Released on December 21, 2018
Gift cards are a very popular way to send some holiday cheer to your friends, family and coworkers.
The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) wishes to make consumers aware of gift card rules in the province, as FCAA sees a rise in calls and complaints about gift cards after the holiday season has concluded.
Consumers often have concerns about usage limits and expiry dates.
Gift Card Tips
- Gift cards can’t expire - Gift cards bought and sold in Saskatchewan are not allowed to have an expiry date (with a few exceptions). An expiry date is only allowed for gift cards that are issued for charitable purposes or where the consumer provides nothing of value for the card (e.g. as part of an advertising promotion).
- There can be no additional fees - All fees must be paid up front and no additional monthly or usage fees are allowed after the fact.
- Read the fine print on the gift card - It’s important to read the fine print on a card before buying it to understand what limits may exist on its use.
- Use your gift card as soon as possible - If a retailer goes out of business, it is unlikely you can recover the value on your card.
For more information, visit http://fcaa.gov.sk.ca/consumers-investors-pension-plan-members/consumers/consumers-of-goods-and-services/gift-cards.
Contact Consumer Protection Division
The Consumer Protection Division may be able to help consumers with gift card disputes. Consumers can call toll free at 1-877-880-5550 or by email at consumerprotection@gov.sk.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Shannon McMillan
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-798-4160
Email: shannon.mcmillan@gov.sk.ca