A ROW broke out at fashion retailer USC in Bournemouth after shoppers were told that their gift vouchers would not be honoured.

The retailer, which has 58 shops across the UK, is the latest high street chain to go into administration, putting around 300 jobs at risk.

Leanne Savill, 21, of Pine Vale Crescent, Ensbury Park, Bournemouth, was among around ten furious shoppers demanding to use their vouchers at the shop in Commercial Road, on Tuesday afternoon.

She said: “We have got vouchers for Christmas for £40 but they won’t let us use them and won’t give us the money back for them. It’s ridiculous. I’ve been working since Christmas and this was the first day I could spend them.”

Civil engineer Andrew Clarke, of Spur Hill Avenue, Canford Cliffs, who had £100 in gift vouchers, said people had been told they might be able to use the vouchers if they travelled to Basingstoke – 60 miles away.

He said: “They are just being greedy. They are still taking people’s money buying clothes off the shelves but if they have got gift vouchers they won’t let you have anything at all.”

Hotel manager Gary Ellaway, 26, of Surrey Road, Westbourne, said: “They are not telling us anything. There are people who have got clothes that they want to bring back or exchange and they won’t exchange or refund.

“My vouchers were for £40 but if you have got vouchers they don’t want to know.”

The group later said that shoppers had been asked to leave the store after staff said there were “problems with heating”.

Dundonald Holdings Ltd has agreed to buy up to 43 of the stores safeguarding 1,127 jobs. The remaining 15 stores will be temporarily operated by the administrator PKF.

The chain, which has its headquarters in Dundonald, Ayrshire, was owned by investment firm West Coast Capital, founded by tycoon Sir Tom Hunter, one of Britain’s richest men. Dundonald Holdings Ltd which put together the rescue package for most of the stores, is part of this wider business.

A manager at the Bournemouth USC store said: “We’ve got nothing to say”.

Other high street casualties in recent weeks include Woolworths, MFI, music and games chain Zavvi and children’s wear chain Adams.

Echo reader Lucy Jones, who received a Zavvi gift card for Christmas, said it was refused when she went to redeem it.

She said: “Seeing as the stores are still open they should still be accepting the cards as they are still selling products and have taken the money. I am sure other people have got vouchers for Christmas which are now worthless.”

See all the stores under threat of closure or closed with our map, below.

View Larger Map
Click view larger map to see it full screen and click the pins for details about each store.