Attorney General's News Release

December 11, 2006

Playing your cards right — Nixon offers advice for holiday gift card buyers

Jefferson City, Mo. — Americans are expected to spend 24 billion dollars on retail gift cards during this holiday season, and Attorney General Jay Nixon warns Missourians to read the fine print before buying.

"These cards are some of the most popular gifts because of their versatility, allowing the people who receive them to buy exactly what they want," Nixon said. "Consumers just need to watch out for unpleasant surprises, embarrassment and even fraud."

Nixon offers these tips when choosing a gift card:

• Watch for expiration dates.
• Watch for fees, which reduce the value of the card. Fees are most common among so-called "use anywhere" cards, such as those issued by credit card companies. Cards usable only at a particular retailer are less likely to have fees or expiration dates.
• Beware of cards sold at online auction sites — they may be counterfeit, stolen or not as valuable as advertised.
• Ask if the card can be used for online or phone purchases. If so, ask about security precautions to protect the card number from being used by a thief. These cards may require a PIN number or security code.
• Don't throw away your receipt. Keep it or give it to the recipient in case problems arise when the card is redeemed. Also, if you lose your card but still have the receipt, the retailer may be able to issue a new one.

Missourians with complaints about gift cards or other problems with retailers can contact Nixon's office through his Web site, ago.mo.gov, or the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to the Press Secretary.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818