Gift vouchers are usually the ideal solution when the person buying the gift is not sure what to buy or wants the receiver of the gift to choose his or her own gift. Whatever the reason for opting to buy a gift voucher, the person buying the voucher needs to think of the following before finalising the purchase.
Usually, a gift voucher can be used at a specific shop or chain of shops and cannot be re-exchanged for cash. Hence, to maximise the value of gift vouchers consumers should buy vouchers that can be used in more than one retail outlet. If, however, consumers opt to buy a voucher that can only be used in one shop, then they need to make sure that the person for whom the voucher is intended can find something to use the voucher on.
It is the responsibility of the person buying the voucher, and subsequently of the person receiving it, to carefully read the terms and conditions on how to use the gift voucher. Buyers should for instance look out for conditions that explain what happens if the receiver of the voucher does not spend the total amount.
If the gift voucher has to be used at one go, it is advisable not to spend a large sum of money on one voucher but instead buy a number of vouchers with different values. Alternatively, there are vouchers that allow the user of the voucher to spend less and then another voucher is issued with the difference in price. The latter are more advantageous to consumers.
While some vouchers do not expire, there are others that do. If a voucher expires, the expiry date should be clearly printed on the voucher. Furthermore, the person buying the voucher should make sure that there is sufficient time to use the voucher.
When a voucher is received, if it has an expiry date, all efforts must be made to use the voucher before it expires. If it is not possible to do so, consumers should go to the shop that issued the voucher and ask to have the date extended. However, this should be done before the voucher expires so if the request is denied by the seller, consumers still have the possibility to use the voucher before it actually expires.
It is the consumer’s responsibility to make sure that the gift voucher is kept in a safe place. If the voucher is lost, the shop is not legally obliged to replace it. It is like losing cash. If however the voucher is personalised, and is not transferable to another person, the shop may be able to issue a new one and cancel the original voucher.
When a shop goes out of business it would be very difficult for consumers to get back the value of the voucher as their claim will only be considered after all other creditors have been paid, such as banks and the shop’s staff.
Once a gift voucher is purchased it’s terms and conditions can no longer be altered and must be adhered to by both consumers and traders. When a problem crops up with the use of gift vouchers consumers may seek redress by submitting a claim with the Office for Consumer Affairs within the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.
odette.vella@mccaa.org.mt
Odette Vella is director, Information, Education and Research Directorate, Office for Consumer Affairs, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.