Holidays, and even more so beloved in Russia New Years, and the presentation of gifts are inextricably linked. However, not all Russians adhere to the principle “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” and begin to lament that they didn’t get what they expected for the New Year. The situation is not as hopeless as it seems, if a certificate with a certain balance was received as a gift – Ksenia Paderina, a journalist near Moscow, a specialist in personal finance, teaches in her Instagram.
According to her, you can return the money for the gift card. This can be done not only by the one who acquired it, but also by the one to whom it was presented. The blogger emphasizes that, according to the law, shops have no right to establish the “expiration date” of the certificate and prohibitions on its return and exchange.
“A gift certificate (or gift card) is a document confirming payment for goods or services for a certain amount – an advance payment. That is, you paid the money, but the “goods” have not been received yet, – the expert explains. – If later you changed your mind or could not use the certificate, then you have the right to return this “advance”. “
So, according to Paderina, the refusal of the card can be motivated by the fact that “there is no suitable item or service in the store”. Moreover, according to the Civil Code and Art. 25 of the Consumer Protection Act, sellers must accept unused certificates even if there is no receipt.
To return funds, a citizen needs to contact the seller with a written statement. “The Law“ On Protection of Consumer Rights ”(Article 23.1) specifies: the nominal value of the certificate or the remainder of the unspent amount must be returned within 10 calendar days,” says the financial blogger.
She points out that refusals to refund gift cards are legally considered “unjust enrichment”. The Supreme Court of the country issued the corresponding ruling back in 2015. The consumer has the right to return the certificate within three years from the date of purchase.
If the gift certificate was nevertheless used, but the expenses on it turned out to be less than the denomination selected by the donor, the store is responsible for returning the change or transferring the balance to the next purchase. Do not be upset if the certificate has expired – you can still get funds, the law provides for this.
Particularly stubborn sellers should be influenced by such a weighty argument as going to court or a complaint to Rospotrebnadzor, adds Paderina.
Source: Rosbalt
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
