SHOPPERS looking to use a gift card to buy Christmas presents will want to make sure they aren’t decreasing in value.
One4All provides gift cards that can be used across a wide variety of retailers.
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This includes popular brands like Marks & Spencer, H&M and John Lewis.
But if shoppers do not spend their gift card – or at least some of it – then after 18 months, they will have money taken from their voucher.
This is known as an “inactive fee” and is another blow to customers already battling with high costs.
Consumer expert Martyn James believes the fee is “absolutely outrageous”.
He said: “It’s absolutely outrageous that this fee is charged and also that nobody is told about it.
“The number of these cards that die in wallets and purses every single year is in.
“The mere concept of reducing that money just for the act of not spending is such an outrageous practice.”
Shoppers with an “inactive balance” will be charged 90p a month.
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Over a full year, such a charge would drain £10.80 from a gift card.
The charge will begin 18 months after the purchase date – not from when you received it.
So if you were given a One4All gift card from a friend or family member, make sure to ask them what date they bought it.
Then you can work out the exact date you can get to before the voucher reduces in value.
For example, if a card was purchased on November 30 2022, then shoppers have until May 30, 2025, to use it before being charged the fee.
Some shoppers may be edging close to the deadline so if you want to use it for Christmas gift purchases – check now before it’s too late.
Personal shopper and stylist Lindsay Edwards said: “I think it’s disgusting that One4All are charging people for not spending their gift cards.
“It feels immoral, unnecessary and greedy.”
She added: “It’s not uncommon for me to take a client personal shopping, who’s not stepped foot into a shop for over a year because they have simply haven’t had the time.
“The One4All gift cards were one of the few cards that had a long expiry date, which was perfect for people who were unlikely to spend them quickly.
“With these charges in place, there’s far less of a reason to purchase them.”
A spokesperson for One4all Gift Cards said: “Most gift cards are spent in our retail partners within three to six months of receiving it, so most cardholders never have any inactive balance charges (IBC).
“One4all operates a ‘no quibble’ policy for this small minority of cardholders and encourages those whose cards have been affected by IBC to get in touch with us and we will be happy to resolve this to your satisfaction.
“Customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we want everyone who receives a gift card to enjoy spending it.
“One4all is very clear about the inactive balance charges–including it on the back of the card, on the card carrier, on our website, within terms and conditions and in several places within the One4all product directory which accompanies gift cards purchased from post offices.”
Other gift cards have expiry dates to make note of
Technically One4All cards don’t expire – it just depends on how much money you’ve got on there and how long it’ll take for each 90p fee to use it all up.
There are several retailers whose gift cards expire after a few years, so if you’ve had one for a while you may want to check it’s still in date.
For example, M&S gift cards are valid for 48 months from activation (or when you first used them).
John Lewis and Sainsbury’s gift cards only last for 24 months – this is from purchase or last use.
If you do have one knocking about your house, for any brand, make sure you look up the terms and conditions to avoid missing out.
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