Sunday Times Subscription Vouchers - Gutted but is all lost?

MollyMutkin

I've been subscribing to the Sunday Times Subscription Vouchers for about 3 Years.

I very rarely go into our local Newsagents, hence having our papers delivered.

When I got the opportunity of saving witht the vouchers I jumped at the chance but my newsagent is very unreliable with sending me a bill.

I have requested he send me regular bills but this never happens, Ive been written notes with my payment requesting a regular bill, I have phoned and I have been into the shop and aksed for one to be sent to me with my delivery.

On one occasion I left delivery payment and vouchers for him to take when he delivered the papers, he then claimed to have lost the vouchers.

My husband went into the shop with payment and vouchers but the assistant didnt know what to do and my husband returned with the bill unpaid.

I took them in and a week later he returned with them explaining the vouchers have now expired. He told me he had called Times and that I needed to call them for replacement vouchers.

Today I called and they refuse to send me replacements telling me they are now expired.


There is nothing on the vouchers to say they expire by a certain date, just the date fopr the papers they are valid for and small print on the back for the Retailer to send them in within 7 days. The newsagent has not ever said anything to me about having them by a certain time.

I am so angry that maybe I have totally misunderstood how the vouchers work and that despite the fact I have paid The Times for them and they still refuse to accept them and I still have to pay again to the newsagent , who I am also angry with for not sending me the bill when I requested and not even able to accept them when taken into the shop and telling me that The Times had told him I would get more vouchers.

I asked to cancel my subscription with the Time but my next book is already on its way and all they have offered me is the next 3 months at half price!

Do I have any consumer right over this?

vuvuzela

MollyMutkin wrote: »

I've been subscribing to the Sunday Times Subscription Vouchers for about 3 Years.

There is nothing on the vouchers to say they expire by a certain date, just the date fopr the papers they are valid for and small print on the back for the Retailer to send them in within 7 days. The newsagent has not ever said anything to me about having them by a certain time.

I am so angry that maybe I have totally misunderstood how the vouchers work and that despite the fact I have paid The Times for them and they still refuse to accept them and I still have to pay again to the newsagent , who I am also angry with for not sending me the bill when I requested and not even able to accept them when taken into the shop and telling me that The Times had told him I would get more vouchers.

I asked to cancel my subscription with the Time but my next book is already on its way and all they have offered me is the next 3 months at half price!

Do I have any consumer right over this?

So if I get this right, the vouchers say the retailer must send them within a week of the date of the paper. Therefore they are clearly designed for people that buy the paper at the shop daily, not those that have a bill every week/month, as in that case, the newsagent could never get them back to The Times in time.

MollyMutkin

Apparently, the alternative is to give your whole book to the newsagent when you get it sent to you. I honestly didn't realise this and was waiting for the bill to hand over the vouchers as payment. One time I left them at the door for him to take when he left the paper he claimed he had lost them which made me more reluctant to hand them over in advance.

What narks me most is the Times knows I have the vouchers, so have paid, they have a cash value, but won't accept them now. ...and my newsagent knows I pay with vouchers, but should have known to receive them earlier...

MollyMutkin

Another interesting point as I sit here now trying to figure out how much I will have to pay the newsagent I noticed I wrote on one voucher that our papers were not delivered that week. So if. Hand in my vouchers in advance of delivery and he fails to deliver our paper he still claims payment on the voucher and I've paid again for nothing.

comeandgo

If he fails to deliver it then ask for your voucher back. I think you need to change news agents which may not be easy if you live in a small village. I work the same system with the Times and my small, only news agent within miles, but luckily I have no problems.

nedsram_2

On a related point, our vouchers seem to have vanished. Either lost in transit or (more likely) mislaid by us. We realised this when the newsagent started billing us for the papers. Are there any issues in getting a duplicate set of vouchers by phoning the helpline?

barneylodge

This voucher system is horrendous for me, particular when on the move. I am noticing more and more outlets will not accept them, plus if you go to a supermarket early on a Sunday morning, staff are busy stocking, cleaning..they do not man the tills as they assume most customers will use the self checkout. You can't scan the vouchers at a self checkout. So you have to stand and a wait and shout to get help.

The vouchers are definitely not fit for purpose

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

No, we has no problem with our vouchers W8rz takes it every Sunday and gives us £2.50 off our shopping as well. And a free cup of tea for the ride home as well.