Administration + Gift Cards + Third Party Sellers - Rights?

System

halibut2209 wrote: »

When does the supermarket pass the funds onto the retailer?

If I get a coupon from a newspaper, then the shop doesn't get that money until I give them that coupon and then they redeem it.

That's different to a gift card. A gift card has already had its monetary value loaded to it. Even if you don't use it, it still worth the amount on the card.

A coupon is a worthless piece of paper until its used to redeem something.

halibut2209

What about the first part. When does the money go to the retailer? If the Supermarket still have the money, then why wouldn't the OP have a claim? (genuine question, I have no idea)

System

I would assume they batch up the sales and pay the retailer say weekly or monthly. I've really no idea.

I would suspect if you are unlucky enough to buy a gift voucher for a shop that goes bust the next few days the supermarket may still have your money and they may refund you.

onlyroz

I tried to obtain a refund for an iTunes giftcard purchased at Boots. Boots refused the refund (or an exchange) saying that the money had already gone to iTunes and so I had to take it up with them. I assume that Jessops/Comet vouchers would work in the same way if purchased from a third party.

mo786uk

The problem with a gift card is that the money is not a service. so i dont think you can argue that the service is faulty.

the seller will most likely pay the retailer whose gift card it is everyday/week/month and chances are the retailer will get the funds from the seller before you shop there (generally speaking).

the gift card is credit with the retailer and if the retailer goes bust then you are a creditor that they owe money to.

gift coulds could arguablly be out of the scope of the SOGA and SSGSA - certainly for the monetary voucher element of the transaction.

dalesrider

halibut2209 wrote: »

What about the first part. When does the money go to the retailer? If the Supermarket still have the money, then why wouldn't the OP have a claim? (genuine question, I have no idea)

Will depend on their agreement with the co providing the cards.

I would imagine that there is a company who deal with ALL the cards you see in supermarkets.
The supermarket sell the cards. Pass the money to this co and then it is passed to the retailer concerned.

There clearly is some form of kickback to the retailer. As Morrisons were offering money of petrol if you bought gift cards pre xmas.

dalesrider

dalesrider wrote: »

As a aside we have raised this very issue at work with our tech reps to look into where we would stand on a chargback for non reciept of service.
Surfice to say their responce was do not hold your breath for a reply from visa.
Chargbacks have been actioned before and rejected on the basis. that your cash buys the voucher and nothing else.

A little update on this.

Anyone who has vouchers has to contact PWH to see if they will get anything back. They are quoting upto 1 year on this....
Now under Visa regs we only have 120 days from debit date to action a chargeback (going to ask if the fact they are vaild for 24 months will help or if the date of administration comes into play)
We are hoping that at some point in the near future that a update is forthcoming from visa as to if we can start charging back.
Guide at moment is no.