Your gift vouchers may end up not worth the paper they are printed on

Posted in 'Credit Crunch' by Barry Stamp

08 January 2009

If you have been given gift vouchers at Christmas, or if you have some old ones lying around in a drawer, it may well be a good idea to spend them while you still can, in the current economic climate, no matter who issued them. If the issuer of the voucher goes down, you'll find yourself in the same long queue as other creditors, and with the same small chance of getting anything at all.

Here’s what to do if you have vouchers from Zavvi, Woolworths, Adams or The Pier.

Zavvi

Anyone with Zavvi vouchers purchased on or after 27 November 2008 should return the originals to the joint administrators for a full refund quoting the gift card or voucher number and your full name and address, to:

Zavvi Vouchers The Joint Administrators Ernst & Young LLP 100 Barbirolli Square Manchester M2 3EY

For Zavvi vouchers purchased before 27 November 2008, write to the same address and ask to lodge an unsecured claim in the administration.

Woolworths

Anyone with Woolworths' vouchers should simply lodge an unsecured claim in the administration. You can do this by emailing woolworthsplc@deloitte.co.uk or by phone on 020 7706 5000.

Adams

Administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers have already closed 111 Adams' stores, so act quickly and spend any gift vouchers whilst they are still being accepted at the remaining 160 stores. If you have an Adamscard with sufficient reward points, act even more quickly and cash them in for vouchers and spend them while you still can.

The Pier

Administrators Mazars are holding a 'closing down sale' where Pier Gift Cards and Vouchers are still valid, so get down to Pier outlets quickly and spend them while you can. A notice on the Pier website currently states 'We're sorry, but at the moment we are not able to process Gift Cards or Gift Vouchers through our website or through our Call Centre.'

Vouchers or gift cards worth £100 or more

Remember, if you purchased gift cards or vouchers worth more than £100 in a single transaction by credit card, if the issuer goes into administration, you may well be entitled to a full refund if you 'charge back' the transaction under your rights under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Phone your credit card company and ask to speak to their chargeback department.