Gift Voucher bought in error

cherellew

I recently purchased a gift voucher through a work discount scheme for the value of £500. (Cost £465 with discount). I had purchased to pay off a pre booked holiday booked via EasyJet and thought it could be used for that. Once it came through the Ts&Cs showed for new bookings only via a company called “inspire travel”. As soon as I realised the error I called inspire straight away to advise it was purchased in error, they immediately told me “it states non refundable”, which it does and is my error, I own that and already feel stupid enough. Do I have any consumer rights or cooling down period at all? 

To book the same holiday through Inspire will cost me significantly more and I would loose a deposit already paid on my original booking. So I now have £500 sat on a gift card that I’m struggling to use. 

Wonka_2

So was your transaction for Inspire travel or was your payment made to a 3rd party e.g. the 'work' discount company ?

Presumably T&C's were visible before purchased if you looked ? They certainly are on the schemes we use and on this basis you're unlikely to have any comeback - especially if the transaction is a discount scheme where they've fulfilled their side of the deal by providing you the voucher.

Is the voucher transferrable ? Can you sell it on and at least recoup some of your losses ? Or is Inspire Travel so restrictive/unappealing that no-one will be interested ?

Aylesbury_Duck

I agree with the previous poster, your best bet might be to sell on the voucher if you're allowed and able to, to recoup some of the cost. Otherwise, it's down to pleading for some goodwill.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Did you buy the voucher online or over the phone OP? 

If so I think the right to cancel may possibly exist.

There is a limit

(h)the supply of accommodation, transport of goods, vehicle rental services, catering or services related to leisure activities, if the contract provides for a specific date or period of performance.

but I don't think that applies.

I do wonder if 

(b)the supply of goods that are made to the consumer's specifications or are clearly personalised;

applies given the consumer can set the amount of the voucher making it to the consumer's specification or did you pick a set voucher amount OP?

user1977

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

I do wonder if 

(b)the supply of goods that are made to the consumer's specifications or are clearly personalised;

applies given the consumer can set the amount of the voucher making it to the consumer's specification 

I can't see that being relevant - it's not some sort of bespoke widget which couldn't be sold to somebody else, it's just a credit balance which can be taken back no matter the amount.

Emmia

cherellew said:

I recently purchased a gift voucher through a work discount scheme for the value of £500. (Cost £465 with discount). I had purchased to pay off a pre booked holiday booked via EasyJet and thought it could be used for that. Once it came through the Ts&Cs showed for new bookings only via a company called “inspire travel”. As soon as I realised the error I called inspire straight away to advise it was purchased in error, they immediately told me “it states non refundable”, which it does and is my error, I own that and already feel stupid enough. Do I have any consumer rights or cooling down period at all? 

To book the same holiday through Inspire will cost me significantly more and I would loose a deposit already paid on my original booking. So I now have £500 sat on a gift card that I’m struggling to use. 

How long is the voucher valid? Could you use it for another holiday, later in the year?

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

user1977 said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

I do wonder if 

(b)the supply of goods that are made to the consumer's specifications or are clearly personalised;

applies given the consumer can set the amount of the voucher making it to the consumer's specification 

I can't see that being relevant - it's not some sort of bespoke widget which couldn't be sold to somebody else, it's just a credit balance which can be taken back no matter the amount.

That's what I though but if the purchaser enters an amount in a box and then gets a voucher that has been been made to their specification.

Obviously picking £100, £200, etc from options isn't but if you can enter £456.74 as the amount you want the voucher to be, regardless of the resale ability aspect, it does seem to meet the limit. I doubt it's set up like that but worth a mention