Who hasn't found a forgotten gift voucher at the bottom of a drawer, only to discover it had already expired? This frustrating situation is experienced every year by many consumers, who thereby lose part of their purchasing power.
The federal government has decided to address this. A bill put forward by David Clarinval, Minister for the Economy, and Éléonore Simonet, Minister for SMEs, now provides for a minimum validity period of two years for gift vouchers and one year for multi-session cards.
Until now, no general rule governed the validity period of these products. Some companies granted their customers several years, while others imposed much shorter deadlines. This reform will provide greater clarity, legal certainty and fairness for consumers.
For the ministers, this is a concrete measure that protects citizens' wallets: “Everyone has at some point found an expired gift voucher in their wallet or at the bottom of a drawer. By setting a minimum validity period, we strengthen consumer rights and reduce the loss of purchasing power.”