Can a company determine how you spend credit you have with them?

Terencem2

Can a company provide me with credit for a service they could not provide because of government lockdown (due to Covid) and then tell me how I can use that credit?

Situation

I have amassed £150 worth of credit for swimming lessons that could not take place due to Govt Lockdown.

New autumn bookings is £400 to continue lessons

I have paid £250 (with my credit of £150) that should be it, right.  Apparently not.

They are saying I can only use my credit for catch up lessons and cannot use the credit for the Autumn Term.

Can they do this - or is this affecting my statutory (consumer) rights?

Thanks in advance.

pphillips

If the original contract was only for catch up swimming lessons, then that's what you're entitled to. However, I think you paid £150 towards a term of lessons that you are carrying over because of Covid-19. Therefore, I don't think the company are entitled to give you something different to what you paid for. I believe these rights will be based on the contract you signed rather than any statutory rights.

Sandtree

Credit notes, gift cards etc are not statutory resolutions to any consumer rights issue. As you are going outside of statutory rights then it comes down to T&Cs of contracts and/or what the parties agree.  If what they are offering goes beyond your statuary rights and/or the contract then its up to you to decide if the extra value is worth the limitations.

If what they offer falls short of what your statutory or contractual rights are you are free to reject the offer and require the resolutions required under the appropriate clauses.

unholyangel

Doesn't just go against consumer rights, it's potentially an unfair term (and thus unenforceable) as it has the effect of excluding the right to set off. 

It's a general principle that if A owes money to B, that B can deduct that amount from any amount B owes to A (setting one liability off, against another). It is a general principle because it helps prevent unnecessary legal action. 

bris

If a company breaks a contract and then offers credit you don't have to accept it, you may have to fight for the refund but you are entitled to one.

If however you do accept the credit then you form a new contract and the terms in it. So if you don't like the terms don't except the credit.

m0bov

Ask for £150 cash refund or lba.