The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 8: Banking and Insurance

Chapter 081: Gift Certificates

• § 2701. Definitions

  As used in this chapter:

  (1) “Account” means a demand deposit or share draft (checking) account, savings account, or other comparable consumer asset account (other than an occasional or incidental credit balance in a credit plan) regularly maintained by the consumer at a financial institution or at a credit union.

  (2) “Financial institution” means an institution as defined in subdivision 11101(32) of this title.

  (3) “Gift certificate” means a record evidencing a promise made for consideration by the seller or issuer of the record that money, goods, or services will be provided to the holder of the record for the value shown in the record. A “gift certificate” includes a record that contains a microprocessor chip, magnetic strip, or other means for the storage of information that is prefunded and for which the value is decremented upon each use; a gift card; an electronic gift card; a prepaid access card or certificate; a store card; or a similar record or card. A gift certificate does not include an access device such as a debit card, code, or other means of access to a consumer’s account regularly maintained at a financial institution or credit union that may be used by the consumer to access the funds in his or her account to initiate a withdrawal or to initiate an electronic funds transfer from the consumer’s account.

  (4) “Loyalty, award, or promotional gift certificate” means a gift certificate that is issued on a prepaid basis primarily for personal, family, or household purposes to a consumer in connection with a loyalty, award, or promotional program and that is redeemable upon presentation to one or more merchants for goods or services or that is usable at automated teller machines.

  (5) “Paid value” means the value of any money or other thing of value given in exchange for a gift certificate.

  (6) “Promotional value” means any value shown on a gift certificate in excess of the paid value of the gift certificate. (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1; amended 2011, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. May 18, 2012; 2019, No. 20, § 64.)

• § 2702. Expiration date

  The paid value of a gift certificate sold or offered to be sold shall be valid for not less than five years after its date of issuance or after the date funds were last loaded onto the gift certificate, whichever is later. The date of issuance and the expiration date shall be clearly identified on its face, or, if an electronic card with a banked dollar value, clearly printed upon a sales receipt transferred to the purchaser of the electronic card upon the completed transaction, or otherwise made available to the purchaser or holder of the electronic card through means of an Internet site or a toll free information telephone line. A gift certificate not clearly marked with an expiration date or for which the expiration date is not otherwise made available as provided in this section shall be deemed to have no expiration date. Following the expiration date of the gift certificate, the unused portion of the paid value of the gift certificate shall be returned to the holder of the gift certificate, if requested. (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1; amended 2011, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. May 18, 2012.)

• § 2702a. Loyalty, award, or promotional gift certificate

  A loyalty, award, or promotional gift certificate shall clearly and legibly set forth the following disclosures, as applicable:

  (1) a statement indicating that the gift certificate is issued for loyalty, award, or promotional purposes, which shall be included on the front of the gift certificate;

  (2) the expiration date for both the paid value of the gift certificate, if any, and the promotional value of the gift certificate, if any, which shall be included on the front of the gift certificate;

  (3) the amount of any fees that may be imposed in connection with the gift certificate and the conditions under which they may be imposed, which shall be provided on or with the gift certificate; and

  (4) if any fee is assessed against the gift certificate, a toll-free telephone number and, if one is maintained, a website address that a consumer may use to obtain fee information, which shall be included on the gift certificate. (Added 2011, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. May 18, 2012.)

• § 2703. Prohibited fees

  (a) Dormancy fees, latency fees, issuance fees, redemption fees, or any other administrative fees or service charges in connection with a gift certificate are prohibited.

  (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a money transmitter licensed under chapter 79 of this title, financial institution, or credit union may charge a one-time fee upon the issuance of a prepaid access card that is reasonably related to the cost to the issuer of issuing the card, provided that in no event shall the fee exceed $10.00. (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1; amended 2019, No. 20, § 65; 2019, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 11.)

• § 2704. Redemption of gift certificate for cash

  If the remaining value of a gift certificate is less than $1.00, the gift certificate shall be redeemable in cash for its remaining value upon the demand of the holder of the gift certificate. (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1.)

• § 2705. Balance inquiry

  The issuer of the gift certificate, at the holder’s request, shall inform the holder of the unused balance remaining on the gift certificate and the expiration date of the gift certificate. (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1.)

• § 2706. Penalty

  (a) The Commissioner may impose an administrative penalty of not more than $1,000.00 per violation upon any person who violates any provision of this chapter, any applicable rule, or any order issued by the Commissioner, plus the State’s costs and expenses for the investigation and prosecution of the matter, including attorney’s fees.

  (b) The Commissioner may order any person to make restitution to any person as a result of a violation of this chapter.

  (c) Any gift certificate that contains any provision in violation of this chapter is contrary to public policy, and such provision is void and unenforceable against the holder of the gift certificate.

  (d) The powers vested in the Commissioner by this chapter shall be in addition to any other powers of the Commissioner to enforce any penalties, fines, or forfeitures authorized by law.

  (e) The powers vested in the Commissioner by this chapter shall be in addition to any other powers or rights of consumers or the Attorney General or others under any other applicable law or rule, including without limitation the Vermont Consumer Protection Act and any applicable rules issued in connection therewith. (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1; amended 2011, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 8, 2012; 2011, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 1b, eff. May 18, 2012.)

• § 2707. Exemption

  Except as provided in this section, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following:

  (1) a loyalty, award, or promotional gift certificate where no money or other thing of value is given in exchange for the gift certificate, provided that the gift certificate complies with section 2702a of this title;

  (2) the promotional value of a loyalty, award, or promotional gift certificate issued in exchange for paid value, provided that the gift certificate complies with sections 2702 and 2702a of this title;

  (3) a gift certificate donated to a charitable organization and used for fund-raising activities of a charitable organization, without any money or other thing of value being given in exchange for the gift certificate by the charitable organization, provided that the expiration date is clearly and legibly printed on the gift certificate;

  (4) prepaid calling cards issued solely to provide an access number and authorization code for prepaid calling services;

  (5) a season pass, a discount ski card, or a record sold for admission to any seasonal recreational activity; or

  (6) a payroll card account issued pursuant to and in full compliance with 21 V.S.A. § 342(c). (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1; amended 2009, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 21, 2010; 2011, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. May 18, 2012.)

• § 2708. Investigations and complaints; powers of Commissioner

  If the Commissioner has reason to believe that any person has violated any of the provisions of this chapter, the Commissioner may make such investigation as the Commissioner shall deem necessary, and, to the extent necessary for this purpose, the Commissioner’s authorized representative may examine such person and shall have the power to compel the production of all relevant books, records, and documents. (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1.)

• § 2709. Vermont Consumer Protection Act

  (a) A violation of this chapter shall be deemed also a violation of the Vermont Consumer Protection Act, 9 V.S.A. chapter 63, provided that the Commissioner’s determinations concerning the interpretation and administration of the provisions of this chapter and any rules adopted under this chapter shall carry a presumption of validity as to financial institutions, credit unions, and all persons licensed or required to be licensed under this title.

  (b) A consumer may bring a private action under this chapter or under 9 V.S.A. chapter 63 for any violation of this chapter. (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1; amended 2011, No. 109 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. May 8, 2012; 2011, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 1b, eff. May 18, 2012.)

• § 2710. Enforcement

  (a) The Commissioner may enforce compliance with the requirements of this chapter with respect to financial institutions as defined in subdivision 11101(32) of this title, credit unions, and all persons and entities licensed or required to be licensed under this title.

  (b) The Attorney General shall cooperate and consult with the Commissioner prior to the commencement of any investigation or enforcement action with respect to any person or entity described in subsection (a) of this section.

  (c) Nothing contained in subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall prohibit the Commissioner and the Attorney General from bringing a joint enforcement action against any person or entity described in subsection (a) for a violation of this chapter. (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1.)

• § 2711. Rules

  (a) The Commissioner may adopt such rules as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter with respect to financial institutions, credit unions, and all persons and entities licensed or required to be licensed under this title.

  (b) The Attorney General may adopt such rules as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter with respect to all persons and entities other than financial institutions, credit unions, and all persons or entities licensed or required to be licensed under this title. (Added 2005, No. 39, § 1.)