BHS collapse: What to do if you have store vouchers or items to return
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Version 0 of 1. BHS went into administration on Monday putting about 11,000 jobs on the line. The future is uncertain for 164 stores in the UK. It’s also unclear whether BHS will honour vouchers that shoppers may be holding. Which?, a consumer watchdog, has urged BHS customers to use their store vouchers as soon as possible in case they are made invalid. Alex Neill, Which? Director of Campaigns, said consumers need to be aware of their right when a high street retailer goes into administration. “Our advice to anyone with a BHS voucher is to spend it as quickly as possible,” Neill said. Can I still use BHS gift vouchers? A high street store can refuse gift vouchers if it goes into administration, so the general advice for customers is to go to their nearest store and use them as quickly as possible. If the retailer has already taken the decision not to accept vouchers, Which? advises to wait a few day to see if the store changes its mind before making a claim. Andrew Tate, vice president of R3, an insolvency trade body explained. “It is understandably frustrating when a retailer won’t accept gift cards or vouchers during an administration. Unfortunately customers are just one of a number of creditors that a retailer has. Accepting large volumes of gift vouchers could hurt other creditors or make business rescue harder to achieve,” he said. What should I do if my gift voucher is refused? BHS shoppers whose vouchers are refused can make a claim in writing to the administrators, in this case Duff &Phelps, with proof of their vouchers. There is no guarantee shoppers will get the full value back and it could take up to 12 month to process the claim properly, Which? said. What other protection do I have? Consumers who paid for vouchers with a credit card are protected by the Consumer Credit Act for purchases over £100. This means that the person who bought a voucher (not the voucher-holder) can claim a refund by writing to the credit card company with details of their claim. What should I do if I have BHS items to return? Once a retailer goes into administration it may take the decision not to accept returns, Which? warned. Customers with a faulty item and a warranty should be able to claim a refund or repair under the terms of the warranty. “If the retailer goes into administration and the goods are faulty, then your manufacturer's warranty should cover you for at least the first year,” Which? said. |