Did You Know Gift Certificates Can't Have Expiration Dates Under PH Law?

(SPOT.ph) During the holidays, gift certificates feel like the most sensible present you can give. You hand it over, the recipient picks what they want, everyone’s happy... until the cashier says, “Expired na po.” But is that even allowed?

The short answer is no. In fact, it's actually against the law for GCs to have expiration dates.

In the Philippines, gift certificates, gift checks, and gift cards are protected by Republic Act No. 10962 or the Gift Check Act of 2017. The idea behind the law is simple: when someone buys a gift check, that’s real money already paid to the business. The store is just holding that value until whoever holds the gift check decides to use it.

It also doesn’t matter what the gift check looks like. Whether it’s a paper certificate, a plastic card, or even a digital code, it’s still considered stored value.

Because of that, the law strictly bans expiration dates for gift checks. Businesses are not allowed to print an expiry date on them, secretly impose one on the remaining balance, or refuse to honor whatever amount is still unused. As far as the law is concerned, a gift check stays valid until the issuer shuts down its business.

Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno explained this in plain terms: “Ang halaga ng GC, puwede mong gamitin kahit kailan. Kung may nakalagay na expiry date, bawal ‘yan. Kung ayaw tanggapin sa store, bawal rin. Puwede itong ireklamo sa DTI.”

Another thing to note: using a gift check doesn’t cancel your other consumer rights. Promotions, warranties, return policies, and legally required discounts for senior citizens and persons with disabilities still apply, even if you paid with a gift certificate.

Also read: It's Okay to Regift for Christmas, Just Follow These Smart Tips

There are only two situations where a store can legally refuse a gift certificate. If it’s lost, badly damaged, or defaced—and the problem wasn’t the store’s fault—they may decline it, especially if they can’t confirm it’s authenticity. Even then, the law allows businesses to set reasonable rules for replacing or updating gift checks—as long as they don’t cost the consumer extra.

This doesn’t mean everything that looks like a gift certificate is covered by the law. The Gift Check Act clearly separates gift certificates, gift checks, or gift cards from coupons and vouchers.

As already established, gift certificates are bought with money and used as payment. On the other hand, vouchers or coupons offer discounts or specific items, usually as part of promos, rewards, or loyalty programs. These can legally have expiration dates.

As Diokno put it, “Ibang usapan ang promos, rewards, o loyalty program. Hindi sila sakop ng batas.”

So what can you actually do if a store still refuses to accept your gift certificate?

Complaints are handled by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). You can file a complaint by calling the DTI Consumer Care Hotline at 1-DTI (384), by sending an email to consumercare@dti.gov.ph, or by submitting a complaint through the DTI’s online consumer complaint portal. You’ll usually be asked to provide basic details such as the name of the store, the branch location, what happened, and proof of the gift check if you have it.

Businesses found in violation of the law can be fined between P500,000 and P1 million, ordered to return the unused balance, and eventually barred from issuing gift checks if they keep breaking the rules.

Also read: 10 Online Gift Cards That’ll Save Christmas