THE uncertain future of troubled department store chain BHS is desperately worrying for the 11,000 people who work there. It isn't only their jobs on the line but - with a reported £571million black hole in the company's pension fund - their pensions, too.

They aren't the only ones who could lose out if the company, currently in administration, does fold, however.

Customers who bought BHS gift vouchers are also facing difficulties in redeeming them.

Kevin Middleton, from Dunnington, took four gift cards worth £50 to BHS's Coney Street store. But after picking out new trousers, shirts and shoes, he was told he could only use his vouchers if he bought another £50 worth of goods on top.

The moneysaving website MoneySavingExpert says that, under insolvency law, a retailer which goes into administration doesn't have to honour gift cards or vouchers.

In one way, perhaps, you can understand this. A business in administration will have a host of creditors, all clamouring to be paid what they are owed.

But people with vouchers aren't asking for their money back. They just want to exchange their vouchers for clothing sitting on the shop's shelves.

Those with BHS vouchers bought them in good faith.

It seems shockingly unfair that they can now only use them if they spend as much again as the face value of the vouchers they want to redeem.

If it treats its customers like this, no wonder BHS has found itself in so much trouble.