New rules took effect in August 2010 that restricts gift card expiration dates and fees which only helps consumers. Retail gift cards, which you only can use at a particular merchant or group of merchants, such as a chain of restaurants are becoming more popular online as rewards for members of shopping websites. Network-branded gift cards, such as Visa or MasterCard ones, have also been affected by the new rules which you can use anywhere the brand is accepted.
Gift card issuers are no longer able to change fees or amount of the card unless it has not been used for a consecutive 12 months. After the twelve month time frame, the issuer can charge only one monthly fee. The cards can’t expire earlier than five years which allows consumers to spend a little more freely. Loyalty shopping websites such as Bucks4Me offers their members the ability to earn gift cards and people are flocking to the idea.
When you earn gift cards that have a reloadable balance, it can’t expire until five years from the last time you reloaded them. If your card itself expires, but the balance doesn’t, the card issuer must give you a replacement card at no charge. You should be able to find out how to get a replacement card on the back of the one you have now. Any expiration date and fee information has to be disclosed on the back of the card or on its packaging.
The new rules apply only to gift cards, not to other types of prepaid cards. For example, a Discover or American Express card intended as a checking-account substitute isn’t covered. At loyalty shopping sites that offer different ways to earn gift cards members are able to save money on things they are going to purchase either way.
When you chose to earn Gift Card Rewards on a rewards site it’s still important to compare cards before you redeem you credits. Most cards that retailers directly issue don’t have any expiration dates or upfront fees but it’s always a good idea to make sure.
If you earn gift cards (Gift Card Rewards), use them as soon as possible. Often people forget they have them, and it’s still possible for them to expire if you don’t use them. If the gift card you have, was from a specific merchant they could also go out of business and you might never recoup your purchase.
We recommend that if you earn gift cards then use them before you lose them.
We all know the internet is changing every single day. It is also changing different industries and savvy shoppers are keeping pace with the shopping changes. A huge new trend for retail companies are reward programs which drive brand loyalty. The companies offer ways to earn points or bucks when you make a purchase or participate some other way in their rewards program. Members of the reward program can redeem their earnings for gift card rewards. With these Vanilla Visa Gift Card rewards people are able to shop or have very easy gifts. The gift card reward turns into the perfect birthday present for a co worker you just can not think what to get. Websites have allowed us to group all of these benefits together.
Shoppers are finding it profitable earning gift card rewards by use shopping portals that allow them to shop at many places and get rewarded in one centralized location. It is an added perk because the shoppers are getting rewarded from the store where they made the purchase, the credit card rewards they earn from the credit card they used to make the purchase, and the rewards shopping site gift card rewards.