Q: I received a gift voucher as a Christmas gift, which was redeemable from a local clothes shop. The gift voucher was issued a few days before Christmas and it was valid for six months from the date of issue.

I went several times to the shop but never managed to find anything I liked. I went again to the shop a couple of days after the voucher expired and the shop manager informed me I could not use the voucher as it had expired.

I insisted that the date had elapsed by only two days and that I did not go earlier due to other commitments. The shop manager still refused to let me use the voucher. He did not even want to extend the expired date.

What are my rights? This gift voucher was paid for and was not some kind of free coupon.

A: In such situation, legally, you do not have any rights. Since the gift voucher you were given had an expiry date and you were fully aware of this, it was your responsibility to make use of it before it expired.

It is not the seller who did not abide by the gift voucher’s terms and conditions; you did.

Hence, unless you manage to reach an amicable solution with the seller, legally there is nothing that can help you.