Wowcher deal

kimkelly2017

I purchased a wowcher deal in august for £269. It consisted of a 3 night overstay in a hotel with food and wine included. I was due to go on Monday 12th October however on Friday 9th October the government announced that particular area was to go into lockdown. The hotel phoned me to cancel the stay as they wouldnt be able to fulfill the full deal. I contacted wowcher numerous times to obtain a refund back to my bank account however they are insisting that they will only give me wowcher credit. Surely because the merchant cancelled that I should be able to gain a bank refund. 

Lomast

That's the problem with companies like wowcher, you are not buying the overnight stay you are buying a voucher that is immediately  redeemed with the supplier so technically wow wowcher have completed their part of the contract the supply of a voucher

kimkelly2017

The wowcher wasnt redeemed though

Aylesbury_Duck

kimkelly2017 said:

The wowcher wasnt redeemed though

Then you still have the voucher, so wowcher have fulfilled their contract.  That's how they work, and that's why I avoid them.

You don't have a contract with the hotel, so them cancelling doesn't invalidate your contract with wowcher.  I presume the voucher is still valid and can be used when the hotel is able to host you?

kimkelly2017

No i dont have the vouchers-they refunded me in credit-which wouldny bother me if it was a small amouny but this time its not. 

davidmcn

kimkelly2017 said:

No i dont have the vouchers-they refunded me in credit

Isn't that the same thing?

Aylesbury_Duck

I agree, it's the same thing.  Better in fact, because you can put the credit towards anything they offer, whereas the voucher was only redeemable for that experience at that hotel.

unholyangel

I disagree they've fulfilled their contract. Presumably op purchased a voucher which could be used on the 12th October. Wowcher have not supplied a voucher that could be used on 12th October because their supplier was closed. 

All this assuming it was for that specific hotel and not a chain of hotels (although the chain would still need a disclaimer on availability). 

Aylesbury_Duck

unholyangel said:

I disagree they've fulfilled their contract. Presumably op purchased a voucher which could be used on the 12th October. Wowcher have not supplied a voucher that could be used on 12th October because their supplier was closed. 

All this assuming it was for that specific hotel and not a chain of hotels (although the chain would still need a disclaimer on availability). 

Is there a subtle difference in that the voucher could be used on the 12th October and on any other mutually agreeable date?
Do Wowcher supply a voucher for a specific date, or a general voucher to be redeemed by arrangement?

born_again

kimkelly2017 said:

The wowcher wasnt redeemed though

Yes it was. As you made a booking that has been cancelled.
Unless you can get the hotel to refund you (not going to happen) then all you will ever get is a credit in your wowcher account. So but that is how wowcher and other co's like this work.

You bought and paid for a VWoucher. Which you received. So they are being generous by giving you a credit. As it is not their fault that the hotel can not complete the transaction.