« Ireland was the first European country to pass laws that protect consumers when buying and using gift cards. However, when it comes to exchanging them in shops, hotels or restaurants, many consumers are unaware of their rights. You should receive the expiration date in a permanent form, such as in writing or by email, and you should also receive the date the gift card was purchased. « However, the responsibility here does not lie with the consumer. All businesses must ensure that they are fully compliant with the law and, if not, they must take immediate steps to update their terms and conditions in accordance with the legislation, » Senator Ahearn concluded. The minister said it is not uncommon for people to receive more than one gift certificate, especially at Christmas time. A second provision prohibits contractual clauses that prevent consumers from using more than one gift card in a transaction. The law states that gift certificate contracts between merchants and consumers must contain a number of required conditions (and these conditions are implicit in gift certificate contracts that do not expressly contain them and supersede any express conditions to the contrary). A gift card sold by a business with an expiry date of less than five years is considered to be expiring for five years. In addition, the Company must notify you of any expiration date on a durable medium, such as paper or email. The paper or email must contain: « By law, multiple gift cards can also be used in a single transaction. Plus, you don`t have to use the voucher all at once. If the voucher has a balance greater than €1, the Company must refund the difference to the customer either in cash, by debit/credit card transfer or in another gift voucher.

Gift cards are vouchers, vouchers or other documents (including an electronic document) that can be used instead of cash to pay for (or partially pay for) goods and services. Gift certificates come in different forms such as paper vouchers, e-cards or gift cards. They can be issued by a single company or for a group of stores (such as a shopping mall). If you`re buying a gift card or gift card for someone else, be sure to give them the terms and conditions and receipt with the voucher or card. It is estimated that Irish consumers lose millions of unredeemed or expired vouchers each year. These measures, which come into effect from Monday, protect consumers and help ensure that the value of the voucher you buy for your loved ones at Christmas ends up in their pockets and not in someone else`s home. If you have a gift certificate for a company that goes bankrupt later, you unfortunately have very little protection. The circumstances may vary depending on whether the corporation has closed, been wound up, is an auditor or is a receiver. However, there is a high probability that you will lose your money.

You can learn more about companies that go bankrupt. If the voucher was purchased shortly before the business closed and the buyer paid by card, contact your card provider for a chargeback. Irish law introduced additional protection under the Consumer Protection (Gift Certificates) Act 2019 (pdf) for gift vouchers sold from 2 December 2019. See « New legislation on gift certificates » below. If you purchased the voucher on or after December 2, 2019, the gift card must have an expiry date of at least five years from the date you purchased it. Currently, there is no legal minimum expiry date for gift cards, with some retailers displaying expiry dates on their coupons after a short period of time. The bill also includes provisions prohibiting a number of unfair terms in gift certificate contracts. The new law will also prohibit contractual clauses that limit the number of vouchers that can be used in a transaction and prohibit the cancellation of gift certificates or the charging of fees by airlines if the name of a gift card recipient differs from the name on a passport.

If the voucher is not valid, you have the same consumer rights as when you buy something online or in-store – the right to a replacement or refund if the voucher does not work through no fault of your own. If you`re buying a coupon as a gift, make sure the person you`re giving it to knows the expiration date and can use the coupon for the allotted time. When you receive a coupon, check the expiration date immediately. Don`t assume there aren`t just because you can`t see it – try to find it on the site or contact customer support. Set a reminder on your phone to remind you to use it no later than that date. If the gift certificate contract is silent on this, an expiry date of 5 years applies. The law applies to gift certificates, which are defined as « vouchers, vouchers or other documents or instruments, including in electronic form, intended to be exchanged for goods or services in lieu of money in return for payment in whole or in part for goods or services or otherwise. » « Some companies are also not implementing the changes in practice. I was recently in a restaurant where I was told that I had to spend the full value of my voucher in one sitting, which is in direct contradiction to the Consumer Protection (Gift Certificates) Act 2019. 3. I gave a voucher for my 60th birthday It`s for a considerable amount of money – do I have to use it all at once? As regards the provision that a consumer is no longer obliged to use the voucher in a transaction, the retailer must now refund the balance of more than one euro in the form of cash, electronic transfer or another voucher if the voucher cannot be used more than once. • You cannot limit the number of vouchers used in a single transaction. « As of Monday, anyone who receives a gift card has peace of mind that it is valid for at least five years, » she said.

The Consumer Protection Act (gift certificates), 2018, proposed by the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, aims to address the lack of regulation in the gift certificate market. You must make a written claim to the appointed administrator or liquidator (if applicable) and provide proof of your voucher. However, it is unlikely that your voucher will be used. When a new owner takes over, they don`t need to use your voucher. Consumer rights related to gift certificates are established by law and include a minimum expiry date of five years. Not all vouchers fall under the legislation, so it is important to check what type of voucher you have and what rights apply. You should also be aware that if a company does business before you use your voucher, it`s unlikely to be used, regardless of the expiration date. If a gift certificate is to be used by a designated person, the following conditions are implied: « This legislation provides consumers with valuable additional protection and will be of great benefit to anyone who buys or receives a gift certificate in the run-up to Christmas. » We know this is a busy and critical time for businesses, so we`re providing them with practical information to help them make the necessary changes to the terms and conditions of their gift cards. However, the rules do not apply to vouchers that you can only use to purchase certain goods and services at a discounted price, from a specific merchant on a specific date, or for a certain period of 3 months or less. The first of these provisions prohibits any provision in a gift card contract that requires the full value of a voucher to be spent in a transaction. Did you buy a voucher online? For more information about your rights, please see our online purchase information. • You may not refuse to accept gift certificates that are not in the user`s name.

Nach dem 2. In December 2019, the Consumer Protection (Gift Certificates) Act 2019 established new rules for gift cards. Due to the popularity of gift certificates as Christmas gifts, retailers must comply with the following important provisions, especially during the New Year period: The expiration date does not need to be printed on the actual gift certificate. However, the Company will need to let you know if there is an expiration date for the gift card on a durable medium, such as paper or email. The paper or e-mail must contain the following: If a gift voucher cannot be used more than once and the consumer does not use the full amount of the voucher on an initial purchase, the company must refund the balance of more than one euro in cash, by electronic transfer or voucher.