Woolworths Refunds Expire in 1 year? Is This Legal? Shouldn't it be longer?

Xenawarriorprincess on 10/04/2019 - 17:58

So firstly before I start Mea culpa, I should have realised sooner and not been in this position. Hindsight is 20/20.

Recently I noticed refunds from issues with my woolworths account (for products not supplied) and my bag refund has occasionally been sent through as a coupon instead of refunded to my account - I believe this is due to me having used a gift card for these purchases.

I went through my old emails in my junk and realised there have been a few times I've missed the email and therefore my refund has "expired". Is this legal? Surely they should just refund me or credit it off my next order, rather than me having to enter a coupon for products not supplied. Again, yes I know I should have just read the emails and been more attentive to the expiry dates but now that I'm on maternity leave I have a bit more time to pick up on these things. If a giftcard legally has 3 years validity, surely these should match (I believe it's a year validity for these refund coupon codes)

My question is can I take this further to get the money back? I'd like to say "it's not really the money it's the principle" but it's both. There's been multiple times, of amounts in some cases over $20.

NB if anyone else is a woolies frequenter and don't check your junk email you may have the same.

Sidenote; does anyone know if you can get a raincheck for items not supplied with online orders or is it in store only?

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Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 10/04/2019 - 18:12
    +1

    Raincheck - your results will vary from store to store. Online only specials - they won't give you a raincheck or honour the special for your next online order.

    Coupons for refunds - I've heard if you contact them to say you can't use the coupon before it expires, they will issue a new coupon after the expiry date but I don't know whether they will honour this if the coupon codes are more than 12 months old. Your results will vary depending on who you speak to at the call centre. If you're convincing enough and manage to speak to a supervisor, they might credit the coupon value and send you a physical gift card, but it might take 1-2 weeks to be sent out. I've managed to get a coupon code converted to a physical gift card before but it took a lot of convincing at the call centre level and several staff members.

    Good luck.

  • cloudy on 10/04/2019 - 18:57

    So I can understand why you get a coupon, coz they can’t put money back into a e-gift card it seems. A year for the coupon sounds fairly reasonable, to go back into history and look if a coupon has been redeemed or not might just be a case of how nice are they? It very well could be coz their systems delete old coupons or can’t tell if it’s been used or not. Good luck, though, it, as you said, is your fault it would seem.

  • SnoozeAndLose on 10/04/2019 - 19:01

    Have you tried to contact woolworths?

    They should be able to give you a replacement.

    For legal i think the can as it is a a gift card that you buy but a syore credit they give you in the form of refund.

    When i got any storr credit i just chat with them on live chat and get the egift card instead.

  • Xenawarriorprincess on 10/04/2019 - 19:16

    Yep, they were able to confirm which coupons hadn’t been used and had expired, but haven’t responded once I complained about it. I’ll ask them about an e-gift card instead and see how I go.

    • RandomNinja on 10/04/2019 - 20:17

      I had the same thing happen to me. Just hold your ground and insist on the coupon being reactivated, a supervisor will usually approve it. If not, Dept of Fair Trading will side with the consumer

  • barbarella on 10/04/2019 - 21:50

    Thanks OP - I found 2 x $1 refunds in my email - "reusable bag refund"

  • [Deactivated] on 11/04/2019 - 01:34

    I found a great way to extend expiry for another year, or amalgamate all these refund coupons and reset the date.
    But I'm not going tell you. Kidding.

    Place an order just over the value of all your vouchers, setting the order delivery date a few days ahead. Next day cancel your order. Fixed, new expiry date.

    =====
    Also, I rang Woolies ages ago and they agreed to mail me out a physical giftcard to replace the refund coupons. Something to try.

  • AustriaBargain on 11/04/2019 - 02:39
    +2

    "it's not really the money it's the principle" but it's both. There's been multiple times, of amounts in some cases over $20.

    Woah, for amounts over $20 certainly the regional coupon manager would already be aware of your case and elevated it to the president of coupons and probably an appointment with his ace strategy team is already in the works, considering the large sums of money involved the delay in resolving the matter is probably due to Woolworth's regulatory requirement to inform their investors of the huge financial risks being taken with their negations with you over the validity of these coupons.

    • Xenawarriorprincess on 11/04/2019 - 07:45

      I know… not much to woolies but it is to someone with zero dollars coming in!

  • Topdog on 11/04/2019 - 08:02

    N.S.W, Not sure of other states, but I know the law changed recently did it, or did I dream it?

    N.S.W fair trading states : The law requires that MOST gift cards or vouchers be sold with a mandatory minimum expiry period of 3 years

    • Xenawarriorprincess on 11/04/2019 - 08:09

      That’s what I thought but these are 1 year. Not sure if them calling it a coupon makes it something different. Still haven’t heard back from my request to extend the validity.

      • Topdog on 11/04/2019 - 08:18

        Coupon/voucher same thing imo

        • Xenawarriorprincess on 11/04/2019 - 12:55

          Woolworths doesn’t share our sentiment… “That's incorrect, Sarah. Our Online store credit is completely separate from eGift Card and Gift Card legislation and operates only within online purchases through our website. Our eGift Cards that are issued, or come from being converted do not have an expiry date included.”

          • Topdog on 11/04/2019 - 13:16

            @Xenawarriorprincess: Spewing :(

          • bluesky on 11/04/2019 - 14:36

            @Xenawarriorprincess: Not sure if you are prepared to let this go, or want to follow up further.

            With this sort of thing, I find it is easier to ring up and speak with them.
            And when the front person can't do anything, show your understanding, that it might be beyond the person's authority to help, and request to be connected to the supervisor.

            Mention that you know lots of people who contact them and opt for egift card, when refund credits are issued. I have done that a couple of times myself. So, had you done the same, the expiry would have been a few years.

            Admit it was your oversight, and although it is not their policy, perhaps on goodwill grounds, they could make an exception. Since the amounts are not small, and do make a difference to you.

            Be prepared it will amount to nothing - don't show annoyance (although I can understand your frustration). This makes it easier for the person on the other end, and the person is more likely to empathise and help.

            • Xenawarriorprincess on 11/04/2019 - 14:48
              +1

              @bluesky: Thank you, this helps. I was able to get one of the 4 coupons reinstated, the most recent one as the others were no longer in their system. That was the most $ so I’m happy to get that :)

              • [Deactivated] on 11/04/2019 - 17:57

                @Xenawarriorprincess: I can understand them not issuing egiftcards but they can issue plastic gift cards provided you talk to the right staff member.

                • bluesky on 11/04/2019 - 18:05

                  @[Deactivated]: Come to think of it, could have been physical gift cards instead of egift cards. Quite a while ago now.

  • yadupinto on 11/04/2019 - 09:35

    happened to me before…wooli staff told that they can reissue new refund card to renew the refund which is expiring…best thing is speak to supervisor to renew card..

  • try2bhelpful on 11/04/2019 - 18:01
    +1

    As a side note, best of luck with the new addition. Thanks for raising the next generation of tax payers and nursing home attendants.

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