Gift card expiry gets axe

Shoppers will be given an eternity to use gift cards after one of the nation’s biggest retailers dumped controversial expiry dates.

SHOPPERS will be given an eternity to use gift cards after one of the nation’s biggest retailers dumped controversial expiry dates.

Many customers have been left disgruntled after failing to redeem gift cards before their end date, but they now will have flexibility to use them whenever they please.

Woolworths yesterday put an official end to expiry dates for good – not just on new cards – but also on cards already issued.

From March 31 all customers holding active Woolworths Group gifts cards will be able use them at any time, a move applauded by consumer groups.

Previously these cards had a one-year expiry date. This change will also apply to all Woolworths cards purchased on or after March 31, 2017.

Consumer group Choice’s spokeswoman Erin Turner said it was about time shoppers were given freedom to use what is effectively their money at their own will.

“Woolworths’ decision to ditch expiry dates for gift cards is great news for shoppers,’’ she said.

“We hope other businesses follow the lead of companies like Woolworths and get rid of expiry dates.”

The NSW government has introduced a mandatory minimum expiry period of three years for gift cards and gift vouchers sold to consumers, effective at the end of the month.

South Australia and the other states are yet to follow suit.

Woolworths’ head of financial services Chris Cramond said change needed to happen to prevent leaving customers disappointed if they failed to use their card in time.

“After talking to more of our customers about this in recent months we’ve decided to go one better and scrap gift card expiry dates for good,’’ he said.

“It means one less thing to worry about for our busy customers who will have complete flexibility to use gift cards as and when it suits them.”

The changes will include WISH and Woolworths store gift cards which can be deemed at Woolworths supermarkets, Big W, Dan Murphy’s, BWS, Cellarmasters and Woolworths petrol.

It will also include the Essentials gift card and Groceries gift card. Consumers’ Association spokesman Ian Jarrett said the move should prompt more retailers also ditch expiry dates.

Woolworths said cards already in circulation will continue to show an expiry date but they will not apply from March 31.

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