NSW consumers have been encouraged to dust off their expired gift cards and redeem them during Fair Trading Week from October 24-28.

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward has called on Highlands residents to dig out their expired gift cards and vouchers and try their luck redeeming them.

“Australians spend around $2.5 billion a year on gift cards but arbitrary expiry dates mean millions of dollars go to waste,” she said.

“Consumers often fail to redeem their gift cards and those who try to use them after the expiry date, do so with mixed success.

“Gift cards operate like a contract. After the expiry date, it is really at the whim of the trader whether they choose to honour the contract.”

Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello has worked with NSW Fair Trading to establish an online survey to enable expired gift card owners to report their experience.

“Fair Trading’s experience is that many retailers are prepared to extend the expiry date of cards when requested and we are encouraging consumers to ask the question and report their experience,” he said.

So far this year NSW Fair Trading has received 271 complaints relating to gift cards.

Gift cards are popular present option but consumers are often not aware of terms and conditions.

The survey is available at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.

Feedback from the survey will help decide whether regulatory change is warranted to protect forgetful gift card owners.