Christmas is over and gifts, or at least most of them, have been exchanged by now. Some of us may have been given a gift voucher and it would definitely be a pity not to utilise it in the best possible way.
The most common problem with gift vouchers is that often we put them in a drawer and eventually forget about them. When we finally remember we have unused vouchers, which very often have expired, we end up with a worthless piece of paper.
If, luckily, we remember about the voucher just in time before its expiry date, we should check with the shop or trader if they are willing to extend its time period. When asking about this possibility, we should bear in mind that retailers are under no legal obligation to do so; they may do this as a sign of goodwill. If the retailer refuses to extend the expiry date, we know we have only a short period of time left during which to use the gift voucher.
Gift vouchers should also be used as soon as possible, because there is always the risk that the trader issuing them may run out of business. If the company actually ceases trading before we use the gift voucher, it would be difficult to get back the voucher's money value.
Unused vouchers might also get lost. If this happens the retailer is not obliged to replace it. The only exception may be if the voucher is made out in our own name and is marked 'not transferable'. This means the trader is likely to have a record of the voucher and may be prepared to cancel the original and issue another one.
Whenever we receive a gift voucher, it is also our responsibility to carefully read the terms and conditions.
Besides an expiry date, there may also be a time period during which the gift voucher can or cannot be used.
There are also different ways that a voucher can be used. For instance, some have to be used in one go because no change is given. Others may have the condition that if a product of a lesser value is chosen, another voucher will be issued with the price difference.
If while using a gift voucher we realise there is nothing in the shop worth using the voucher for, we cannot legally ask to redeem the voucher for cash. Gift vouchers do not represent cash; they represent goods to the face value of the voucher.
Furthermore, as unwanted gifts cannot be returned unless something is wrong with them, gift vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash.
customer@timesofmalta.com
Ms Vella is senior information officer, Consumer and Competition Division.
odette.vella@gov.mt