Many of you sell gift certificates entitling the bearer to purchase merchandise and services in your establishments. Typically, these gift certificates are stamped “good for one year from the date of purchase”. In fact, the “old” law provided that gift certificates must be good for at least 2 years. However, effective June 1, 2003, gift certificates must be good for 7 years. (See: Chapter 510 of the Acts of 2002 and Chapter 18 of the Acts of 2003). Gift certificates issued but not redeemed prior to June 1, 2003, are also subject to the new 7 year rule and any gift certificate not clearly marked with a date of issuance and a date of expiration shall be good forever! Further, the definition of “gift certificate” has been expanded to cover the “credit cards” some merchants use which have a dollar value.

My office has fact sheets available for those of you who need them or you may contact the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation by telephone at (888)-283-3757 (toll free in Mass only) or by e-mail at www.Mass.Gov/consumer. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of assistance to you in any way.