The ACT is to adopt changes to the Australian Consumer Law that will extend the expiry date of retail shops’ gift cards so they have a minimum three years to be used.
Minister for Consumer Affairs, Shane Rattenbury said that nationally, there had been no uniform requirement for minimum expiry dates on gift cards and this had contributed to consumers losing an estimated $70 million annually through gift cards expiring before they were used.
“There’s no reason why a gift card should expire after a short time,” Mr Rattenbury said.
It’s been paid for. Consumers have been ripped off by gift cards expiring early.
“This is a good improvement to protect ACT consumers.”
He said Access Canberra had received around 100 general complaints or enquiries about gift cards over the past five years.
He said the new gift card rules would provide that extra confidence, and that extra time, to ensure good gifts did not go to waste.
“The ACT Government is committed to ensuring Canberrans are informed and empowered about their consumer rights,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“In 2016, industry bodies estimated that around 34 million gift cards are sold in Australia each year.”
The ACT’s changes will come into effect on 1 November 2019.
