New Government legislation on gift vouchers has been heralded as ‘good news’ for Laois consumers ahead of Christmas.
Under the new laws, gift vouchers will now remain valid for up to five years.
Speaking about the new rules, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said: “This new legislation is great news for consumers, banning a number of unfair terms in gift voucher contracts.
“This new legislation will bring minimum expiry date of five years for gift vouchers.
“It will also put a ban on contract terms that require gift vouchers to be spent in one transaction and on contract terms that limit number of vouchers that can be used in a transaction.
“Furthermore, it will prohibit cancellation of gift vouchers or imposition of charges by airlines where the name of the gift voucher recipient differs from name on a passport.
“Ireland is first European country to enact legislation protecting consumers on gift vouchers.
“Many times, consumers have found themselves unable to use gift vouchers given to them by family members or friends because of unreasonably short expiry periods imposed by gift voucher issuers.
“Until now many gift vouchers have had expiry periods of just one or two years and in some cases it has been as little as six months.
“As of now anyone who receives a gift voucher will have the certainty that it will be valid for at least five years.”
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