M&S Rewards Vouchers - cannot be redeemed - result of hacking attack

vegit8

Hi all
We share a M&S credit card which we use for all monthly purchases,and one of the benefits is that we get vouchers each month that can be spent on goods with M&S.

These vouchers have a fairly long expiry date, so we save them up to spend on more expensive items.

We have quite a few vouchers that expire at the end of May.

My wife tried to order some goods from M&S today but the site advised that due to the recent hacking attack - which they blandly describe as a 'technical issue', M&S are not accepting any orders ...... at all.

This includes going to a shop, and placing an order in person!!

We contacted the M&S Customer Support (cough) - which bluntly said that if we didnt use the vouchers by their expiry date then that was tough...

So the only option we have is to spend them on something we dont really need.

One would have hoped that due to their inability to service their customers, the least they could do is extend the date by which they could be used.

Interestingly, the support person also intimated that stores themselves cannot order stock, which effectively means they will run out sooner or later...

There must be thousands of customers caught in the same trap

Brie

Given the number of people this may affect (perhaps thousands as you suggest) then I would expect M&S to extend the end date for these.  

If you don't want to take that chance then you might go into the store and buy things that could be used in a charity raffle.  Or you might buy something that you know you can return within the next 30 days or whatever and do that repeatedly until they can accept the credit for something you do want.  

flaneurs_lobster

How much are you holding? Decent run-round the nearest M&S Food for non-fresh, store cupboard-y stuff & booze should take care of a good few ££.

NoodleDoodleMan

"My wife tried to order some goods from M&S today but the site advised that due to the recent hacking attack - which they blandly describe as a 'technical issue', M&S are not accepting any orders ...... at all."

I don't think we can underestimate the severity of the cyber attack that M&S has suffered - a blanket ban on all online orders makes sense from their perspective.....until such times as they can get their act together and have full control restored

They should extend the validity of vouchers of course, that is not an unreasonable expectation.

If you do have to use the vouchers then the advice above would be the best option IMO.

flaneurs_lobster

Anyone happen to know if gift cards are being accepted in-store?

marcia_

 I used both rewards vouchers and a gift card in store last weekend 

NoodleDoodleMan

M&S have been a bit naughty with certain vouchers.

We get a £25 one every three months from our Credit Card Premium Club deal - I used it to order a pair of £25 chinos online for local store delivery - there was a Sparks 15% offer on at the time so the bottom line was £21.25.

They eventually cancelled the order due to the ongoing cyber attack problems and refunded the £21.25 as an electronic credit. 

The remaining balance of £3.75 is apparently "lost" as partial refund credits are not given on these vouchers.

So, if and when the online system is back to normal I'll have to add £3.75 to my £21.25 credit balance to purchase said trousers.

Not just any mini scam - this is a Marks an Spencers mini scam !!!

Hopeful_5

I've tried to find information on the M&S voucher situation but there isn't much available. This leads me to believe that M&S doesn't currently know what it's going to do about expired vouchers.

I'm a member of Club Rewards (previously Premium Club) and receive vouchers at various points during the year. When lockdown struck in March 2020 I had a £10 voucher due to expire at the end of the month. I obviously couldn't use it and after a month or so threw it away. I did the same with coffee vouchers that subsequently expired. 

Many months later M&S kindly let us know that all vouchers expiring during lockdown would be honoured. Too late!

I currently have a £20 voucher and a £10 food voucher, both expiring at the end of June. I tried to use the £10 voucher a couple of weeks ago but couldn't because of the cyber attack. It's a total mess.

As regards digital vouchers, I have enough trouble remembering to use vouchers that I keep in my purse - so I'll no doubt totally forget about those on an app.

NoodleDoodleMan

My recent electronic refund voucher is on the M&S app on iPhone and valid for a few years.

I wonder if it can be printed off ?

Need to have a look at that.

flaneurs_lobster

NoodleDoodleMan said:

My recent electronic refund voucher is on the M&S app on iPhone and valid for a few years.

I wonder if it can be printed off ?

Need to have a look at that.

I'm sure it can but to what advantage?

Barcode on phone screen = barcode on paper, no?

NoodleDoodleMan

flaneurs_lobster said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

My recent electronic refund voucher is on the M&S app on iPhone and valid for a few years.

I wonder if it can be printed off ?

Need to have a look at that.

I'm sure it can but to what advantage?

Barcode on phone screen = barcode on paper, no?

The same but different. 

Hopeful_5 prefers the paper version.

"As regards digital vouchers, I have enough trouble remembering to use vouchers that I keep in my purse - so I'll no doubt totally forget about those on an app.