New York has made some major changes to gift card laws, right in time for the holiday season. The changes work in favor of consumers in New York, offering added protections and options. It's nice to see these changes since most of us actually lose out when it comes to gift cards. According to USA Today,

Even if you know you received a gift card recently, a problem people have is holding on to them for too long (29%) or not knowing where it is (25%). Another problem was having a gift card for so long that the business closed before the card could be used. In total, 47% of gift card owners eventually lose out on the gift money.

 

Mayor And Lt. Gov-Elect Newsom Attends A Lowe's Store Grand Opening
Getty Images
loading...

What Does The New Gift Card Law Change In New York State?

The new law, which took effect on Saturday, December 10, 2022, does a few things when it comes to making gift cards in New York more consumer-friendly:

- Gift cards purchased on or after December 10, 2022, will now last for at least nine years from the day they were purchased, giving cardholders plenty of time to use the funds.

- If there is less than $5 left on the card, cardholders can get cash for the balance.

- The new law prohibits all fees to stop gift cards and gift certificates from losing some of their value.

The law specifically forbids the imposition of any “activation fees, retroactive fees, redemption fees, service fees, dormancy fees, latency fees, administrative fees, handling fees, access fees, periodic fees, renewal fees, re-loading fees, or any other fee of any kind.” There is one exception to the law. A gift card or gift certificate that is redeemable at multiple, unaffiliated merchants or service providers may charge a one-time activation fee, not to exceed $9.

You can read more about the gift card law here.

93.7 WBLK logo
Get our free mobile app

Expert Tips for Avoiding Online Shopping Scams

In order to avoid a scammer getting the better of you, check out the following red flags to look out for as well as preventative measures to take from Dr. Skiba, AKA Dr. Fraud himself:

10 Most Expensive Places To Live In New York In 2021

It's no secret that when you live in New York State, you pay a lot in taxes. Where are the 10 most expensive places to live in our state?

Here were the 10 most expensive places to live in New York State for 2021:

WOW!! 12 Of the Most Eye-Popping Upstate NY Christmas Stores

If you're looking for some of the best Christmas gift shops in the state, look no further!

More From 93.7 WBLK