Gift vouchers
What are your consumer rights when buying and using gift vouchers?
Irish consumers are protected by law when buying gift vouchers, also known as gift cards. The Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act of 2019 protects your consumer rights when buying and using gift cards, specifically vouchers for one shop or chain and shopping centre gift cards.
However, there are many other kinds of vouchers, such as One4All vouchers, which are not covered by The Consumer Protection (Gift Voucher) Act. It is important to check which type you have and what rights apply to them. You can see the full list of gift vouchers below.
When buying or using a gift voucher you have the following consumer rights:
- Vouchers covered by Irish consumer rights law must be valid for at least five years. If there is an expiry date, it should be provided to you in writing on the voucher or in a document or email supplied with voucher.
- There are no EU-wide requirements, so when shopping online always check the business location and the terms and conditions of any voucher to see if there is an expiry date.
- You do not have to spend the full voucher in one go. If you use only part of the voucher and the balance left is more than €1, the business can refund the difference by cash, electronic transfer (debit/credit card); or another voucher. If the business issues you with a voucher, the expiry date must match the original voucher.
- You can use more than one gift voucher at a time. For example, if an item costs €100 and you have two €50 vouchers, you can use both to pay.
Which types of gift vouchers are covered by the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019?
Covered:
- A voucher for a particular shop or chain of stores
- Shopping centre gift cards that can only be used in the shopping centre and not in shops elsewhere
Not covered:
- Electronic money cards – prepaid debit cards that can be used anywhere a standard debit/credit card is used
- One4All gift cards – can be used in a wide range of retailers
- Loyalty schemes – money coupons a business issues to customers for their loyalty
- Credit notes – when you return an item to a store and they give you a voucher or credit note
- Online deal vouchers – a discounted voucher bought for a specified good, service, or experience that must be used within three months or on a specific date
- Gift cards that are not limited to one shopping centre – can be used there and in businesses elsewhere
When buying a shopping centre voucher or gift card, check the terms and conditions. If the gift card is a prepaid Visa or Mastercard, it may not be covered by gift voucher rules.
One4All and electronic money cards are covered by financial consumer protection laws, but not the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act.
Frequently asked questions about gift vouchers
What if a buy I gift voucher from a business elsewhere in the EU?
There are no EU-wide rules on voucher expiry dates, so always check the terms and conditions before you buy.Do you have to spend the full amount of the voucher?
No, you do not have to spend the full amount in one go. If you use only part of the voucher and the balance left is more than €1, the business must refund the difference. The business can issue the refund though cash, electronic transfer (debit/credit card), or another voucher.Do ‘experience’ vouchers fall under the legislation?
Experience vouchers are often sold as discount vouchers by a business or through a deal website. If the expiry date is more than three months, gift voucher rules apply and the voucher must be valid for at least five years. If the voucher must be used on a particular date or within three months, it is excluded from the five year rule.Who is responsible if you have a problem with a voucher you bought on a deal website?
Deal websites let you buy vouchers for goods, services, and experiences from other businesses, for example, a photobook, beauty treatment, meal out or museum experience.
Your contract for the deal voucher itself is with the company you bought the voucher from. If you have a problem with the voucher, for example, it won’t work when you try to use it, the deal website is responsible for fixing it.
If you have a problem with the product or service that is purchased with the voucher, the business that supplies the product or service is responsible for fixing it. For example, if you have used a deal voucher to pay for a discount mattress, but it is faulty, the business that sold the mattress is responsible for resolving the issue. This also applies when you use a voucher for services such as hotel stays or beauty treatments. If there is an issue, the business providing the service is responsible for fixing it .
Find more information on buying services.Can you get a lost gift voucher replaced?
Losing a gift voucher is like losing cash. Businesses do not have to replace it. If the voucher was made out to you specifically and cannot be transferred, the business may issue you a new one. Contact the business you bought it from as they may have a record of the purchase.What happens if the business closes before you use your gift voucher?
If a company goes out of business, you may lose out on the value of your voucher. Circumstances vary depending on whether the company closes, goes into liquidation, examinership, or receivership. If you paid with your debit or credit card before the business ended, ask your bank about a chargeback.
For more details, see companies going out of business.
