Sold a voucher for restaurant which has been closed for refurb

alicoops

Hi all,

First posting so apologies if I’m in the wrong bit! Just looking for some advice regarding my consumer rights regarding a gift voucher I was bought for Xmas.

Bought a voucher for a named restaurant within a hotel, which is due to expire in June. Tried to go and book meal after Xmas only to find out the restaurant was closed for refurbishment (Jan to April) - it’s now opening in a phased manner (evenings only at the moment) but I’m a bit annoyed as it’s not just been refurbished, it’s been totally rebranded so in effect isn’t the same restaurant I had a voucher bought for (including name change.) Contacted hotel to see if I could transfer the voucher value to another restaurant in their group and told not possible. The only thing they said they’d do is extend the expiry for a month which I’m not happy about. I’m even more annoyed because when the voucher was bought by my mum, no one mentioned the restaurant being closed for 4months or the fact that is was totally changing.
I phoned again to speak to their customer services (they don’t have one) so wrote an email last week and have had nothing back (not even an acknowledgement.)
Would I be entitled to ask for a refund back onto my mum’s credit card as I feel the voucher they sold was not fit for purpose??
Thanks for any advice.
Alison

Oakdene

Well first up I don't think you are entitled to ask for anything as the contract is between your Mum & the hotel/restaurant.

Is the new restaurant vastly different to the former?

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

As said above, you have no knowledge, legally, of what was said to your mother, or even whether she paid for it or got it for nothing. You will get nowhere unless she pursues it.

bris

They have breached the contract so yes, your mother is entitled to a refund.
The contract was between January to April with no way of them fulfilling this so it's a no brainer really, getting them to agree without a fight is another matter.

alicoops

Thanks for the comments.

Mum has her credit card bill which shows she paid for the voucher and she is happy to contact them, but just wondered legally what her/our rights are before she contacts them.

mattyprice4004

Is it a completely different type of food, or have they just tarted it up and stuck a new name on it?

If it was Italian and is now a Japanese restaurant, I understand your issue - but if it's just changed names and had a facelift, I don't think you have a case.

Oakdene

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

Is it a completely different type of food, or have they just tarted it up and stuck a new name on it?

If it was Italian and is now a Japanese restaurant, I understand your issue - but if it's just changed names and had a facelift, I don't think you have a case.

This is my thinking too, if it's a simple rebrand then there's no problem, but if its a totally new type of cuisine you don't like then you may have a case.