Get the most from your Christmas gift card

Queenslanders who are stuck for gift ideas are being warned to be wary of the Christmas card catches that are costing consumers millions.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie said shoppers were failing to spend around $175 million in gift card credit every year.

“Gift cards are an extremely easy and flexible option for many at Christmas,” Mr Bleijie said.

“However, studies have found that as much as seven per cent of the value of gift cards sold is unclaimed, which adds up to a lot when you consider Australians spend $2.5 billion a year on gift cards.

“The Newman LNP Government has a strong plan to lower the cost of living for families and that includes ensuring they get the best bang for their buck.”

The Office of Fair Trading has identified the top three Christmas card catches as early expiry dates and the prohibiting of cash change and multiple purchases.

“The expiry date is the main gift card catch and lots of consumers miss out because they leave it too late,” Mr Belijie said.

“It’s also unusual to buy something at the exact value of the gift card, so go for cards that give those last few dollars back in change or allow the remainder to be saved for a later purchase.”

If you receive a gift card this Christmas:

• Treat it like cash. If you lose it, you often won’t be able to claim the balance back.
• Use it as soon as possible. If the business goes into administration or stops trading, you usually won’t be able to use the gift card.
• Make a note of the expiry date. Put a reminder in your calendar.
• If possible, get a copy of the receipt. You might need this if you lose the card.
• Keep copies of any activation codes or passwords in a safe place.
• Be aware of the terms and conditions of the card. Try to buy an item or items that add up to just over the card value, because if it’s just under, most gift cards don’t allow you to get cash change.

 Mr Bleijie also called on retailers to consider making their gift cards more shopper friendly.

“Having consumer friendly gift cards can be a real positive for a business – it’s a marketable point of difference over competitors and it can help to build a satisfied customer base,” he said.

To learn more about gift cards, or to report problems with a gift card, consumers can visit the Office of Fair Trading website at www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

[ENDS] 18 December 2014

Media Contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355 or Jaime Wells 0409 624 139