WOWCHER is refunding £4million to around 870,000 customers over “misleading” sales practices.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was concerned that the e-commerce website used pressure tactics such as countdown clocks to rush shoppers into spending cash.
Wowcher promotes deals on everything from spa days and hotel stays to home gadgets.
But the CMA said that the discount website’s marketing claims created the impression deals might increase in price or disappear, even though this was “often not the case”.
It criticised the site’s use of countdown tickers and warnings of deals “running out!” or being “in high demand!” which could rush shoppers into buying something.
The regulator also raised concerns over hidden charges, such as a pre-ticked box when customers buy an item, which automatically signed them up to a “VIP” membership scheme.
Customers had to untick the box before checkout or …