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HMV to accept gift cards in UK – but we lose out

Breda Heffernan Email

HMV Ireland is not taking gift vouchers despite the company confirming it will start accepting them again in the UK.

After widespread public anger, British consumers have been told they will be able to use their gift cards after all and they will be accepted in stores from today.

But there will be no such peace offering for Irish customers, many of whom were given vouchers as Christmas presents.

Unlike in Ireland, where HMV is in receivership, the British arm of the music retailer is in administration.

The British stores remain open with a view to being sold as a going concern, while the Irish stores are closed.

A spokesperson for Deloitte, the receivers of HMV Ireland, said the Irish outlets would remain closed.

However, there was some good news as it emerged that the company will pay out the €27,000 it owes in sales for the Lily-Mae charity single.

The song, a cover version of the 1972 Elton John classic 'Tiny Dancer', was recorded to raise funds for four-year-old cancer sufferer Lily-Mae Morrison.

The little girl's parents, Judith Sibley and Leighton Morrison, last night received the welcome news that their invoices for the money they are owed will be honoured.

Steve Macken, who produced the charity single, said the development was a huge weight off their minds.

Following the closure of HMV's 16 shops here last week, there were calls for the Government to change the law so customers are not left out of pocket when companies go bust.

The National Consumer Agency said it would be pushing for the administrator to reverse the decision not to redeem or refund vouchers.

Holders of gift vouchers are treated as unsecured creditors and rank behind other creditors and are unlikely to be paid.

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