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Gift cards sit in drawers longer than almost any other consumer product, and every month in the drawer is a month the balance rules can work against you. The law on expiry is a genuine patchwork: some countries ban expiry dates and inactivity fees on paid consumer gift cards almost entirely, others allow a clearly disclosed expiry, and promotional vouchers and loyalty points are often treated differently from cards you paid for. Two silent killers exist on many cards: the expiry date, which wipes the whole balance on the day, and the inactivity fee, which eats it a little each month after a year of no use. This guide walks you through reading the card's terms, calendaring the expiry, spending the balance in full before it lapses, and pushing back in writing when a card expires against your local rules.
⚡ Free instant check
The plain rules on gift cards and vouchers — when balances can legally expire, the difference between an expiry date and an inactivity fee, and how to rescue a balance before it disappears.
Why it matters
Gift card expiry rules are a genuine legal patchwork: some countries ban expiry dates and inactivity fees on consumer gift cards almost entirely, others allow a reasonable expiry if it is clearly disclosed, and store-specific 'promotional' vouchers and loyalty points are often treated differently from paid gift cards — check your local law before assuming.
The two silent killers are the expiry date (the whole balance vanishes on the day) and the inactivity fee (a monthly charge that eats the balance after a year of no use) — read the card or its terms for both before you store it in a drawer.
When a card is close to expiry, spend the balance in one transaction: most systems cannot split a balance across payments well, and a partially spent card that expires still loses the remainder.
If a card expires and you believe that was unlawful, complain in writing to the issuer first — many will restore the balance to avoid a regulator complaint — and check your local consumer agency's guidance.
The safest habit costs nothing: spend gift cards within six months, photograph the card (number, PIN, expiry) the day you receive it, and treat 'no expiry' claims with a screenshot.
Your checklist
Read the card, its packaging or its terms for an expiry date and any inactivity fee.
If there is an expiry, put it in your calendar two months early.
Check the balance online or by phone today — balances can be lower than the face value after fees.
Spend the full balance before expiry in one or two transactions if you can.
If it expires, write to the issuer and ask for restoration, citing your local law.
Photograph the card and keep the purchase receipt if you bought it for someone else.
If the issuer refuses and expiry looks unlawful where you live, escalate to your local consumer protection agency.
❓ Gift Card Expiry Rules: Do Not Lose the Balance — FAQ
Can a gift card legally expire where I live?
It depends on your local law. Some jurisdictions ban expiry dates and inactivity fees on paid consumer gift cards; others permit them if clearly disclosed; promotional vouchers are often exempt from the protections. Check your local consumer agency's guidance before assuming the card is protected.
What is the difference between an expiry date and an inactivity fee?
An expiry date wipes the entire balance on a fixed day. An inactivity fee is a monthly charge (often after 12 months of no use) that gradually eats the balance. Read the card or its terms for both — a card with no expiry can still be drained by fees.
A card expired last month — can I get the balance back?
Worth asking. If your local law bans the expiry, write to the issuer citing it and ask for restoration — many restore balances to avoid regulator complaints. If the expiry was lawful, the issuer is entitled to refuse, but a polite written ask costs nothing.
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