Potential debt collection? Please help!

jemmarocks

deethebee wrote: »

You're most welcome

You're right, no mention of minimum order value or anything. Just says complete set of glasses and if it's not mentioned on the voucher they can't expect to hold you to these terms they seem to have "made up". I wouldn't worry about it. If you hear from debt collectors tell them they tried to enforce unfair terms on you that weren't part of the voucher conditions and as such you dispute that you owe anything until they can prove that these terms exist outside of what they told you in store. In fact, I'd make a complaint to the Head Office and let them know how they treated you. You might get some compensation out of it for threatening you.

Thank you thank you thank you! This is everything I was thinking, just wanted my thoughts validated.

Forgot to mention how I had used this same offer last year for myself and when I mentioned it, the staff said I was lying. They looked it up on their computer and there it was in front of them :rotfl:

DoaM

jemmarocks wrote: »

The store manager advised that they would pursue this £25 charge through a debt collector. Are they able to do so?

Debt collector? I guess they could. But debt collectors have no powers whatsoever - you can happily ignore them.

Their only other choice is to raise a claim against you in the County Court, win the case (or get a default judgment if you ignore the claim), and you fail to pay the judgment within the stipulated period (usually 28-30 days). Only THEN could they engage the services of a bailiff. They won't do this for £25 - especially not if you can evidence that their claim has no foundation (the T&Cs thing) hence no probability of success.

deethebee

jemmarocks wrote: »

Thank you thank you thank you! This is everything I was thinking, just wanted my thoughts validated.

Forgot to mention how I had used this same offer last year for myself and when I mentioned it, the staff said I was lying. They looked it up on their computer and there it was in front of them :rotfl:

They need to be reported! I realise they are franchises, but they are representing the brand as a whole and this behaviour is disgusting. Definitely take this further and go to Head Office and let us know what they say. I bet they will reprimand the store in question and give you a voucher or some form of compensation by way of apology. Also leave them reviews to let others know what they are trying to pull.

pinkshoes

Their voucher T&Cs states "Present voucher at time of test".

Did you present the voucher before having the test?

I used this same offer a few months ago and mentioned the voucher when booking and when I arrived, and they stated the eye test was free if I purchased glasses £69 or more, or I could have buy one pair, get one free and pay for the eye test.

deethebee

pinkshoes wrote: »

Their voucher T&Cs states "Present voucher at time of test".

Did you present the voucher before having the test?

I used this same offer a few months ago and mentioned the voucher when booking and when I arrived, and they stated the eye test was free if I purchased glasses £69 or more, or I could have buy one pair, get one free and pay for the eye test.

The store's issue is not at what point she presented the voucher (and I do not feel it's relevant at all) but that she apparently had to place a minimum order value. These terms are not mentioned on the voucher and they can't enforce them without proof of these terms.

Aylesbury_Duck

pinkshoes wrote: »

Their voucher T&Cs states "Present voucher at time of test".

Did you present the voucher before having the test?

I used this same offer a few months ago and mentioned the voucher when booking and when I arrived, and they stated the eye test was free if I purchased glasses £69 or more, or I could have buy one pair, get one free and pay for the eye test.

That's my understanding, too. It's similar with Prezzo/Ask/Pizza Express vouchers and deals: the terms say you present them when you order your meal, presumably to avoid the sort of post-meal/eye-test embarrassment the OP has encountered.

Sorry OP, I think you owe them the £25.

Aylesbury_Duck

deethebee wrote: »

The store's issue is not at what point she presented the voucher (and I do not feel it's relevant at all) but that she apparently had to place a minimum order value. These terms are not mentioned on the voucher and they can't enforce them without proof of these terms.

But if the terms of the voucher haven't been adhered to then OP has breached them and the store is entitled to say they won't accept it as valid. There is proof of the terms and it appears that OP hasn't adhered to them.

I think that although OP owes the £25, I don't expect the debt will be pursued anyway.

deethebee

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

But if the terms of the voucher haven't been adhered to then OP has breached them and the store is entitled to say they won't accept it as valid. There is proof of the terms and it appears that OP hasn't adhered to them.

I think that although OP owes the £25, I don't expect the debt will be pursued anyway.

And what's to say they haven't been adhered to? "Present at time of purchase" or similar does not mean you have to present it before purchase, during purchase or after purchase. It means WHEN you purchase. She presented it at the time she went to have the eye test done. And no matter when she presented it, they cannot enforce terms that are not on the voucher or even on any literature.

Pollycat

deethebee wrote: »

And what's to say they haven't been adhered to? "Present at time of purchase" or similar does not mean you have to present it before purchase, during purchase or after purchase. It means WHEN you purchase. She presented it at the time she went to have the eye test done. And no matter when she presented it, they cannot enforce terms that are not on the voucher or even on any literature.

According to pinkshoes (who has used a voucher), it says 'present voucher at time of test'.
Not 'purchase'.

pinkshoes wrote: »

Their voucher T&Cs states "Present voucher at time of test".

Did you present the voucher before having the test?

I used this same offer a few months ago and mentioned the voucher when booking and when I arrived, and they stated the eye test was free if I purchased glasses £69 or more, or I could have buy one pair, get one free and pay for the eye test.

Maybe the OP could answer the question:
At what point did you present the voucher?

Aylesbury_Duck

deethebee wrote: »

And what's to say they haven't been adhered to? "Present at time of purchase" or similar does not mean you have to present it before purchase, during purchase or after purchase. It means WHEN you purchase. She presented it at the time she went to have the eye test done. And no matter when she presented it, they cannot enforce terms that are not on the voucher or even on any literature.

That's where the misunderstanding has crept in. It's not "at time of purchase", it's "at time of test", so not WHEN you purchase at all. The terms are quite clear. Had OP notified them of their intention to use the voucher at the time of the test, they would probably have been informed of the restrictions.