Ask Susan: Voucher expiry

Till when is a gift card valid if no expiry is printed? Photo / Thinkstock

Q: My mother is 90. I don't know how many years ago she bought six Palmers Garden World $25 gift cards to enclose with Christmas cards but forgot them. I went into the store in Remuera and was told to contact head office, which I've been trying to do with no success. I want $125 or replacement gift vouchers. There is no expiry date on the cards. - Jocelynne, Auckland

A: A Palmers representative says because the vouchers are paper, they must be at least 5 years old and from a time when a previous owner was running Palmers. She says modern gift cards have a life of two years. The company may be open to giving you credit for half the value of the cards.

Consumer NZ advises that vouchers must have an expiry date if there is a date after which they won't be accepted, but vouchers can also be worthless if the business owner changes.