Thank Christmas for gift vouchers

If you are thinking of getting a gift voucher or gift card this Christmas, there are a few things that you should WATCH out for to make sure you are a stronger shopper:

Watch out for expiry dates - in many cases gift vouchers or cards have an expiry date after which you cannot use them. If the expiry date is not clear or there is no expiry date on the gift voucher or gift card, find out what the expiry date is. If the voucher is a present for someone else let them know the expiry date.

Always check the terms and conditions before you buy a gift voucher or gift card and also check store policies to see what rules apply to balances left on them– do you have to spend the gift voucher or card amount all in one go?

Take care of your gift voucher or gift card - If you lose a gift voucher, the shop does not have to replace it. It's just like losing cash, so always keep the voucher somewhere safe.

Check to see if the gift voucher or card can be used at more than one outlet or chain. If the shop you bought the gift voucher or card from goes out of business, it will be hard for you to use it but if it has more than one outlet you may be able to use it in another outlet. You should always try to use  vouchers as quickly as possible.

Have a look to see if any charges apply – this should be mentioned in the terms and conditions. The store may charge an inactivity fee or maintenance fee, which you may have to pay if you don’t use the card within a certain period of time. Some airlines may charge you an administrative fee if you buy a gift voucher or gift card.

Published Date: 17/12/2012

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