Spend It Before You Lose It

Consumers will soon find some changes when it comes to purchasing and using gift cards. The changes are part of the Credit Card Accountability,Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009.

Beginning August 22, the length of expiration for both universal and individual cards must be extended to a minimum of five years. As of now, many cards expire a year after the purchase date.

However it is not all good news.

"Now that they(banks) can no longer make money on the consumer end, they have taken those fees and moved them to the merchant, so our fees are going up," said Jamie Polli with the University Mall in South Burlington.

At University Mall that means the fee for purchasing a gift card will go from one dollar to three dollars. However, the monthly maintenance fee, currently used, will no longer be valid.

The change is supposed to protect consumers from unfair practices. Advice from the experts though, a gift card is like cash so spend it before you lose it.