Comments on: Review Your State’s Gift Card Rules

By: Derek

Derek — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:56:53 +0000

Under each statute there is a definition of a gift card outlined in order to prevent merchants from doing this.

By: Cheap Bastard

Cheap Bastard — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:26:35 +0000

Can’t the merchants simply play a semantic game to get around the new rules?

Eg. This isn’t a “gift card”, this is a “credit voucher”.

By: SavingEverything

SavingEverything — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:25:12 +0000

I’m confused again. I thought it doesn’t matter where you live; but it matters alot where your gift card was purchased or obtained!?! If my state has the worst gift card laws, then I might as well buy as many gift cards as I can use or want when on vacation in a consumer-friendly, gift card law state. Beantown sounds like a good vacation spot and place to get those 7 year periods. Of course there are several stores that advertise and post on cards with no expiration dates at all. Another useful information site is http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_financial_services/003889.html

By: Soccer9040

Soccer9040 — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:52:35 +0000

Last night we got our HHGregg 69.99 delivery rebate in the mail and we also had to go grocery shopping since we have been out of town the last few weeks with Weddings and the Holidays. $165 at Wal-Mart turned into 95.01 quickly. I know people fuss about exp dates, but I’m lucky if I can keep mine for more then a few weeks. I always try to substitute it for regular spending.

By: jsbrendog

jsbrendog — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:18:53 +0000

i hate these things and told my gf to never allow anyone to get me one.

and when multiple people in her family give them to her every year i tell her to use it as soon as she can, but for something she would buy anyway obv, since they are the devil.

By: Kevin@OutOfYourRut

Kevin@OutOfYourRut — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:36:33 +0000

We give gift cards often, and I wasn’t aware there are individual state laws for them. If fact we often buy them for out of state gifts!

Thanks for the heads up, we’ll have to look into this more closely.

By: aua868s

aua868s — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:31:11 +0000

made full use of the macy’s gift cards this year..thanks to me flying united for a long time!

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:15:11 +0000

I saw a lot of gift cards get traded this year in my family. Granted we got a lot of teenage boys who really only want video games. It is hard for grandma to keep up with the latest game. What they wanted in August, probably isn’t what they want in December.

There seems to be some ad-version to cash, just give cash all these problems go away.

By: Izalot

Izalot — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:20:25 +0000

Definition of Gift cards: I was too busy to even put any thought into considering anything you might like so go out and buy it yourself.

By: eric

eric — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:51:08 +0000

yay no gift cards for me this year!

By: echidnina

echidnina — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:43:13 +0000

Here in Ohio, a gift card has to be good for two years free of fees or expiration. After two years, it seems to be fair game. I’ve never been hit with a gift card fee though, and I never buy a gift card with an expiration date.

By: Derek

Derek — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:43:55 +0000

I side you with in regards that a lot of gift cards essentially are ways for companies to trick you out of your money. They will advertise them as being as good as cash, but hide dormancy fees on the back of the card.

On the back of the Vanilla Visa in my wallet, which I need to finish off, it states “A Service Fee of $2.50 per month beginning on the seventh month of activation will be applied to the remaining balance except where prohibited by law. Cute how they call it a “service fee”.

By: lostAnnfound

lostAnnfound — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:36:42 +0000

I found a $50 restaurant gift card from about four years ago that never got used. Thankfully,I’m in Massachusetts! Maybe I’ll finally get around to using it in 2010

By: zapeta

zapeta — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:45:55 +0000

Thanks for the link to the state by state gift card laws. I was under the impression that gift cards in IL couldn’t expire but it turns out that they can but not within 5 years of issuance. Further, there can’t be any inactivity fees which is great, but I still agree that gift cards are stupid…why not give cash that never expires?

By: ziglet19

ziglet19 — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:39:07 +0000

In California, it is illegal for gift cards to expire. I can’t remember when this law went into effect, but it has been years. I still run into people who don’t know this, and some people will automatically dump a gift card they’ve had for a long time because they assume it has expired! I like to use every freakin’ penny on any gift card I’ve got.