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The internet platform declares vouchers invalid after just three years – this is against the law.
A listener to the SRF consumer magazine “Espresso” finally wanted to redeem a voucher for a cozy fondue party in an igloo last winter. Value: 120 francs. Because of Corona and other reasons, three years have already passed since the voucher was purchased on the Internet platform “Gadget Paradise.ch”. But when the customer from the canton of Baselland also wants to book the fondue fun via this platform, they say the voucher has expired.
Voucher should be valid for five years
“That’s not true,” says the customer, who regularly follows SRF’s consumer programs. And she has the backing of SRF legal expert Gabriela Baumgartner: According to the law, such vouchers are valid for five years. Point.
Manager: “Event vouchers only valid for three years”
However, the managing director of the company Happyshops AG, which operates the “gift paradise”, insists on a reduced validity period of three years for so-called “event vouchers”. The conditions of their business partners cannot be guaranteed for a longer period of time, and he thinks everything is legal.
In the end, the woman’s legal expenses insurance paid back the 120 francs. In order to argue about it in court, the amount was too small, the insurance company said. But the anger remains with the customer.
Bought fresh and expired
An “espresso” listener from the canton of Friborg also has trouble with the “gift paradise”: she bought a hotel voucher for her nanny. She didn’t notice that the expiry date noted on it had already passed when she bought it: “It was really embarrassing when the recipient drew my attention to it,” says the listener. After a time-consuming back and forth, the platform paid her back the 300 francs.
The managing director says about this case: There was a technical error. Under no circumstances should expired vouchers be sold systematically. In addition, they try to find amicable solutions with all dissatisfied customers and, under certain circumstances, pay back the purchase price.
But this customer is also fed up with the “gift paradise” after this experience.
Those who make vouchers themselves are on the safe side
SRF legal expert Gabriela Baumgartner locates a “permanent favorite” in the expiry dates of vouchers. The lawyer describes it as “unsatisfactory” that sellers of vouchers can override legal requirements without being quoted before the judge. However, it is common practice for legal protection insurance to step in obligingly.
In order to save yourself trouble, the legal expert recommends writing or making a voucher yourself and then the recipient can contact them personally if they want to redeem the voucher.