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Gift Card Ratings

Federal Gift Card Law

Last updated on March 30, 2011
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Rating

What we like:

  • Gift cards do not escheat to the State of Federal
  • Federal offers a consumer-centric gift card law webpage
  • Federal has legally defined the notion of a gift card
  • Expiration dates must be clearly disclosed on the card. Any fees, including amounts and frequency must be clearly disclosed on the gift card.

What could be better:

  • Gift cards may expire 5 years from the date of issuance or last increase in value
  • Post-sale fees of any amount may be charged after 1 year of inactivity.
  • Merchants are not required to give cash back

Heads up! ScripSmart attempts to make all information accurate. ScripSmart is only a guideline and does not provide definitive statements of the law. If you have questions about the law's application to a particular case, direct them to a specialist.

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The following types of gift cards are excluded form Federal Gift Card Law:

Cards not marketed as gift card or gift certificate, Cards only redeemable for event or venue admission, Free loyalty/promotional cards, Gift Certificates issued only in a paper, Phone Cards

Good to know for Federal residents:

Federal law states it is not legal to charge more than one post-sale fee per month.

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