Consumption

Millions cashed in, but no one benefits. That's the result of many gift vouchers offered on birthdays, retirements, at Christmas or during the festive season. The reason: the use-by date.

The expiration date. This is the unpleasant surprise for many people when it comes to using the voucher, card or gift certificate they received at Christmas, on a birthday or retirement, or even as a bonus. They're forgotten in a drawer or on the notice board. When it rings home and the recipient turns up at the retailer or service company with the gift card, he or she finds out that it's too late. And it's often difficult, if not impossible, to get an extension. This would be a welcome commercial gesture, especially for vouchers issued by a boutique or chain of stores. After all, the money has already been cashed in when the person who chose the “gift” paid for it before slipping it into an envelope (or into the stocking next to the tree). 

Millions in the wild

Few countries have solved the problem of short- or medium-term maturity. This allows issuers to collect millions of euros each year without having to provide a product or service in exchange. Indeed, in Belgium, with its population of almost 12 million, the market value of several tens of millions of euros in gift vouchers goes unclaimed every year. The last study, in 2010, put the figure at 70 million. Back then, there weren't as many gift vouchers as there are 14 years later! In France, 20% of gift vouchers issued as bonuses to employees were lost or expired in 2024... A pile of cards that have become useless and paid for into thin air (and cardboard). Other countries have solved this problem, with varying degrees of success.

Variable duration

Switzerland has legislated in this area, and imposes a time limit of 5 or 10 years, depending on the services offered. Even so, some companies don't hesitate to limit the period of use of their cards or boxes to 3 years! In Canada, where consumers are well protected, only certain types of services are “perishable”. Gift cards therefore theoretically have no expiry date. In France and Belgium, there is no time limit. Vouchers are considered to be of unlimited duration, unless there is a “reasonable” expiry date. This is often 1 year from the date of purchase. This is generally the period chosen by many issuers. Nevertheless, in the interest of intellectual honesty, some are polite enough to be more generous, offering 2, 5 or 10 years, or even without limit, in countries without a “mandatory” deadline. However, if the issuer or seller goes bankrupt, the gift card is lost forever. What's for more, it's rarely possible (if not impossible) to get a cash refund! 

The scent of fraud

In short, in many countries, given the forgetfulness and procrastination of a large proportion of recipients, or even their outright loss, these gift cards are often a gift for issuers, in particluar in countries without restrictive legislation. They collect tens of thousands of euros, or much more, without having to offer anything in return. Legally speaking. A great scam? What if, instead of a gift card, you bought a “postcard” and left a sweet note on it, accompanied by one or more banknotes with unlimited validity? What's for more, the recipient will be able to choose what they want, with no obligation to go to a spa, buy perfume or clothes, watch a TV series, order online or buy unnecessary household appliances.

* Illustration photo - Zalando offers a 5-year minimum validity period.

(MH with Olivier Duquesne - Source : NIBC, Rhône FM, Pluxee, Office de la protection du consommateur au Québec - Picture : © picture alliance / Eibner-Pressefoto | Fleig / Eibner-Pressefoto)