The new Florida "gift card bill", which passed the Florida Legislature unanimously and was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist in late June, drew broad support from consumer groups. Essentially, it is designed to ensure that a $50.00 gift card or certificate purchased from Target, Best Buy or anywhere will always be worth $50.00.
And I do agree with that. I have had gift cards expire on me because I did not use it in 6 months, so it started debting $1.60 off the gift card, when I went to use it, there was a difference in what I thought would be the balance, and what was actually the balance.
Several exceptions were tacked on the "gift card bill" as the bill moved through the Legislature.
One was added specifically for Disney, according to lawmakers and lobbyists involved with crafting the legislation. That exemption allows expiration dates on gift certificates if they are provided as part of an "employee-incentive program, consumer-loyalty program, or promotional program," which are given to consumers at no charge.
However Disney's exemption has set off alarms among, the many other major retailers and manufacturers who all fear that the "gift card bill' may have inadvertently expanded the law to include coupons and that the bill created a restriction preventing companies from issuing coupons with expiration dates of less than a year.
Department store's for instance, might refuse to offer coupons promoting sales because they would have to be good for a year instead of a few days.
Read more about the Florida "Gift card Bill" here:
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 20
I had a on-line GC from Target & did not use it in a year, I used it a few weeks ago, no problems.
Thanks for commenting
I find it embarrassing when it does not -espically when I gave the card as a gift.
Enjoy rainey Florida ;-)
Post a report for us
It is a good thing the gift card bill, as it guarantees your gift card will always be worth 50.00 if that is what you paid for it.
I understand why the companies are trying to keep it like it is, where the balance reduces every 6 months to a year of non-use, because then they can roll it off of their accounting balances, and look like they are making a profit, however losing customers is going to be the bigger problem in the long run.
I had to go re-read the bill, but based on the way it's written, it's not going to change the coupons for just Memorial day weekend and such. Coupons and gift receipts fall under a different category.
I have a $10 Disney gift card that I need to use and meant to use it when we went to Disney and forgot to. I hope that it hasn't started charging me a fee..