Wilko enters administration: What are your refund rights and what happens to gift cards and vouchers?

Wilko collapsed after emergency rescue talks fell through, endangering 12,000 jobs and 400 stores.

The High Street household chain, which opened its first hardware store in Leicester in 1930, has now appointed PwC to search for potential buyers.

Mark Jackson, Wilko’s CEO, said in an open letter that it had “left no stone unturned in sustaining this incredible company.”

But since it’s administrative, what are your rights as a customer regarding refunds, vouchers and deliveries? Read on to find out everything you need to know.

What are your refund rights if Wilko goes into administration?

PwC is accepting returns for items purchased in-store before Wilko went into administration on Aug. 10.

However, they don’t accept returns on items purchased after this date, so don’t buy anything new from the chain unless you’re sure you want to keep it.

As for online purchases, PwC has not yet confirmed whether it accepts returns.

However, the Consumer Rights Act states that if you change your mind after purchasing something online, you have 14 days to get a full refund.

In addition, the law also states that if an item is defective, you must be offered a repair, replacement or refund.

PwC has confirmed that it will offer a full refund for faulty goods if you bring them into store with proof of purchase within 30 days of purchase.

PwC is accepting returns for items purchased in-store before Wilko went into administration on Aug. 10

What happens to gift cards and vouchers if a retailer goes bankrupt?

When a retailer goes into administration, the administrators are allowed to change the terms of gift cards and vouchers.

As of now, PwC says Wilko will continue to accept Wilko-branded gift cards in-store.

While it no longer accepts gift cards from multiple stores, such as Love2Shop’s, you’ll need to spend those elsewhere. Due to their nature, this should not be a problem.

If you have gift cards or vouchers, the rule of thumb is usually that if you hear that a company is going out of business, spend the voucher as soon as possible. After a certain point, you may not be able to use them anymore.

Despite the fact that PwC has confirmed that all Wilko stores will remain open for the time being, you will no longer be able to place home deliveries

Can I still place home delivery orders with Wilko and receive my packages?

Despite the fact that PwC has confirmed that all Wilko stores will remain open for the time being, it is no longer possible to have items delivered to your home.

The website only accepts click-and-collect orders, which means you have to go to the store yourself to pick up your goods.

However, this may not be wise because if you place a click-and-collect order and Wilko stops trading before you receive it, you may not be able to get a refund. In-store shopping may be the safest option right now.

How can you try to get your money back if Wilko goes into administration?

If you’re about to return something purchased before August 10th, you’re unlikely to have any issues.

But if you can’t get a return from Wilko in the future because they stop trading, hope isn’t lost.

If you can’t get something back directly from Wilko, you have a good chance if you paid with a debit or credit card and spent above a certain amount.

If you pay for something that costs more than £100, under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, the card company is just as liable as Wilko if something goes wrong.

If you paid with a debit card, your bank should try to get your money back from the bank of the company you bought from.

However, keep in mind that if you are paid, sometimes the company itself can dispute it with the bank and the money can be taken back later.

If you don’t get your money back, join a list of creditors who owe the company money – the list will be long, so this option is unlikely.