Giving vouchers as gifts

When we need to purchase a gift, we do not always have the time and patience to visit various shops to find the perfect present.

We also may not know whether the person receiving the gift may actually need or like it.

A solution to this situation is to give a gift voucher, which gives the recipients the freedom to choose the gift they want or need.

If we decide to buy a gift voucher, it is important to be careful about what we purchase. There are various kinds of vouchers, with different terms and conditions as to how they may be used.

For instance, there are gift vouchers that can only be used in one specific shop. This means that the recipients of the voucher may have a limited choice.

For a wider choice, it would be better to buy gift vouchers that can either be used in a chain of shops or a shopping centre.

When buying vouchers of a certain value, we should check whether the voucher has to be used at one go, or whether the recipients can use part of the voucher on one occasion and the rest on a next purchase.

The latter means that the recipients of the voucher may use part of the voucher and is then given a credit note or another voucher for the remaining amount.

If the voucher seller informs us that such flexibility is not possible, we should think twice about buying it.

Special attention should also be given to expiry dates. We should ask if the gift voucher we are about to buy has an expiry date. If this is the case, we should make sure the date is either printed or written on the voucher.

This is necessary so that the recipients are aware that they should use it before it expires.

Expiry dates vary widely depending on the retailer who is issuing the gift voucher. Some shops allow only a few months to redeem a voucher, but there are others who allow a year or two.

There are also shops that sell gift vouchers that do not expire. When we are about to buy a gift voucher, we should at least make sure the recipient has a reasonable time within which to use the voucher.

When we give a gift voucher to someone, we should also inform them about the terms and conditions attached to it.

In cases where vouchers do not have an expiry date, it is still advisable to use the voucher within a reasonable time, as there is always a risk of the shop closing down or the owner changing. In this case, unused vouchers could become worthless.

Gift vouchers should be treated like cash. If vouchers are lost, most shops won’t replace them.

The only exception could be if the gift voucher is personalised and is not transferable to another person. In these cases the trader is likely to have a record of the voucher and may be prepared to cancel the original voucher and issue another one.

Should we find ourselves in situations whereby the voucher seller does not honour terms and conditions, or tries to impose new conditions after the voucher is paid for, we have legal rights and can seek redress.

In such cases, we can file a complaint with the Office for Consumer Affairs at the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.

odette.vella@mccaa.org.mt

Ms Vella is senior information officer, Office for Consumer Affairs, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.