(File photo)
MANILA – Consumer advocacy group Laban Konsyumer, Inc. (LKI) is reminding the public that gift checks, gift certificates, and gift cards (GCs) have no expiry dates.
Citing Republic Act No.10962 or the Gift Check Act of 2017, LKI president Victorio Mario Dimagiba said issuing GCs bearing an expiry date is a violation of the law.
A hefty fine of PHP500,000 to PHP1 million shall be imposed to those found violating the Gift Check Act.
“The misuses and abuses of the said GCs with expiry date proliferates in the market because said GCs do not bear in prints the approval and the permit number of the loyalty rewards or promotional programs granted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),” Dimagiba said.
Dimagiba, a former DTI Undersecretary for consumer welfare, said the violating parties should return the unused GCs with expiry dates within 90 days of the violation.
The LKI founder called on DTI to enforce the rules and guidelines in the Gift Check Act.
“We ask the government to protect consumer welfare by making sure that all establishments follow these rules strictly, especially given the circumstances of the pandemic where consumers have had a very hard time going out and using GCs,” Dimagiba said. (PNA)
