Store gift cards sold in Massachusetts must be good for at least seven years, and once you’ve used 90% of one, you can ask for the rest in cash.
Just in time for holiday shopping: under Massachusetts law, a gift certificate or store gift card has to stay valid for at least seven years from the date it was issued. The issue and expiration dates must be shown on the card or otherwise made available to you. If there’s no clear expiration date, the card can be used indefinitely.
Even better, that leftover $3.17 doesn’t have to sit in your wallet forever. If the card can’t be reloaded and you’ve used at least 90% of its value, you get to choose: take the balance in cash or keep using the card. For reloadable cards, the same choice kicks in when $5 or less remains.
One exception: bank-issued cards (the Visa or Mastercard kind) follow federal rules instead, which generally make them good for five years and can allow some fees. So check the fine print before you wrap one up.
Source: Mass. General Laws c. 200A, § 5D and Mass.gov: Holiday Shopping Tips, Gift Certificates
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This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every situation is different. If you’ve been hurt in an accident, Larson Law offers free consultations: 508-888-8888.
