Zavvi not honouring Gift vouchers
Discussion
What's the legality with this?
There was a big hoo ha in our local paper last week as Zavvi weren't honouring gift vouchers due to the uncertainty of the store, etc.
Today there's another story saying that our branch of Zavvi will remain open for now whilst attempts to sell the company as a going concern are made.
However, they continue to refuse to honour gift vouchers. Surely this can't be legal? If the store is continuing to trade, and money has already been paid for the vouchers, then surely they should be honoured?
There was a big hoo ha in our local paper last week as Zavvi weren't honouring gift vouchers due to the uncertainty of the store, etc.
Today there's another story saying that our branch of Zavvi will remain open for now whilst attempts to sell the company as a going concern are made.
However, they continue to refuse to honour gift vouchers. Surely this can't be legal? If the store is continuing to trade, and money has already been paid for the vouchers, then surely they should be honoured?
Mattt said:
Just steal stuff to the equivalent value, then say HRG said it was ok.
If you purchased them in the few months before christmas I understood you could send them in to the reciever and get your money back.
Otherwise join the queue at the back with the other people who are owed money from the company.
Sounds pretty typical. Although they are still called Zavvi, same shop, same people, I bet its now a new company Zavvi2.
I had similar with Tiny computers & Powerhouse. Both went under, stayed open, same everything, but would not honour guarantees/warranties as they were nothing to do with the old company!
I had similar with Tiny computers & Powerhouse. Both went under, stayed open, same everything, but would not honour guarantees/warranties as they were nothing to do with the old company!
anonymous said:
[redacted]
As above:2 seconds on their website reveals:
I have a zavvi gift card/voucher (UK and Northern Ireland), can I redeem it?
Notice to Gift Card / Gift Voucher holders (UK and Northern Ireland) - 31st December 2008
All Gift Card / Gift Voucher holders are required to write to the Joint Administrators at the following address, quoting their Gift Card / Gift Voucher number (s), enclosing original Gift Card / Gift Voucher (s) and quoting their full name and address for return correspondence. No Gift Card / Gift Voucher (s) will be redeemed in store.
zavvi Vouchers
c/o The Joint Administrators
Ernst & Young LLP
100 Barbirolli Square
Manchester
M2 3EY
Legally the Administrators have a duty to act in the interest of all creditors to realise company assets and distribute funds according to strict legal priorities as defined by the Insolvency Act and are therefore unable to prefer one creditor over another.
As soon as the Directors became aware of the problems with EUK (27th November 2008), zavvi's main supplier, they sought to protect customer interests by lodging funds into a trust account. Until this time the Directors had no reason to believe there would be any issue regarding the sale of Gift Cards / Gift Vouchers from their stores. The sale of Gift Cards / Gift Vouchers was terminated in zavvi stores on 4th December 2008. It is hoped that customers who purchased zavvi Gift Cards / Gift Vouchers from 27th November 2008 will receive a refund in respect of these Gift Cards / Gift Vouchers.
Regrettably all other Gift Card / Gift Voucher holders have been asked to make an unsecured claim with the Joint Administrators, in doing so they will be eligible to share in any distribution of monies available to unsecured creditors. Please follow the instructions outlined above for Gift Cards / Gift Vouchers purchased after 27th November to make a claim as an unsecured creditor.
We appreciate customer's frustrations but we do ask that all customers who have Gift Card / Gift Voucher (s) follow the correct procedure outlined above.
Mattt said:
Just steal stuff to the equivalent value, then say HRG said it was ok.
This is what I thought. Money has already been exchanged for the vouchers, therefore how can they refuse to honour them whilst continuing to trade?What would happen if someone was to pick stuff to the vouchers value, get to the till to be told they won't be honoured and just left the vouhers at the counter and walked out with the goods?
Would the police see it as stealing? Could you use "I'm a creditor" as a defense?
The gift vouchers were bought from Zavvi.
The administrators (Ernst & Young) are now in charge so you are no longer dealing with Zavvi.
Annoying that you can't use the voucher but you can send them to E&Y to join their (long) list of creditors, for a (very unlikely) refund.
ETA: The vouchers have be be from within a certain date range to qualify.
The administrators (Ernst & Young) are now in charge so you are no longer dealing with Zavvi.
Annoying that you can't use the voucher but you can send them to E&Y to join their (long) list of creditors, for a (very unlikely) refund.
ETA: The vouchers have be be from within a certain date range to qualify.
Edited by Nolar Dog on Friday 9th January 11:32
Oakey said:
Would the police see it as stealing? Could you use "I'm a creditor" as a defense?
NO. Otherwise some much bigger companies would simply walk in and take everything before you got there and sell it to market traders. It'd be a free for all and quite unfair. Someone owed £10 might get it back by stealing stuff, but some one owed £100,000 might get nothing.Send them in, join the queue, and accept that like Fairpack some money schemes are just a bad idea.
UNfortunately, if they are in administration, then you have just become a creditor. A sad fact of life.
If the adminsitration liquidates the company then the would have been wrong honouring the voucher and would technically need to claim the money back from you.
Its pretty s
tty but think of the hundred and thousands that some of thier suppliers must be owed.
If the adminsitration liquidates the company then the would have been wrong honouring the voucher and would technically need to claim the money back from you.
Its pretty s
tty but think of the hundred and thousands that some of thier suppliers must be owed. It's out of order, especially at the time of year when many people would have got them as Christmas presents. If you paid by credit card you might be able to claim it back through them?
They are no doubt covered by small print but the temptation to walk in and take what you want would be hard to resist.
They are no doubt covered by small print but the temptation to walk in and take what you want would be hard to resist.
Neil_H said:
It's out of order, especially at the time of year when many people would have got them as Christmas presents. If you paid by credit card you might be able to claim it back through them?
They are no doubt covered by small print but the temptation to walk in and take what you want would be hard to resist.
If anybody purchased one in the christmas period it's covered by the trust fund thingy (Unless anybody knows thats not paying out?).They are no doubt covered by small print but the temptation to walk in and take what you want would be hard to resist.
Oakey said:
Mattt said:
Just steal stuff to the equivalent value, then say HRG said it was ok.
This is what I thought. Money has already been exchanged for the vouchers, therefore how can they refuse to honour them whilst continuing to trade?What would happen if someone was to pick stuff to the vouchers value, get to the till to be told they won't be honoured and just left the vouhers at the counter and walked out with the goods?
Would the police see it as stealing? Could you use "I'm a creditor" as a defense?
Can appreciate that they are only creditors who now own the company, but if they own the stock to continue selling it then why don't they own the debts aswel.... ie vouchers that have already been sold
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