Groupon voucher - PayPal dispute?

purim

Hi everyone, just wanted to get some advice on whether I'm eligible to file a PayPal dispute on a Groupon voucher I purchased on February 23. On the purchase page under the fine print section, there was the following "The Fine Print Validity: Expires 90 days after purchase." So I marked the expiry date in my calendar (May 23), went ahead with the purchase and thought nothing more of it. A few days ago when I'd decided to use the voucher, I was advised that it had expired. That was when I discovered that on the voucher itself, it said "Use this voucher by 29.04.2016" yet at the bottom of the voucher, there was "Validity: Expires 90 days after purchase."

I've tried contacting Groupon support multiple times, but keep getting same copy/pasted reply "As the expiry date was stated in the Fine Print section on the voucher and on the deal page, we’re unfortunately unable to assist you further or action refunds at this stage. If you ever have an issue with a Groupon, we’ll be happy to help, but it’s always best if you let us know about the issue within the validity period. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience."

But according to what they've said, the voucher should be valid as it's well within "90 days after purchase" as stated on both the purchase page and voucher's fine print. Since I paid with PayPal, should I just go ahead and open a dispute? Thanks for any help!

theonlywayisup

Assuming you are from the UK. Paypal disputes for SNAD are for tangible items. Vouchers are specifically precluded from their buyer protection.

13.4 Conditions for reimbursement

You may be reimbursed under PayPal Buyer Protection for a problem with a purchase only if all of the following requirements are met:

Your purchase is an eligible purchase. Purchases of most goods and services are eligible (including travel tickets, intangible items such as rights of access to digital content and other licences), except for purchases of the following :
real estate (including, without limitation, residential property);
businesses (including, without limitation, any items or services forming part of a business or corporate acquisition);
vehicles (including, without limitation, motor vehicles, motorcycles, caravans, aircraft and boats);
custom made items (unless they are claimed to be Not Received);
goods and services prohibited by the PayPal Acceptable Use Policy;
industrial machinery used in manufacturing;
items equivalent to cash (including, without limitation, gift cards);
goods and services purchased using Zong, Website Payments Pro, Virtual Terminal or Personal Transaction payments; and
any wager (whether by way of backing or laying against any outcome or otherwise) and any other opportunity to benefit from a gambling activity.

https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/useragreement-full?locale.x=en_GB#13

purim

Does this mean I'm basically stuffed, or can I contact my credit card company instead? Invalidating a voucher 60 days after purchase when it clearly states 90 days is misleading/false advertising.

theonlywayisup

It means what you asked, you have no comeback with Paypal.

If it were me, I would try my bank/card issuer, social media for Groupon and if all that fails, I would look to see if I have any fallback with legislation (mis-advertised etc).