishwick

If you are just a consumer and the goods are despatched you can send it back in most cases under distance selling act provided you only inspected the goods and within 7 days of purchase. If they charge you more than what was agreed it could be argued once the goods are despatched that they have honoured the price agreed at the time. If they charged more and not honoured the discount price then you could send it back as I said

Usually when goods are despatched/price deducted a contract was formed

deshepherd

Been looking for Very codes myself recently and looked at their T&Cs ... in using a code you are agreeing that (a) you are permitted to use it and (b) if you aren't then you agree that they can reclaim the discount from you. So think any contract you have includes their right to reclaim a discount that is "incorrectly" obtained

jenniewb

dancer11 wrote: »

It was Hope Education. and I saw the code on Piggy something and also myvouchersites and ukvoucher something or other.

Yes, it's the paying full price that's the problem! I can't afford to, and only bought it because of the excellent discount. Their stuff is quite expensive otherwise, so I'd have chosen to buy what I needed elsewhere at a lower price.

If they had got in touch before the stuff was sent out it would have been so much easier. They haven't got in touch with me at all, but from some of the horror stories I'm hearing, they could take their time and then tell me, by which point I'm already using the stuff!

It seems a bit mad that this could happen - i put in the code, they told me the new price (ie, retail cost less discount applied), there were no consumer terms and conditions, and no voucher terms and conditions, I paid what they told me, they sent confirmation, and then posted the stuff.

To my mind that is them accepting the price as they took my money, and sent me the goods and havent advised me that there is a problem. But some folk have been saying that 6 months down the line they can come asking for it back or full price, or send you to a debt recovery company.

I guess then its up to you if its worth the additional stress over worrying about it, could you not get friends and relatives to order for you on your behalf, you pay them the money, give them the discount code and then you only have one order per code?

I think it may also depend on how the discount was issued, some are issued by personal email others are stated on websites or the back of magazines: do you know how the one you found appeared?

I don't know if there is any sort of minimum waiting period- maybe you could look into that just so you have some sort of time frame, you could try changing your card details (call bank and ask for a new one) just incase it slows up the process so they can't just swipe the money without you being able to prepare for it or come to some sort of payment plan but be ware of this also because they could just send things off to a debt company who would add to the bill and at the end of the day changing card details may not even work.

I suppose what you gotta ask is if it really is worth you being "sick with worry". Its your life, live it the way you see best, theres no point your kids having all the gifts in the world if their mother can't enjoy things with them.

jillyjacks

lots of good info on this thread
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3536093

Discodee

If you are really sick with worry about it, why not contact them and say you have bought stuff using a code and have been told by a friend that this company has been reported as being unfair to customers by asking for momney back later on, and is the code you have used ok, or you will send the stuff back. Then at least you'll know to either send it back or that you can keep it. If you have an email from them confirming that, then thet cant then charge you. Years ago I bought loads from la redoute and littlewoods using codes. la redoute eventually just closed my accouint as I had had so muc h for free (Their codes were no minumium spend and i guess they didnt like people getting stuff free) Littlewoods were awful .I used a code with them and they sent it then invoic ed me for the full amount and had debt collectors after me! I just sent the same letter each time saying i had used the code and showing copy of the emai; confirmation. They got fed up in the end, but never again!

skibster

The only real problem comes in if they contact you months from now wanting the money back, when it's too late to return items (which is something Littlewoods has done to people, so potentially other sites might as well, but it's not common practice for all businesses). In your situation, I'd leave everything in its original packaging, wait to see if the business contacts you, and keep monitoring the experiences of others on the forum.

Also, take the lesson to be very careful to only use codes that weren't sent specifically to you IF you can pay full price if the codes are denied later. I've gotten good bargains on things a few times knowing it was a calculated risk and that I might end up paying full price if the code is revoked after it's too late to return an item. And it would've been very annoying, as the item at full price was more expensive than elsewhere or it was something I wouldn't have got without the discount. BUT I knew that was a risk and made the decision not to order more items than I would be comfortable paying full price for if I had to. I would've been upset over it I'm sure, but it wouldn't have really hurt me financially. That's where you have to draw the line on the risky business of using shared coupons.

In addition, it's best not to mess about with voucher codes if it's for a small business. You end up doing a lot more damage to the business, and they are more likely to look into orders individually and want their money back. I don't know if the business you used was small or not, but it's an important distinction -- a family-owned business can't take the hit of tons of orders using coupons improperly.