Just found several 'lost' giftcards

[shortbun]

I lost them in 2010 and most were issued for Christmas 2009. I remember turning the house upside down. My husband just found them in his tools. Hmmm. Anyway, I've got several Starbucks, $100 retail Lane Bryant, $50visa, $50 Brio/Bravo. Tomorrow, I'll start researching their validity. I'm prepared for bad news but is there anything I should do to help my case?

 

[bumbershoot]

Help your case with what? Most, if not all, states require that proper gift cards not lose their value. The only one I can see being a problem is the visa giftcard, because they aren't a normal GC, and can have fees associated with it. The rest of them SHOULD still be fine.

 

[Adidas187]

Agreed. Money shouldn't expire.

 

[msmayor]

Help your case with what? Most, if not all, states require that proper gift cards not lose their value. The only one I can see being a problem is the visa giftcard, because they aren't a normal GC, and can have fees associated with it. The rest of them SHOULD still be fine.

Its not the 'expiration' of a gift card that is the problem, it is the fees for non-use on older gift cards.

The laws regarding those fees changed in October 2010 which, for the most part, eliminated fees and made gift cards 'non-expiring'. But that only applies to cards purchase AFTER the rules went into effect.

If those old gift cards were purchased prior to the rules changing, chances are the cards didn't 'expire' but that the value was wiped out because of the monthly fees the issuer charged for non-use of the cards. Many of those cards carried fees of around $2-3 per month for non-use which, after three years, would wipe them clean.

 

[pixiewings71]

Its not the 'expiration' of a gift card that is the problem, it is the fees for non-use on older gift cards.

The laws regarding those fees changed in October 2010 which, for the most part, eliminated fees and made gift cards 'non-expiring'. But that only applies to cards purchase AFTER the rules went into effect.

If those old gift cards were purchased prior to the rules changing, chances are the cards didn't 'expire' but that the value was wiped out because of the monthly fees the issuer charged for non-use of the cards. Many of those cards carried fees of around $2-3 per month for non-use which, after three years, would wipe them clean.

The only one the OP should have to worry about is the Visa, all others should not charge that fee and should have full balances on them. Good luck OP!

 

[shortbun]

Yes, it's the fees I'm worried about. I'm starting to look into them now. Thanks for all your support guys!!

 

[LJSquishy]

Awesome! Most, if not all, should have all of their value on them. Some of the older gift cards may state that they charge a small yearly fee if the gift card has not been used for a full year...usually the fee is small, around $1-$2 per year. So, even if you were charged fees, you should still have a large portion of the money on them!

 

[ibob52]

Call the 800 phone number (listed on the back of the card)

and check the balance

 

[kathie859]

I lost them in 2010 and most were issued for Christmas 2009. I remember turning the house upside down. My husband just found them in his tools. Hmmm. Anyway, I've got several Starbucks, $100 retail Lane Bryant, $50visa, $50 Brio/Bravo. Tomorrow, I'll start researching their validity. I'm prepared for bad news but is there anything I should do to help my case?

I just did this 2 weeks ago. I was cleaning out a dresser drawer and found 3 gift cards. I called and verified the balances and took a friend to lunch last week and DH to lunch on Saturday! It was truly bonus money

Good luck, OP! Hope they are all valid.

 

[shortbun]

Well, so far, only the visa is worthless. They began charging $2 a month afteer 2 years. It's all gone. I haven't been able to reach anyone at Brio/Bravo and their 'check your balance' thing asks for a number that's longer than the number on my card. Could also be extinct. We'll see. Interesting process. When I 'lost' them, I turned the house upside down so it's found money anyway. No idea how they ended up in DH's tool area. Strange things happen around here, lol! I thought I'd dropped them somewhere.

 

[SandrA9810]

.

 

[danygirl]

if you have visa gift cards with a small amount left, you can use them at target or

load them onto your amazon account

 

[pyrxtc]

Well, so far, only the visa is worthless. They began charging $2 a month afteer 2 years. It's all gone. I haven't been able to reach anyone at Brio/Bravo and their 'check your balance' thing asks for a number that's longer than the number on my card. Could also be extinct. We'll see. Interesting process. When I 'lost' them, I turned the house upside down so it's found money anyway. No idea how they ended up in DH's tool area. Strange things happen around here, lol! I thought I'd dropped them somewhere.

If you live in NH then they should all have full value because NH law prevents them from charging a fee of any kind on the gift card.

 

[TLuvsD]

I think, technically, the VISA cards are not gift cards, but bank cards. We have a similar law in CA, but VISA and Mastercard are allowed to charge fees after a certain period of time.