Q: Is there a legal time frame that regulates expiry dates of gift vouchers? I had a €150 gift voucher and on it there was written that it has to be used within six months. I did not use this voucher within these six months but I tried to use it after it expired. The shop did not accept it. What are my rights?

A: The Consumer Affairs Act does not regulate for how long gift vouchers are to be issued by sellers. Expiry dates must, however, be clearly written on gift vouchers so consumers are properly informed by when they should be used.

Since in your case the six months expiry date was clearly written on the gift voucher, and you tried to use it after this time limit expired, legally, the seller is not obliged to accept the expired voucher. In such a situation, you may try to convince the seller to let you use the voucher but if he refuses, you cannot take any legal action against him.

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