Are House of Fraser gift cards still valid, can you redeem them online or in store, and can you get a refund?

HOUSE of Fraser have fallen on hard times with a last minute swoop by billionaire Mike Ashley needed to save them from retail oblivion.

Here's what you need to know about the HOF gift cards following the buyout by the Sports Direct supremo.

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Are House of Fraser gift cards still valid?

House of Fraser has temporarily stopped accepting gift cards and vouchers despite the chain being saved.

Shoppers in Belfast and Glasgow have reported that stores are not accepting gift cards.

One shopper in Belfast said he was "disgusted" that the department store had already stopped accepting gift vouchers on Friday August 10.

A spokesperson for House of Fraser confirmed that the issue was "temporary" and would be "resolved shortly" as they await guidance from the new owner.

Can you redeem them online and in store?

Shoppers are being told that they must send off gift cards and vouchers to House of Fraser's head office where a replacement will be issued.

But this morning the House of Fraser website still appeared to be selling gift vouchers.

In a statement to The Sun, a House of Fraser spokesperson said: "The business was purchased out of administration for a cash consideration.

"As a result of this process Sports Direct has no liability to customers in possession of existing gift cards and vouchers.

"However we encourage these customers in possession of gift cards and vouchers to send them into the House of Fraser head office at Gift Cards, 27 Baker Street, London, W1U 8AH, whereby replacements will be issued."

Can you get a refund?

When a retailer's future is put in jeopardy shoppers rush to use up gift cards and vouchers in case the firm stops trading for good.

It is up to the administrators to decide whether they will continue to accept them.

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act means that if you pay for a big purchase on your credit card and something happens - like the goods aren't delivered or the the shop goes bust - your card provider is just as responsible as the retailer to refund you.

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There are a few caveats to the legal protection - the purchase you are making must cost between £100 and £30,000 and it's important to remember that it only applies to credit cards - but it has helped countless Brits get their money back after they've been let down.

The protection applies to most credit agreements, so as well as credit cards, it applies to store cards and store instalment credit deals too.

So if the retailer you're buying from goes bust or your goods aren't delivered or the items are faulty, you have the legal right to go to your card provider to get your cash back.