Am I entitled to refund?

iclayt

They haven't been particularly helpful, but then again, you did lie to them...

Saying "the site didn't stop me buying it" isn't a reason to then claim your invalid membership is valid. People purchase these things as gifts for people of other ages. I simply do not know how you could have thought 'under-26' is the same as '26-or-under'.

p00hsticks

mitt wrote: »

I bought membership to the V&A earlier this year so that myself, partner, and his parents could go and see the sold out Bowie exhibition. It's a well known fact that they release a small number of tickets to popular exhibitions so that people will buy the more pricey membership for the year.

For other readers, note that the exhibition is not completely sold out, some tickets are available on the day. From the V&A website

THIS EXHIBITION IS EXTREMELY POPULAR. TIMED TICKETS ARE IN OPERATION AND ADVANCE ONLINE TICKETS HAVE NOW SOLD OUT

Tickets are, however, available to purchase at the Museum in advance or on day of visit. A minimum of 450 tickets are available each day. In order to purchase tickets in person we advise you to arrive at the V&A as the Museum opens at 10.00. Please note tickets bought on the day may not be for immediate entry to the exhibition, but for later on that day. A maximum of 4 tickets will be sold per person.

I'd also dispute the assertion that the V&A limited online tickets in order to encourage people to take out membership. The exhibition was advertised well in advance and there has been loads of opportunity to book tickets - when I booked ours I could have chosen pretty much any date / timeslot. My brother booked his about a month later and had to go a few months because he wanted tickets for a Saturday - obviously the most popular day and many of which had sold out - but he still maanged to get a ticket and said that there was still plenty of availability for the other days of the week. So it's not like they sold out straight away - it must have taken many weeks.

lucy03

I mis-read this at first thinking that the OP reached the age limit half-way through their membership year, and in that case, I do feel they would have had a case for claiming that the terms weren't clear.

As this didn't seem to be the case, I agree with other posters and the OP has just purchased the wrong ticket. Terms and conditions are important, but if a ticket is for under-26s, that in itself does appear to be quite clear.

mattyprice4004

It's very clear, and a lovely indication of how society is now very much all about 'it's someone elses fault!'

I might buy a child ticket for the train tomorrow, but it's OK because the website let me do it.

mattyprice4004

mitt wrote: »

I still need help

I agree, although not for this issue!

mitt wrote: »

I was 26 at the time, so purchased the under 26 membership

First dose of stupid right there...

mitt wrote: »

At the time of visiting I had just turned 27, but nobody stopped me once checking my ID against my temporary card or anything like that.

I take it that's their fault, not yours, like everything else?

mitt wrote: »

They've since got back to me with a fairly snooty email stating that "under 26" means literally 25 or younger, unlike every other under 26 offer or discount card I can find on the internet.

Under 26 is commonly taken to mean, well, under 26. Of course it literally means 25 or younger, just how oblivious to reality and daily life are you?

mitt wrote: »

So they said I was in the wrong from the start, and that it's not their fault because they operate on a system of trust.

It's not their fault, and that was a polite way of saying they don't expect morons to not know the definition of the word 'under'.

mitt wrote: »

I have a sneaking feeling that they've just pulled this one out of their behinds here

Ah, so they invented the definition of 'under' just to fool you? Silly me, for a second I thought it might be your fault. Oh wait, it is.

mitt wrote: »

to which they only sent an automated FAQ reply (no info on the under 26 issue to be found).

That's because the average person knows what the word 'under' means. I wouldn't expect to have to teach a 26 year old what the word meant.

mitt wrote: »

They've clearly mislead me

Are you having a laugh? You bought an under 26 ticket when you are actually 26! The stupid continues...

mitt wrote: »

Any help or advice is massively appreciated.

Wake up, stop blaming other people for your stupidity and you'll get further in life.

Hope this helps!

Pollycat

Well, mattieprice4004, I think you've just about covered everything there. :T

peachyprice

Say it like it is Matty.:D

p00hsticks

mitt wrote: »

They've since got back to me with a fairly snooty email stating that "under 26" means literally 25 or younger, unlike every other under 26 offer or discount card I can find on the internet.

I'd love to see all these other "under 26" offers that are open to people other than those "literally 25 or younger". Perhaps the OP can produce some examples ?

haynick

Love this thread!!

pinkshoes

I think the OP now understands that 26 is not under 26!

Remember, be nice to money savers...

I'm not sure the V&A can actually insist on charging for the full membership, as they did actually give a temporary membership AFTER checking the details! The contract has been formed.

The V&A need to honour the membership or refund minus the ticket price for the exhibition.

The V&A perhaps also need to sort out their online system to not allow over 25s to buy under 26 tickets, or at least tell staff to check.