Is It OK to Seize Unused Gift Cards After Two Years? (New Jersey Plans to)

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/04/11 19:17:14

Related Topics: New Jersey, Gift Cards, expiration, Tax, department of treasury, Credit, Houston, Lawsuit, Smart, Lotto

1,240 votes
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	Yes	117 votes	9%
	No	1,123 votes	91%

Most retailers these days don't have expiration dates on their gift cards, a blessing to consumers who are slow to spend their credit. But soon New Jersey residents won't have that luxury. A law passed in 2010 will go into effect this year and allow the state's Department of Treasury to take the money from gift cards, travelers' checks, and money orders that haven't been used up within two years of purchase. American Express has already pulled gift card sales from the state.

According to NJ.com, the state projected it could have seized $79 million in revenue in 2011 from the law, but they needed to collect buyer ZIP codes to enforce the law, and that lead to lawsuits and a suspension of ZIP code collection. Treasury spokesman Andy Pratt said, "We're working with industry groups to determine the best way to have merchants collect ZIP codes. We're not requiring it until we come up with a policy that is uniform and as least onerous as possible." Does this gift card idea sound like a good way to generate revenue -- or a just a slimy way for the government to take some cash?

+36

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CREW grand 2012/04/11 22:40:39

No

+31
Most corrupt state.
How does my procrastination entitle them to my assets?
"the state projected it could have seized $79 million in revenue"
Well, yes, theft is an easy way to increase one's revenue.
What next, seizing automobiles from people who don't drive them for a month?

Don
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Franklin 2012/04/12 12:24:26

No

+6
government greed knows no bounds -LOL but don't call liberals communists they are but they don't want you to call them that,

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Black_Rose 2012/04/12 12:24:00

No

+2
I forget about my gift cards, and then I'll find them some odd months or years later, and they'll still be good.

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Bullmoose 2012/04/12 12:20:24

No

+3
Would it be ok to seize unused cash after 2 years? how about bank accounts that don't get overdrawn?

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brunyon 2012/04/12 12:18:32

No

+5
Don't really see this lasting all that long. Jersey passes this law but doesn't use the national guard to murder snookie and the rest of her group. FOR SHAME

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George Romney 2012/04/12 12:09:31

No

+2
Those gift cards in no way shape or form ever passed into the legal hands of the government or had any reason to. These people didn't die, get locked up, move away and leave their assets behind. They simply have yet to spend their own money.

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Rebecca Schneider 2012/04/12 11:55:32
Alfred 2012/04/12 11:02:45

No

+2
This nation is not content stealing the prosperity of generations yet born; now it has resorted to breaking the piggy banks and raiding the couch cushions, for yet a moment longer to ride the gravy train as far as it will go. They are unable to look Americans in the eye and admit we have been bankrupt since 1933.

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Portholus 2012/04/12 10:43:43

No

+2
Sounds like Jersey could not spend within their budget and are just looking for a way to scam their residents out of more cash.

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Earthling 2012/04/12 10:08:04
janet 2012/04/12 09:25:59

No

+2
That is a rotten idea, glad I do not live in New Jersey.

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Astro 2012/04/12 08:44:45

No

+1
I don't know what to say, I am pissed that anyone would try and take something like that from me. Gift cards are gifts, because of that fact they are in-taxable and can't legitimately be seized just because a state has passed a law saying that they can. I don't see how a gift card of equivalent monetary value could possibly expire at all. it is all just a bunch of nonsensical people trying to line their own pockets with unused cash. If they did that then they would have to seize any dollar notes that haven't been used for two years either, because that is what a gift card is technically equivalent to.

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Wyveryx 2012/04/12 07:44:13

No

+1
I will always so NO to any government that will try and dig deeper into my pockets or anyone else's if they can't even create a budget that won't put them deeper in the hole.
This is just another "tax" without even the decency of calling it such.

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jerry.alan.carroll 2012/04/12 07:40:05

No

+1
card owners (starbucks, Walmart, Visa Gift) can use that money and make interest off of it until the user finally empties it. they should do that instead. It is the users' money in the first place. any company that allows this will lose my business. so typical of Jersey

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MiinaNiemi03 2012/04/12 06:56:42
Minarchist 2012/04/12 06:41:39

No

+1
This is private property and theft through ink and pulp.

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hari 2012/04/12 06:34:25

No

gives adverse impression

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Lonely girl 2012/04/12 06:19:30

No

+1
If you spent your money on that gift card it's yours.

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emface 2012/04/12 06:06:11

No

+1
How are they even justifying this?!

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Ian 2012/04/12 05:31:18

No

+1
It's just a slimy way for the government to take some cash.

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Wizard 2012/04/12 05:04:43 (edited)

No

+2
They should wait at least five years or not at all.
They need to follow the standard records for utilities and billing...That are kept for five years.

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emface to Wizard 2012/04/12 06:07:00

Good point/argument!

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Wizard to emface 2012/04/12 23:17:49

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dallasjoe 2012/04/12 05:03:37

No

Gift Cards to Olive Garden for Gov Christie

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Odinsown 2012/04/12 04:48:26

No

+3
It's theft. If I leave my money in an account, on a card, in a shoe box under my bed, it is still MY MONEY!

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jackie 2012/04/12 04:44:30

No

+2
The gov shouldnt take others peoples things like that. I got the card as a gift and what ever I do with the money is my business. Its stealing.

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abubincrazy 2012/04/12 04:38:12

No

+1
If you get a Macy's card as a gift, and they don't have a sale that moves you, why should the state be allowed to STEAL YOUR GIFT?
They shouldn't.

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Edible_toad 2012/04/12 04:34:02

Yes

+1
I guess the only reason I said yes is because where I live gift cards DO have expiry dates. Generally they're about a year from the date a purchase, after that they're invalid. It's really not a big deal.

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Chris -... to Edible_... 2012/04/12 13:37:00

+3
Not all of us up here are ready to give up and bend over just yet.

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Edible_... to Chris -... 2012/04/16 05:49:32

Cultural differences.
Where I live it wasn't something 'we just gave up', that's just the way it's always been. Sure, that doesn't make it right, but by the same token as it's the way it's always been I see no reason to cause a fuss.

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Chris -... to Edible_... 2012/04/16 10:40:53

Well, too many people accept too many injustices. Then we wonder why the world is a mess.

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Edible_... to Chris -... 2012/04/17 04:44:34

I don't really think a $20 dollar gift card is a whole lot to get into a massive fuss over.
But yes, I do agree that injustice is too widely accepted over a whole bunch of different forms.

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Chris -... to Edible_... 2012/04/17 10:32:22

If we let everything slide because "it is just a $20 gift card" then one day, when the tanks are rolling down our streets and they are placing soldiers everywhere, we will then have the nerve to ask how this happened.

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Edible_... to Chris -... 2012/04/18 07:37:29

Srsly? That's the conclusion you jump too? Wow.

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Chris -... to Edible_... 2012/04/18 10:27:01

Laugh now but every end has a beginning.

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Darkitec 2012/04/12 04:31:38

No

+2
What in the hell are they thinking, How in the world do they even have the right to do this? It would appear to be confiscating personal property and isn't that unconstitutional?

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BobStrauss 2012/04/12 04:18:34

No

+1
What's next frequent flier points and Disney passes? So you buy an engagement ring, decide not to get engaged to her after all, don't find anyone for 2 years to marry,ring, ring, NJ takes away your potential for a state of matrimony.

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beach bum 2012/04/12 04:10:18

No

+1
now that is just gluttony

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Whatever 2012/04/12 04:05:13

No

I haven't read the other comments yet but... as someone with debit card marketing/advertising experience.... that money that doesn't get spent is the company's money who issued the cards. That's the underlying idea behind debit cards... let's say it's a Bed Bath & Beyond $25 gift card. Someone pays in advance for the full $25 to be put on the card. Then, they give it as a gift. That person might spend $20 and forget about it. That might might spend $24 and forget about it. Or that person may lose the card and never use it. Those three cases result in BB&B; "making" $5, $1, and $25 extra. And it is their money! Not the govt's. They use that unclaimed money to promote their store, and to manage the debit card/gift card program.

It is asinine for the govt to think they can seize it.

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JohnT to Whatever 2012/04/12 04:46:53

+1
I would like to see the DOJ file against the state for violation of 4th amendment of the constitution and take the legislators to task for even passing such a fraudulent piece of legislation. The folks in that state need a big time recall election and get rid of the scum sucking politicians.

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Depsycho 2012/04/12 03:41:49 (edited)

No

+3

Seriously?? So, what, are they going to make it ok to take back a house if you don't live in it for a while or something?

Sorry about your damn sales, but in the case of a gift card, it's MY money given to ME; the dang company forked it over once it was purchased, and I will spend it as I please, when I choose to, NOT WHEN YOU TELL ME TO.

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