That really angers me
that 'gift vouchers' can expire: Companies will happily take your money, but won't commit to offering you anything in return (and has anyone else wondered how much interest companies are making just on the collective balance of vouchers that are later redeemed?). Keep in mind that they're losing nothing if you redeeem it later; since a voucher is normally a fixed cash value, rather than the guaranteed full cost of an activity or item.

My brother got me a HMV gift card. I was very ill and couldn't use it for ages. Recovered enough to leave the house and visit HMV, only to be told that as it hadn't been used for a while, the balance had been wiped.

I think HMV are cunts who stole from my family; the only way I'd ever visit there again would be to create helpful diversions for shoplifters.
(The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 1:11, 3 replies)

I still have the borders gift card
given to me as a farewell present from four jobs ago. Doesn't work now, oddly enough.

I would care more if it wasn't for my own ineptitude. But you would expect them to make exceptions for difficult circumstances such as your own.
(russet_gusset up the reds, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 10:47, closed)

Always worth fighting back
A few months ago, Skype e-mailed me to say my balance had "expired". I went nuclear. I told them that I rejected their "terms & conditions": I had paid for my balance, therefore it was MY money. If they wanted to expire my credit, then they should refund the money to me in cash. To simply reset it to zero was THEFT, plain and simple. I told them that I would never, ever again pay them a single penny - and seek out other VOIP services, if they did not refund me.

They capitulated and reinstated it.

It may be technically legal for companies to include expiry terms in their small print, but it is not fair - and if you call them on it, then there's a good chance you will win.
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Mon 7 Dec 2009, 16:47, closed)

Thankyou both
But, like a meek idiot, I let the till monkey retain the 'expired' card. So, lacking even a receipt, I have no proof of ownership.

With hindsight, it was possible that the balance still existed or was recoverable; although I saw he dropped it in the bin, he could have easily retreived it later and used it himself - So it's possible it wasn't a bad company, as much as a bad employee.
(The Incredible Sulk Finally remembered his password on, Wed 9 Dec 2009, 20:41, closed)