to think that Sodexo can't just go off with over £2000 of our money?

[OhBuggerandArse]

I'd really appreciate some help from anyone who's got any ideas of how to handle this situation.

We have been signed up to the Sodexo childcare voucher scheme through my and my husband's work, and have been paying in for around seven years. We had a significant balance (over £2,000) which we hadn't been able to use while we had changed our childcare arrangements, and had set it aside to pay for after school care for the next couple of years. Neither of us had realised or read in the small print that the vouchers can expire, and only found out when we logged in to make this term's payment and discovered that the money had just vanished from our account.

I got in touch straight away, and was advised to send in a letter explaining what had happened, and that we hadn't been aware of the expiration policy - apparently vouchers can be restored. We've just had the response - a flat refusal, with no details or explanation at all, and that's that. Money vanished. No explanation of where it's vanished to, or how they distinguish between the money we contributed and the proportion that comes from tax. Presumably the company have just got the cash themselves.

What next? I can't see any way in which this can be legitimate - I do get that it's a tax scheme not a bank account, but surely it's not acceptable practice just to absorb money like this without providing any notice? And is there any way I can try again to get them to reconsider?

Would be really grateful for any suggestions anyone might have. (Posting in Money Matters too, but the thread is here for the utter outrage and upset and worry that I feel!)

Agree speak to HR and see if they can sort.

ThiS may be a breach of the consumer rights act. Not sure if this will apply as it's only just come into force. However, terms that are imposed and cannot be negotiated have to be proportional and fair. This may not be either. Especially as no warning was given. Check their FCA status - I don't know if they are covered by them by they may be as providing a financial service. The FCA really don't like terms like this.

Well well. This morning I got a new reply - the email that I sent off to Iain McMath bore fruit, and they have reconsidered the decision and will restore the vouchers in full.

Thank you so much, FanSpamTastic, for finding his name for me.

And what an educational experience all round...

That's brilliant news - I am very chuffed to have been able to help!!!

Wow on this is terrible.

Thank you for bringing this up.

We have over 6k 'saved up' to pay for dc2's childcare after I go back to work. We need to make sure they won't expire!

Well done OP. Cheeky buggers!

The thing that I'm still a bit thrown and upset by is that if I was the sort of person who took no for an answer, or if I hadn't had good advice from all of you and others in RL, I'd still be sitting here without the money and they'd still have it. The potential for someone less confident or less supported to have ended up in a very difficult position is really frightening.

Great result!

Why not forward the story to Martin Lewis or the Times/ Telegraph money pages as an FYI. The increased publicity could help those who are unable to help themselves.

Excellent result!

Fantastic result! Well done

It is outrageous that they intended to keep your money because you hadn't used it within 18 months. There is no good reason for doing that apart from taking advantage of people who haven't read the terms and conditions. I think that this issue should be highlighted as much as possible as you can't be the only people to get caught out.

I think it is bad enough that shopping vouchers seem to expire nowadays (they never used to) but at least you can avoid buying them without financial loss. You don't get much choice about the childcare voucher system your employer uses and unless you want to pay more for childcare you have to use it.