Voucher Refund

[Theblip]

Last year a pal of mine got given a £150 voucher for a top restaurant. As you can imagine, the restaurant has been mainly closed since due to the pandemic, with no reopening date yet. And unfortunately my pal has been largely unemployed for the same reason, so he wants a refund so he can have a bit of cash. The restaurant is saying they won’t refund the voucher to my pal or the relatives who bought it for him, but they will extend the expiry date indefinitely. However, if the restaurant goes bust my pal won’t even be able to use the voucher. Are the restaurant within their rights to refuse the refund?

[bednobs]

Yes I believe so

[jackthehat]

Yes.

[bobbinwales]

Yes, thats always the risk with vouchers.

[Paigntonian]

The voucher has no intrinsic value. It is redeemable only against a meal. No meal, no value.

[emmie]

i would have thought so, no meal no refund.

[barry1010]

This is a frustrated contracted beyond the restaurant's control - as such it is their choice whether to refund or extend the deadline.

[Peter Pedant]

and dont feel too bruised about this
your pal or yourself have lost nothing ( talk of a refund is a bit erm premature as neither of you two funded in the first place)

the loss is born by the giver who presumably didnt slip him the loo-loo ( money cash ) in the first place for some reason

[Peter Pedant]

frustrated contract OK
but not with the er vouchee

[Theblip]

The restaurant has started doing takeaways, but have told my pal that the voucher cannot be used to buy their takeaways, only in the restaurant as and when they reopen. Are they legally entitled to refuse the voucher being used to pay for their takeaways?

[Bobbisox1]

£150 of takeaways is a lot of takeaways + they'd have to keep issuing other vouchers as the amount goes down, something they won't want to do

[gingejbee]

Presumably the T&Cs state how the voucher is to be redeemed...have you looked?

[THECORBYLOON]

The voucher expired but they have allowed it to be used in future. They didn't have to do that so it's up to them what restrictions they place on its future use.