A SHOPPER has blasted an under-threat department store after he was told he must spend double the amount of a gift card to use it.

Kevin Middleton, 64, took four gift cards worth £50 to Coney Street's BHS shop intent on getting something before the shop closed down.

After picking out new trousers, shirts and shoes and telling a member of staff he would be paying with vouchers, he was told he would have to spend another £50 to use them.

Mr Middleton, from Dunnington, was given the gifts by family and friends, and says his children urged him to spend them before it was too late.

He said: "The total was about £4 more than the vouchers, which I was willing to pay, but I was told I had to spend double the amount.

"It's not fair because people bought me these as a gift. I shouldn't have to pay double.

"They should notify customers as soon as they come through the door because there was only a sign up next to the customer service area.

"I shop in there frequently and when you have been given gift vouchers it's unfortunate it should come down to this."

The high street retailer is facing an uncertain future after going into administration last week, putting 11,000 jobs at risk across the country.

MoneySavingExpert took to its site earlier this week to tell those with gift cards to spend them as soon as possible.

"Under insolvency law, when a retailer goes into administration, they don't have to honour gift cards or vouchers," according to advice on the website.

"Despite this, BHS has agreed to continuing accepting gift cards and vouchers.

"But there's a big catch – BHS now says if you want to redeem a voucher you need to spend twice as much as the face value of the voucher."

Philip Duffy, joint administrator of BHS, Duff & Phelps said, “Over the last few days we have been working hard to stabilise the business and are pleased to have received a number of expressions of interest. We continue to seek a sale as a going concern. We appreciate the hard work of staff that have ensured that stores have continued to trade as normal. Staff have been paid over the course of yesterday and today and we want to reassure them that they will continue to be so whilst the company remains in administration, as a priority payment.”