Welcome to the Informed Consumer, providing the latest tips and tools to assist consumers in making informed decisions, from the Fairfax County Consumer Affairs Branch.

Today’s topic: Gift Cards.

• Know what type of card you want.
• Retail gift cards can be used only at a specific business or restaurant.
• Bank gift cards can be used at any location that accepts cards from that bank network.   
• Buy directly from a business or bank. Avoid online auction or classified ad sites, where the cards may have been stolen or counterfeited. Be cautious about buying gift cards from a business in financial trouble; a company in bankruptcy may not be able to honor its cards. 
• Review the card’s terms and conditions before you buy to make sure the card’s a good value. For example, are there activation and/or transaction fees? What’s the issuer’s responsibility if the card is lost?  Does the card have an expiration date?  
• Gift cards issued by Virginia merchants must include certain disclosures. If the card doesn’t include an expiration date and/or will diminish in value over time, it must include a telephone number or internet address where you can learn more about the card’s expiration and valuation.
• As a result of the Credit CARD Act of 2009, gift cards cannot incur inactivity fees unless they’re inactive for at least a 12-month period. Look for issuers to compensate for these lost dormancy fees by introducing new fees, like a charge to inquire about the card’s remaining balance.
• Inspect the card before you buy it. Reject the card if protective stickers are missing or if PINs are exposed. These are signs of tampering.
• Register the gift card online if the service is offered.
• Keep your receipt and any paperwork associated with the purchase. You may need it later in case the card is lost or stolen. If you are giving the card as a gift, give both the card and the paperwork.

• Use gift cards promptly to minimize fees and avoid the chance of misplacing them.
• A gift card is like cash with one possible exception. If it’s lost or stolen, you may be able to get a replacement if it is reported promptly to the issuer and you can document the purchase and provide the card’s ID number.
• If you have a problem with a gift card, contact the company or bank that issued it and have your paperwork available when you call. Most companies will have a toll-free number or internet address for questions and complaints.
• If you’re unable to resolve a gift-card problem with a retail issuer, contact the Federal Trade Commission toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). If the gift card was issued by a bank, contact the Comptroller of the Currency’s Customer Assistance Group toll-free at 1-800-613-6743.

Thanks for listening to the Informed Consumer. For more information on this topic or if you feel that you’ve been a victim of a scam, please contact the Consumer Affairs Branch at 703-222-8435 or visit our web site at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cableconsumer/csd/consumer. Informed Consumer is produced by the Fairfax County, Virginia, government.