A COMPLAINT from a fedup Mt Colah resident resulted in a major shake-up of the gift card industry and a legislation change that supports consumers.
Gabrielle Smith wrote to Hornsby state Liberal MP and Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean about expiration dates of gift cards after she was left with several cards expiring before use.
“My husband found an expired Gold Class card in the bottom of his draw,’’ Mrs Smith said. “We thought we would inquire and the business said they could not help us because they were out-ofdate.’’
The experience prompted the couple to highlight the case with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“It happened to me again a few months later, so I contacted Matt Kean to help look after a customer,’’ Mrs Smith said.
She said she was astounded that a letter to Mr Kean would result in proposed changes to legislation.
Mr Kean said proposed changes would see mandatory three-year expiry dates for all gift cards sold in NSW, putting up to $60 million a year back in the hands of shoppers.
“When consumers hand over their hard-earned money they rightly expect to get what they pay for,” he said. “I’m fed up of business taking money from shoppers and providing nothing in return.
“I would encourage the people of Hornsby to write to my office. I want to hear first-hand any consumer issues or problems you have encountered.”
Mr Kean said the plan would also stamp out gouging of consumers through post-purchase fees and charges that reduced the balance on their gift card.
Thirty-four million gift cards are sold nationally each year.
Mrs Smith said she was still battling one company but was making progress.
Article by Jake McCallum and appeared in The Hornsby Advocate
