Wowcher customers told to watch for refund as £4m given back to 870,000 buyers

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Also brought into concern was Wowcher’s use of pre-ticked boxes to sign “thousands” of customers up to its paid-for ‘VIP membership,’ risking that people may have signed up without fully understanding. Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive at the CMA, said: ”Pressure selling tactics – such as countdown timers and urgency claims that may create a false impression people must ‘Buy now!’ or miss out – can push shoppers into making snap decisions or spending more than they planned.” “Our action will make a real difference for the millions of people who use Wowcher. Consumers who shop on the site can now have more confidence in the claims they see before parting with their hard-earned cash – and hundreds of thousands will soon see refunds, totalling a hefty £4 million.” “We encourage all Wowcher customers to check their emails and texts from the company to keep an eye out for a credit alert – which they can exchange to cash should they wish.” The CMA’s investigation into Wowcher came as part of its programme to tackle potentially harmful online selling practice. We are pleased that our marketing claims were proven to be factually accurate and supported by real-time data, but are happy to take on the CMA’s feedback to further improve the clarity of our promotions and to enhance our customers’ experience.” “Our marketing claims aim to support our customers when they are browsing our website to help them find the best, exclusive offers from merchants across the UK, and we look forward to continuing to deliver excellent value and choice for our customers.” “Wowcher has agreed to offer refunds to certain customers who signed up to the VIP loyalty programme, and will credit these customers with £4.99 into their Wowcher wallet over the coming weeks.”