‘Tis the season for giving gift cards
Posted December 6, 2010 1:32 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Shoppers have made their list and checked it twice, and chances are some of those people on the holiday shopping list will find a gift card under the tree.
But not all gift cards are created equally.
In October 2007, the Ontario government banned expiry dates on gift cards and certificates holding a specific dollar amount.
But, there can be an expiry date for a gift certificate for a specific service like a spa package.
Ric Borski, president of the GTA Better Business Bureau, told 680News since then they don’t get many complaints about gift cards, but there are still some concerns.
“We still get the odd complaint because you know [the] business may have gone out of business or closed its doors,” Borski said.
He also said gift cards are a safe option.
“I think that as long as you’re dealing with an established business that’s been around for a while, and there’s no fear that they’re going to disappear in the next year or so, then certainly there’s no reason why not,” Borski said.
While people can’t be charged an inactivity fee or a fee to reactivate a gift card, they can be charged a fee for a shopping mall gift card that can be used at more than one store.
