Poundland has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, putting the future of around 600 shops and 12,000 jobs at risk.
The discount retailer made the filing on Thursday 29 October 2026, giving it 10 working days of protection from companies it owes money to while it tries to secure a rescue deal.
But this doesn’t mean Poundland has closed down or that administrators have taken over.
The company says its stores remain open and trading as normal, although the future of the business is uncertain.
Here’s what shoppers need to know about store closures, gift cards, refunds and returns.
Are Poundland stores closing?
Poundland hasn’t announced a new list of store closures following the administration notice.
The retailer is still looking for a buyer, with several businesses making offers to purchase parts of the chain.
However, Poundland managing director Barry Williams said no acceptable offer had been found for the whole business.
This means some stores could eventually be sold to other retailers, while others may face closure.
For now, you can continue shopping at Poundland, although it’s worth checking the Poundland store finder before making a special journey.
What happens to gift cards bought at Poundland?
If you’ve bought a gift card for another retailer from Poundland, it should still be usable with the company named on the card, subject to that company’s terms.
Poundland’s financial problems don’t automatically mean those gift cards have stopped working.
However, Poundland’s published policy says it doesn’t offer refunds or exchanges on gift cards and eGifts bought in its shops.
We haven’t been able to confirm whether any Poundland-branded gift cards are still in circulation or whether new restrictions will be introduced.
If you’ve got an old Poundland Perks voucher, that’s different. The loyalty scheme closed in September 2025, and the deadline to use its vouchers was 15 January 2026.
Can you still get a refund at Poundland?
Poundland’s existing returns policy is still published on its website, and no changes linked to the administration notice have been confirmed.
Under its normal policy, you can return unwanted items within 28 days of purchase, provided they’re unused, in their original packaging, and you have proof of purchase.
Some products, including food and certain hygiene items, are excluded from change-of-mind returns.
You can also usually return an item to a different Poundland branch.
If you’ve already bought something you want to return, it’s worth taking it back sooner rather than later. Bring your receipt and the original packaging.
What if you’ve bought something faulty?
Your rights are different if something is faulty, doesn’t work properly or isn’t as described.
Under UK consumer law, you may be entitled to a refund, repair or replacement, depending on the circumstances.
These rights are separate from Poundland’s normal 28-day returns policy.
If the retailer eventually enters administration, getting your money back could become more difficult.
If you paid by debit or credit card and the retailer can’t put things right, you may be able to ask your bank to recover the money through something called chargeback. A refund isn’t guaranteed.
You can find out more about chargeback and card payment protection through MoneyHelper.
How many Poundland jobs are at risk?
Around 12,000 jobs are potentially affected by the uncertainty surrounding Poundland’s future.
However, that doesn’t mean all those employees have lost their jobs.
The company is continuing to trade while talks take place with businesses interested in buying stores or other parts of Poundland.
Any deal to sell only part of the business could leave some shops and jobs at risk.
Skint Dad says:
Poundland is somewhere many families turn to when money’s tight, so this is worrying news, especially for staff.
There’s no need to panic-buy, but if you’ve got something to return, don’t leave it too long. Keep your receipts, too.
What should Poundland shoppers do now?
There are three simple things worth knowing:
- Stores remain open. You can still shop at Poundland while your local branch continues trading.
- Keep your receipts. They’re useful if you need to return something or prove what you’ve bought.
- Don’t delay returns. If you’ve already decided to take something back, it’s sensible to do it while the current returns arrangements are available.
Poundland has not announced a nationwide shutdown, and no final decision has been confirmed about which stores might be sold or closed.
