to think it is just not safe to buy a shop gift voucher anymore?

[ToeCap]

With all the recent closures, the first thing the shops stop is honouring the gift vouchers.

Poor people losing their jobs though.

Yes, I read HMV vouchers were no longer being accepted. £ weeks after Christmas too. I got rid of my GAME ones asap too.

The High Street is on dodgy ground for sure.

• 3 weeks

I definitely wouldn't. In any event, I think cash is more welcome for most, though there is the risk with things so tight that your giftee pays the gas bill rather than buying a present for themselves.

I discovered this year that if you don't use Amazon vouchers in a year they also expire! They have had the use of the money for a year, how dare they pocket it for good!!!!

Yanbu

I won't be buying vouchers in future.

I avoided buying vouchers for presents this Christmas. I usually buy some for my brother and DH's neices and nephews as we have to post them but did cash instead.

I think it's bad that they're allowed not to honour the vouchers. They've had the cash up front.

Jessops were still selling vouchers after the administrator had announced they were worthless

www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/9791468/Jessops-keeps-worthless-vouchers-on-sale.html#

I only realised that about Amazon vouchers at Christmas Sleepy seems a bit mean TBH.

I have tended to buy the Love2shop or One4all gift cards/vouchers as you can use them in a range of shops rather than just being limited to one shop

I agree. It's very sad. And I needed a few things in hmv but I couldn't bear going on there now knowing that everyone working there will soon be jobless. Feels very intrusive somehow.

I'm not a lover of vouchers from anywhere, frankly. Some years ago, it was broadcast that Expiry Dates were in such small print that people couldn't read them - so the vouchers expired. What a wonderful way to make a profit. Take people's money and they get nothing for it!

I'm wary of moving my money about, too. I don't like Barclays'. I had savings with ING. I heard that ING was selling to Barclay's so I began to move my money out of ING. I'm now with Cheltenham and Gloucester but read that they are owned by Lloyd's which is owned by Santander! Finance of any sort, whether it be savings or gift vouchers is just a maze.

Good old fashioned building societies are a safe (if not very profitable) bet. I think we should have a Mumsnet microfinance arm for those of us with business ideas and little money to borrow, and those of us with money to get a better return than banks will give.

i only buy gift vouchers for the whole shopping complex, the one in our area has about 75 shops you can use it in and no expirey

DH was given £60 of HMV vouchers for Christmas by his parents. He's gutted that they're useless now, although I've been told that Martin Lewis is outting something together about how to recoup the money anyway.

I am never buying giftcards for anyone.

I didn't know that about Amazon vouchers, just checked my account and yup, last years Christmas pressie is gone:(

I had such a rough year I didn't have the heart to buy anything and now I can't.

I'm gutted

yy to rulebritannia my aunt has wasted so much money on WH Smiths giftcards for me that have gone out of date because I never dreamed they would steal the money and I hardly ever go in their useless shop.

Dh has got £30 in hmv vouchers which are now useless. It's so wrong that they can't honour them when they've already had the money. No better than theft if you ask me.

It's not just vouchers, though, is it? I'm now assessing where I buy anything significant from in case I might need to replace it and have major hassle if they've gone bust.

oh god pmsl at your name fatcuntroller love it!

Am surprised WHSmiths is still going when huge stores like HMV are going under.

I discovered this year that if you don't use Amazon vouchers in a year they also expire! They have had the use of the money for a year, how dare they pocket it for good!!!!

Most internet gift vouchers have an expiry date on the them - Buyagift.com, Virgin Experiences, Red Letter Days....all the big ones.

Maybe if people bought actual stock they wouldn't be going under? And please spare a thought for people who will be out of a job soon, talk of a useless £20 voucher is a bit heartless when you might not afford your mortgage in a month!

Is fopp still going? I'm sure it's part of HMV

Captain - I don't think for one moment anyone is not suympathising with those about to lose their jobs.

WRT buying actual stock, I dont think that would make much difference as opposed to buying vouchers. They have had the money!

A friend bought our DDs national book tokens this year, rather than ones tied to a specific shop for just this reason.

Amazon - they do expire but I asked and they extended a voucher for another six months. Didn't seem to be a difficult decision for them.