With the holiday season of giving upon us, many Manitobans will give and receive gift cards as part of the celebrations.
Manitoba’s Consumer Protection Office says that there are a few things you should know about them.
Most gift cards don’t expire except in certain cases. If a card is issued for a specific good or service like a manicure or a massage and it has an expiry date printed on it or if it is given out for free as part of a promotion it might expire.
The business issuing the gift card must disclose all conditions, limitations and restrictions regarding the card. They also have to tell you how you can check the balance on the card.
When buying a gift card you cannot be charged a fee on top of the face value unless it is to personalize the card or it is a replacement card. Businesses also cannot charge you a fee if you choose to not use the card for some time.
These rules DO NOT apply to prepaid bank and credit cards like Visa and MasterCard. Credit cards are regulated federally and have a different set of rules. Read the terms and conditions before you purchase these types of cards.
Threat gift cards like cash. Keep it in a safe place you will remember because often if it is lost it is difficult to replace. Many businesses offer apps that you can then load the gift card onto which may be an option for you to consider using.
© 2018 News 4
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