Here at Consumer Protection BC, we receive hundreds of consumer inquiries each week. They come to us through our Call Centre, through our Facebook and Twitter accounts as well as through here, on our blog. For today’s post, we thought it might be fun to post a few consumer questions (and our answers!) about the hot topic of gift cards. We’ve gotten more than 20 comments on ONE of our posts on this topic alone!

You may remember a few years back when deals of the day (or flash sales) first exploded on the e-commerce marketplace – I sure do. Online companies such as Groupon, Livingsocial and Travelzoo suddenly became household names and I, amongst countless of other consumers, started purchasing vouchers in exchange for discounted products or services. While these types of deals can be money savers, it’s important to know BC’s gift card law does not apply to these discounts (meaning they can have expiry dates and fees, and you may be vulnerable if the company or merchant closes its doors).

This week we received the following question on our blog from a consumer.  Check out our video below for the answer!

Jeremy asks:

"Do the {BC gift card} laws only apply to the kind of gift card that is plastic with the magnetic strip?

My manager got me a gift card to a local restaurant (a general card for food and/or drinks), which is just a folded paper card listing the amount of the gift, who authorized it, etc. I recently found that it had fallen in-behind my bookshelf, but it is now 2 years past the expiry they wrote on it. They refuse to honour it. Do the laws still apply to local business gift cards? Or do they only apply to the plastic ones with magnetic strips? Thanks!"

Whether its for $5 or $500, gift cards make great little stocking stuffers and are the perfect gift for those hard to buy folks.  In British Columbia, since 2008,  gift cards for a monetary value are not allowed to have an expiry date.  There are exceptions for when a gift card can have an expiry date however, such as for a specific good like a hair cut or for a mall card, where the card is good at more than one store.  If you are planning on giving a gift card this year, keep reading to see more information and tips we have about gift cards!

We consistently get questions from consumers around BC's gift card law and group buying deals such as Groupon.

Can you believe it’s December already?  The holiday season is upon us and stores are beginning to look cheerful and festive. I always feel a bit overwhelmed going to crowded shopping malls and battling the parking lot warzone.

If you are a last minute shopper like me, prepaid purchase cards (aka gift cards) can be a lifesaver for those difficult to buy for people. In fact, a survey done by Maritz Research Canada says that more and more Canadians say they are choosing to purchase gift cards (49% in 2010 over 45% in 2009).  They also make great stocking stuffers. How could you go wrong?