“Wowcher refunds £4m to almost one million customers, changes sales practices following CMA concerns
The popular deals website Wowcher has refunded over £4m to close to one million customers, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced. In addition, the company has agreed to change its sales practices, which the CMA was concerned could mislead or pressure consumers into making quick purchases.
The CMA expressed concern over Wowcher’s use of countdown clocks and phrases such as “Running out!” and “In high demand!” to encourage customers to make purchases. However, the CMA found that the “overwhelming majority” of products on the site were still available at a similar price once the countdown timer ended. This could create a false sense of urgency and influence people’s purchasing decisions, potentially leading to rushed purchases or overspending.
In November, the CMA warned Wowcher that it could face legal action if it did not change its sales practices. As a result, over £4m was refunded to 870,000 customers who were signed up for Wowcher’s VIP membership by not unselecting a pre-ticked box. The CMA found that thousands of customers were signed up using this method, which risked them being registered without their full understanding.
Millions of people use Wowcher’s website, and the CMA’s actions are expected to have a positive impact on users. The CMA launched its investigation in March last year and is pleased with the outcome, stating that it will make a “real difference” to customers.
In other money news, a new mortgage deal has been introduced that allows friends, parents, and even extended family members to help individuals secure a loan. Additionally, consumers can expect changes in how airlines and rail companies handle tech outages, and there have been successful efforts to crack down on password sharing as Netflix subscriber numbers surpass expectations.”
