Wowcher refusing to refund money

Townfieldlass

Wowcher have refused to refund me for a stay and play at Gulliers. Gulivers is closed due to COVID19 but I have only been issued a wowcher credit. I was told it was a good will gesture that I was given 100% credit as their terms and conditions mean I should only get 50%. I didn’t cancel, I can’t go because the venue is closed under government advice so I’m not sure why I can’t have a refund. I thought this was within my consumer rights? According to Wowcher not? Very saddened that at this time they would withhold money from customers. 

JJ_Egan

Its a third party who have closed not Wowcher .

Read thread for a better idea on the vouchers you bought .

Aylesbury_Duck

Townfieldlass said:

Wowcher have refused to refund me for a stay and play at Gulliers. Gulivers is closed due to COVID19 but I have only been issued a wowcher credit. I was told it was a good will gesture that I was given 100% credit as their terms and conditions mean I should only get 50%. I didn’t cancel, I can’t go because the venue is closed under government advice so I’m not sure why I can’t have a refund. I thought this was within my consumer rights? According to Wowcher not? Very saddened that at this time they would withhold money from customers. 

They haven't withheld money, you gave it to them willingly for a voucher and a voucher is what you still have.  If you'd have been happy to pay for Gullivers by cash, debit or credit card you'd have your money.  Instead, you elected for a voucher.  Why?

tedted

its always cheaper

Aylesbury_Duck

There you go then.  You trade flexibility for price.  

sharpe106

suzyq2909 said:

  Wowcher have refused to refund even though I explained, they have offered a credit which is of no use to me.  Given how most other business seem to have stepped up and done the right thing with regards to the effects Corona Virus has had on most people, this seems very unfair and frankly, unacceptable. 

Wowcher was owned by the daily mail at one point, and think they still own a large part of it, so I would not be expecting them to do the right thing anytime soon.

Scorpioangel

I have dealt with Wowcher on a few occasions when goods have not been up to scratch or have not been delivered. The T&Cs always indicate that you should contact the merchant directly in the first instance; however, I have noticed that the email address given is not always correct. 
If you are unable to contact the merchant or they fail to reply then go directly to wowcher complaints. They will then attempt to contact the merchant as they will claim that the merchant has to authorise a refund.
I have been offered wowcher credit which i have refused, if they continue to refuse a refund just continue complaining and if still getting nowhere tell them that you will contact the card issuer to request a chargeback for the transaction. It usually elicits a refund within a few days.
In the case of the O.P. it is a different situation. The voucher purchased is still valid and therefore can be used providing that the restrictions that are in place now have been relaxed to allow restaurants to open, so wowcher are within their rights currently to refuse a refund or credit. If the government restrictions mean that it isn't possible to use the voucher then that is when to ask for a refund.
Townfieldlass should contact Gullivers in the first instance regarding the voucher as they may honour it when they reopen, alternatively, you could pursue the steps that i have listed above.

Scorpioangel

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Townfieldlass said:

Wowcher have refused to refund me for a stay and play at Gulliers. Gulivers is closed due to COVID19 but I have only been issued a wowcher credit. I was told it was a good will gesture that I was given 100% credit as their terms and conditions mean I should only get 50%. I didn’t cancel, I can’t go because the venue is closed under government advice so I’m not sure why I can’t have a refund. I thought this was within my consumer rights? According to Wowcher not? Very saddened that at this time they would withhold money from customers. 

They haven't withheld money, you gave it to them willingly for a voucher and a voucher is what you still have.  If you'd have been happy to pay for Gullivers by cash, debit or credit card you'd have your money.  Instead, you elected for a voucher.  Why?

I take it that you don't know how these sites work. The idea of buying a voucher is that you pay a fraction of the price, e.g. £10 for a £50 voucher, a saving providing that you are definitely going to use it.
I don't know the deal that Townfieldlass bought but from the description I would expect that it would be possible to get a refund from the merchant or wowcher or to defer the redemption until another time.

Aylesbury_Duck

Scorpioangel said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

Townfieldlass said:

Wowcher have refused to refund me for a stay and play at Gulliers. Gulivers is closed due to COVID19 but I have only been issued a wowcher credit. I was told it was a good will gesture that I was given 100% credit as their terms and conditions mean I should only get 50%. I didn’t cancel, I can’t go because the venue is closed under government advice so I’m not sure why I can’t have a refund. I thought this was within my consumer rights? According to Wowcher not? Very saddened that at this time they would withhold money from customers. 

They haven't withheld money, you gave it to them willingly for a voucher and a voucher is what you still have.  If you'd have been happy to pay for Gullivers by cash, debit or credit card you'd have your money.  Instead, you elected for a voucher.  Why?

I take it that you don't know how these sites work. The idea of buying a voucher is that you pay a fraction of the price, e.g. £10 for a £50 voucher, a saving providing that you are definitely going to use it.
I don't know the deal that Townfieldlass bought but from the description I would expect that it would be possible to get a refund from the merchant or wowcher or to defer the redemption until another time.

I know exactly how they work, which is why I would never use them.  The question was a deliberate one.  People are too willing to snap up a "bargain" without checking exactly what they're getting.  If you're happy to trade flexibility for price, great, but once you have your bargain, it's unreasonable to expect flexibility as well.