Completed purchase with discount code later cancelled by online retailer

Philthomas86

Hi all,
Just wondering where I stand on this one. I regularly buy a meat order online from a specific website. Said website always have different discount codes running and once completed your purchase you are committed to buy but money doesn't leave your account immediately. I just made a purchase for goods used a discount code (which was accepted with no issues) offering £50 off my purchase. All went through with no issues then following day I received an e-mail from the supplier informing that they cancelled the order as the discount code had expired... In the past when this has been the case I have always been prompted upon entering the code and before o have been able to 'commit to buy' are they legally allowed to do this or seeing that an online agreement has been made should they stick to that agreement

sjbrun

Their terms and conditions will say that no contract has been made until goods are delivered or dispatched so they can just refund.

Where did you find the discount code? Discount codes usually have the expiry date printed on them or on the email

unholyangel

sjbrun wrote: »

Their terms and conditions will say that no contract has been made until goods are delivered or dispatched so they can just refund.

Where did you find the discount code? Discount codes usually have the expiry date printed on them or on the email

You might be surprised at how many websites state that acceptance happens before dispatch.

Its more common for companies to form contracts on dispatch, but its not guaranteed.

If a contract is binding on one party, then its binding on both. Of course the commit to buy button doesn't mean much on its own. But if OP was unable to modify/cancel their order or withdraw their offer before the stage the company stipulate as acceptance, then that would likely indicate that a contract had indeed been formed - contrary to the T&C's.

daytona0

unholyangel wrote: »

You might be surprised at how many websites state that acceptance happens before dispatch.

Its more common for companies to form contracts on dispatch, but its not guaranteed.

If a contract is binding on one party, then its binding on both. Of course the commit to buy button doesn't mean much on its own. But if OP was unable to modify/cancel their order or withdraw their offer before the stage the company stipulate as acceptance, then that would likely indicate that a contract had indeed been formed - contrary to the T&C's.

Another avenue to explore is whether one of the following happened:

1. Website glitch, allowing a code to be accepted in error

2. Clear promotion terms and conditions which state when it expires, thus making the code expired despite being accepted

halibut2209

Just to add that the phrases "meat order" and "£50 off" infer to me that this might be a business contract rather than a consumer one, and the law differs there.

neilmcl

halibut2209 wrote: »

Just to add that the phrases "meat order" and "£50 off" infer to me that this might be a business contract rather than a consumer one, and the law differs there.

There a loads of online meat retailers/butchers that sell to the public. I'd imagine the OP is referring to such an outlet.

halibut2209

Quite possibly. But we won't know unless the OP returns