Refusing to take vouchers...?

tomtontom

redcard wrote: »

That's the most ridiculous reason I've ever heard in my life.

Ridiculous to the uninformed, spot on from the POV of an accountant. Liabilities cannot be left outstanding indefinitely.

I do have sympathy for the OP, but it may help them to understand why expiry dates are out on vouchers.

redcard

tomtontom wrote: »

Ridiculous to the uninformed, spot on from the POV of an accountant. Liabilities cannot be left outstanding indefinitely.

I do have sympathy for the OP, but it may help them to understand why expiry dates are out on vouchers.

I understand accounts. You're the one that is uninformed.

I'm sure you are aware of accruals and contingencies.

Having a charge outstanding across 2 financial years is not really close to being indefinite, and there's absolutely no issue with the company taking a financial hit in the 2nd year.

Hintza

I think the only argument you have is that the vouchers were stuck on a card and the expiry date was therefore not easily visible. Expiry date being hidden would in my view make this a potentially unfair contract since it is probably the most important piece of information on the voucher.

I would first do what others have said and see if you can go on a quiet night otherwise LBA and review sites.

They however might be able to prove that you were informed at time of purchase that there was a 6 month expiry on vouchers so be sure.

ShadowPuma

This reminds of the "red hand rule" in the following case:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_Spurling_Ltd_v_Bradshaw

(basically onerous T&C's should be well marked, distinctly, in a place not to be overlooked easily).

Best thing to do is speak to restaurant management very nicely for now - see what that can get you.

fiscalfreckles

Agree that your only argument really is the fact that the expiry date was concealed.
However, it's the first thing I check on vouchers, so they may still claim that you/your parents should have done that.
I'd explain politely, and make sure they know the sum involved as £200 is a lot.
Good Luck.

OlliesDad

tomtontom wrote: »

Ridiculous to the uninformed, spot on from the POV of an accountant. Liabilities cannot be left outstanding indefinitely.

I do have sympathy for the OP, but it may help them to understand why expiry dates are out on vouchers.

So if the voucher was bought in mid-March would it only be valid for 2 weeks? Lots of liabilities will be spread across a couple of fiscal years i.e. goods bought in March on a 60 day payment basis etc.

OP, if the expiry date was not explained at time of purchase, I too would argue that adding one at a later date would be an unfair term. I wouldn't get angry with them though.. you don't know what extras they may add to the food when your parents do dine there _pale_

themull1

Write a nice letter to the owner of the restaurant and explain whats happened..

SuperHan

redcard wrote: »

I understand accounts. You're the one that is uninformed.

I'm sure you are aware of accruals and contingencies.

Having a charge outstanding across 2 financial years is not really close to being indefinite, and there's absolutely no issue with the company taking a financial hit in the 2nd year.

But they would have deferred the income until March 2014, and then released the income at this point when the voucher expired, as the service had then been delivered at that point, or at least they had no further obligation to deliver the service, so no further liability to include in the balance sheet.

While liabilities can be carried forward for a number of years, there was a closing date on the voucher, so the company wouldn't do this, that would be ridiculous and they would never end up recognising the £200 they had received.

fozzeh

I had the same thing back in 2006 with Red Letter Days. Was away at uni, grandfather had heart attack and I was nearest next of kin.

Explained situation, issued me fresh ones and I even sent them more money to 'top up' to do something better no problems. Try the nice approach first

MaKaVeLi

Tried the nice approach. They began by saying...

"John Lewis wouldn't honour the vouchers once expired, so why should we? We have phased out paper vouchers now and replaced them with cards, that's why we placed March as the expiry, as that's when we wast to have them all expire."

I explained that no expiry was mentioned on the phone when I ordered them, nor was it mentioned on the envelope they came in, or inside the card that they were attached inside... You had to physically remove them to read the back, which, if they are "phasing them out" isn't a reasonable thing to do.

I explained that their saying there's nothing they could do was daft, as they simply have issued a receipt for payment of service, for which none have been delivered and, again, this is unreasonable.

They then offered half of the money on a new voucher card.

I once again explained my situation and how I haven't had restaurant vouchers with expiry dates on before... Only The Hand And Flowers have an expiry, but theirs is 5 years. I stressed how much I felt the expiry time was unreasonable (anything less than a year I find to be unreasonable) given that it was never mentioned and that I don't feel we should suffer because of this. Surely, buying vouchers is the equivalent to "credit on account" ...?

He said he would speak to the general manager and get back to me (I thought he was the general manager, as I asked for the general manager or owner to call me) and he phoned back and told me that the general manager has said that they will still honour the vouchers and, if they ask to see him when they go, he will guarantee them a brilliant evening.

So we got there in the end...

Thanks guys!