(Pierre, SD) — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is sharing some insight on gift cards most folks likely received for Christmas. Jackley says there is a practical and legal difference between a gift certificate and a gift card. Gift certificates would be specific to a business and that particular certificate would have a value or expiration date of three years. State law allows it to be valid for three years, even if it says only one year. Jackley notes gift cards are specific to a network, like Visa or MasterCard for example, and it has a five-year shelf period. However, each business is unique when it comes to redeeming gift cards, but many, especially smaller businesses, will honor them long past the five-year legal deadline. Jackley says to call the South Dakota Consumer Division for help if anyone has trouble with a state business not honoring gift cards.
