MSE News: HMV administration Q&A: gift card, refund and job rights

Gueld

Jasminpanda wrote: »

Technically, you have. The person who has bought the gift card has given the money to hmv and the money sort of bounces back to you. Think of it as a cheque. You'd be outraged if a bank stop accepting cheques. I see this just like that.

No, you're buying credit. Effectively you are investing and with that there comes risks.

Gueld

Jasminpanda wrote: »

Is it legal for them to have been selling the gift cards if they have known they are going bust for a while...? And shouldn't the staff tell you to use them quickly when you purchase one, especially within a month of them closing down

The staff had no idea this was going to happen. They had the pleasure of finding out via the news, the store managers didn't even know! HMV has been in trouble for years but somehow managed through, why would they have had any reason to think different? They only know what the rest of us knew.

Gueld

antispam246 wrote: »

More questions like everyone else. I reads the post but need clarification.

1) I had about £24 as e-credit on the online website, is this treated the same as gift card / vouchers? As it's coined differently, I think it was called "e-credit/balance" something like that can't check now, in the event I'll never get to spend it, can I reclaim it under different terms or will it be treated exactly as gift vouchers?

2) I checked out all my pure HMV points 3 days ago, when I caught wind of this. Purchased 2 x £20 voucher and 1 £2, these go straight onto the pure hmv card. Will this still be redeemable in shops? If the pure hmv system is still operating them supposedly any purchase I make using my pure hmv card will automatically deduct those vouchers.

3) Leisure vouchers? These are/were usable at HMV, I'm assuming they won't be now, unless anyone has successfully used them? Will they be treated just as "HMV" vouchers? At least I can use them elsewhere, down to about £120 left of leisure vouchers.

4) HMV Tax free? Will HMV stores airside in airports (duty free) be treated any differently? I work in an airport so I'm wondering if I can take advantage of this and not loose out, will find out when I'm back to work in couple of days.

Pure Points are now completely useless. They cannot be redeemed in store. This ofcourse may change should a buyer be found.

The website is now down until further notice.

As for Leisure vouchers - possibly as they were basically treated as cash through the tills. I'm not 100% sure though, perhaps someone will remember from Zavvi?

antispam246

Gueld wrote: »

Pure Points are now completely useless. They cannot be redeemed in store. This ofcourse may change should a buyer be found.

The website is now down until further notice.

As for Leisure vouchers - possibly as they were basically treated as cash through the tills. I'm not 100% sure though, perhaps someone will remember from Zavvi?

Just to clarify any instore purchases, they wont scan your purehmv card?

I just realised I had skyfall pre-ordered, paid part credit card and part with e-vouchers, damn it.

You know, I completely understand the poster who walked into an HMV store and simply took the equivalent of whatever vouchers he had. In the past 4 months I have written... 6 letters of complaint to HMV. In the last one, which was about a month ago, I actually spoke about the whispers of how HMV was struggling and said it's small acts like this which only cotribute to your downfall.

I really liked HMV and spent a good deal of money there over the years but it really went downhill over the past year, I saw it coming but didn't act quick enough I guess. I've had the hmv website open for the past week with the intent of cashing everything out but work duties didn't give me the time.

I haven't really lost out to be fair, more like lost time.

Anyone worrying over vouchers etc.. i wouldn't throw them away, I can see HMV surviving but online only. Whether they'd continue to honour them afterwards would be another question but perhaps a discount of some sorts atleast.

raybo2012

Gueld wrote: »

The staff had no idea this was going to happen. They had the pleasure of finding out via the news, the store managers didn't even know! HMV has been in trouble for years but somehow managed through, why would they have had any reason to think different? They only know what the rest of us knew.

I have to comment here. Our son is a deputy manager at a large HMV store making a profit, and as Gueld has said above, the staff had no advance warning. Our son found out just before it was announced on the news. So please dont take out your frustration on the staff. Look at their point of view, you are almost certain to lose your job and some irate customer starts blaming a lost voucher on you personally. Come on guys, SOME OF THESE PEOPLE COULD LOSE THEIR HOMES FOR PITY'S SAKE!!!:mad:

On another note, I see that a some of the large supermarkets (ASDA for one) are refunding vouchers bought through them, and I understand that the HMV in Selfridges in London is also honouring vouchers bought there.

Is it just me that seems to understand that HMV's closing is down to us not using them. I am as as guilty as most people of buying online, so I am also responsible for Jessops, HMV, Blockbusters and many more failing!:(

stevebeechmount59

helwarren wrote: »

You would think that by honouring gift cards they will at least get people in the shop. I would imagine a lot of people spend over the value of voucher. My son only has £15 on his but wants the skylanders giants pack so would spend £40 cash.

I tend to agree, at least it would generate extra income for HMV since as you say customers would be likely to spend more on top of their vouchers to buy items they've been saving up for. They would still be encouraged to buy from HMV since they would be able to use their vouchers as part payment, which is something they couldn't do in another outlet for the same item.

A lot of people seem to be jumping the gun here. It has to be remembered that as in the Comet situation, a decision to initially suspend gift vouchers was later overturned by Deloitte who are the same people dealing with HMV. At least there is still some hope.

In the end, hopefully new buyers for HMV can be found, as I prefer to have the option of buying in store as well as online, although I accept it would have to be a much more streamlined version if it does.

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

I have gift VOUCHERS (paper ones) - that are for HMV, no date limit, given to me for Xmas a couple of years ago, says on the back I can use them in HMV or Waterstones, are these still valid?

Helix

r.a.i.n.b.o.w wrote: »

I have gift VOUCHERS (paper ones) - that are for HMV, no date limit, given to me for Xmas a couple of years ago, says on the back I can use them in HMV or Waterstones, are these still valid?

No Waterstones have now stopped accepting paper HMV vouchers.

r.a.i.n.b.o.w

Helix wrote: »

No Waterstones have now stopped accepting paper HMV vouchers.

Thanks

Any idea if HMV were accepting them before the administration?

Snowangel

Krycek2018 wrote: »

Hi just looking to see if anyone can help me. My wife works for HMV and she's five months pregnant, obviously a scary time for all members of staff but even more so for us.

I've had a look at various websites to see what her legal rights are if she's on her maternity leave and HMV goes bust, and it seems to be a bit of a grey area, some websites say she will still be entitled to statuatory maternity pay from the government, as long as she was on maternity leave when either made redundant or the company goes bust. Where as some websites say her entitlement to her SMP ends as soon as her employment does.

If anyone can shed anymore light on the matter it'd be very much appreciated.

The other issue is she hadn't put in to start her maternity leave until the middle of April, but she can potentially take it I believe up to 15 weeks before the estimated due date, which would be the 28th January, is it worth her while trying to start her maternity leave as soon as she possibly can to protect future SMP?

Thanks again for any assistance.

Tell your wife to contact the Statutory Payments Dispute team in Newcastle. I used to work for them until a couple of years ago; we constantly dealt with women on maternity leave whose employers had gone into administration; and would take over the payments from the relevant date. They are the official government specialist team within HMRC, dealing with disputes surrounding Statutory Sick, Maternity, Adoption and Paternity Pay. Don't try to work it out yourselves using websites; just give them a call as they are THE team to deal with this situation. Sadly I can't recall all of the rules and regulations as I no longer work there (my brain has purged itself of HMRC rules!); but I do know that IF she has entitlement this does not end just because her employer is in administration. This is a different thing to her employment ENDING (that would be what is called a "ceased to trade" case; your wife's is looked at differently as the company are in administration and have not ceased to trade) Anyway, I don't want to bog you down with detail and complexities;the SPD team will calculate her entitlement and ensure she is paid what she is entitled to (providing she satisfies the criteria surrounding notification, due date, test period,etc. )
The number you need to ring is 0191 2255221. They are a really friendly and helpful team!!! Don't worry, it's not a gigantic call centre; just a small specialised team of people who know what they're doing!
Good luck-hope this helps.