Vouchers not a safe option :(

[LiesDoNotBecomeUs]

I discovered on Christmas Day that the vouchers I sent to two young relatives have been useless... but the company (one huge river-like online retailer) is not replying to my calls.

I get initial customer support then referred to another team who do not call back.

The first voucher was intercepted by a stranger (customer support told me this) and had been used. I guess it is easy to identify a boxed voucher- but it seems that senders have no more protection than if they sent cash. I had no idea.

The second was used to open a new account with the retailer and was then suddenly closed by the retailer. The recipient lost access to the voucher loaded on there.

I am still hoping to get this last one back ... but apparently have no refund rights.

We had the same with a voucher sent to us as a present, it was empty despite coming with a receipt.

I have always found it weird to buy vouchers when cash is like a universal voucher. I mean if they give you extra for buying a voucher sure but usually it’s just the same amount and invites unnecessary risk like this. That being said I hope you manage to get a refund

There was an item on vouchers on You and Yours on Radio 4 a couple of weeks ago. You can probably find it on BBC Sounds for advice on what to do.

Vouchers run out too. Then the money just disappears. Far better to transfer cash into their bank.account.

Yeah, they’re more hassle than they’re worth. Someone I know has 5yrs worth gifted to her (not by me) and they’ve all expired and ran down to £0. Just the same as putting your money straight into the bin.

Oof expensive lesson learnt there @LiesDoNotBecomeUs . I've found cash or bank transfer is much better and easier. If I'm handing a card over in person I put cash in, if posting I do a bank transfer.

I'm amazed that vouchers are still been purchased after all the scandals and pitfalls- retailers not taking one for all, running out after set time limit, money been deducted from them after so long, retailers not taking them or begrudgingly taking them when a company goes bust, scams where cards are not loaded properly ect.

The thing is when someone gives me cash I tend to put it in my purse and fritter it away on things like the odd cup of coffee or buying a pint of milk. If I get a John Lewis voucher or whatever, I think really carefully about what I'll buy. I'm more likely to buy a treat, something I wouldn't usually spend money on.

I think the OP is referring to Amazon vouchers. Husband and daughter received several this year. All fine and all spend online straight away.
I think the OP must have just had bad luck.
Daughter also got a H+M voucher (spent online straight away), M+S (spent online straight away). Her HMV voucher was a bit annoying as they can't be spent online but one trip to the shop and it was spent.
I have an M+S one but they don't have what I am hoping to buy online yet (new release Lego - they don't sell Lego in-store but they do online).
Why would someone have "5 years worth" (as mentioned above) - just spend them !
Edit : them "Love to Shop" and similar ones are a bit crappy though.

I send them via email. You used to be able to add the code to a different account because it was just a code. Now it's only addable to an account it seems.
Sending anything through the post currently seems 'stunning and brave '.

Thankyou all for the sympathy and advice.

I do feel a fool for thinking this was safe-but also really let down by Amazon. (Wasn’t their customer service/returns supposed to be good? It was the reason I chose them.)

I really thought the vouchers could only be used by the recipient but it seems the name is irrelevant.

I will check out that BBC report.

@LiesDoNotBecomeUs vouchers don't have a person's name on them so yes they can be used by anyone.
Do you mean they were stolen out of cards (ie via the postal service)? How do you know they were spent? I've never received a notification when vouchers I have sent have been sent.
I am actually a bit confused what has gone wrong for you. What type of vouchers did you actually send?

How did this happen though? I’ve sent Amazon vouchers loads of times and they’ve always been delivered by courier. I would never send them through Royal Mail and I didn’t think they were sent that way. Has it changed?

You can email Amazon vouchers which is brilliant - can still send a card to open and then just do on the day and get them to check email.

I used to send vouchers to a particular relative in the hope that they would get to use it, rather than their parent spending it on drugs for themselves which they would have done if I had sent cash.

We had this, DH's step dad ordered for the boys, one had been claimed.
Had to speak to them via step dads Amazon account.did live chat. They investigated and then refunded him the whole amount

Maybe contact amazon live chat and say you will be contacting your bank for a charge back because you have purchased two vouchers and there is no credit there to use, therefore you have not received the goods you expected.

If they still don't budge I would actually go through with the charge back with your bank- they should be able to talk you through how to do this.

This sounds a sound idea

I had a similar reason

It said ‘delivered to letterbox’ … but wasn’t.

(My daughter got a parcel thrown over her fence and that also said ‘delivered to letterbox’)

Very annoying.

Perhaps next year give them a budget and ask what they would like from that crap retailer and get it delivered direct to them?

Send an evoucher?

vouchers are great as online payment method for those without online banking.

however, what you describe is shit. sorry that happened to you. I always buy them in person to make sure the envelope or the number is sealed.

I have had some dodgy vouchers and Amazon did resend me a new code for river island but after that issue, I would just give money in future.

I think Amazon have clamped down on refunds. I sent a gift to my parents and they received something totally different (worth less) and Amazon are making us jump through hoops for a refund.

Dunno, you’d need to ask her. Irrelevant point, thanks.