Don't discard expired gift certificates, Taiwanese professor advises

Consumers in Taiwan are often quick to discard expired gift certificates, assuming they are worthless. However, Assistant Professor Chin Pang-chung (靳邦忠) of National Tsing Hua University, who previously served as a consumer protection officer for Hsinchu County, urges people not to throw them away. He highlights that expired gift certificates can still hold value and be used by simply paying the price difference.

Chin, who gained attention for not signing a political pledge during a mayoral candidate selection, now focuses on consumer rights advocacy through his "Ah-Chung's Classroom" (阿忠講堂) video series. His recent short video on expired gift certificates has resonated widely online, garnering significant attention and praise.

According to Taiwan's "Standard Contract for Gift Certificates (Goods and Services)," businesses are obligated to honor the value of expired gift certificates. Chin explains that the certificate's face value is equivalent to cash. For example, if a theme park offered a discounted ticket for 800 NT dollars during a promotional period, originally priced at 1,000 NT dollars, the park cannot refuse the expired voucher when the price returns to normal. Instead, they can ask the customer to pay the 200 NT dollar difference.

Chin also clarified the meaning of "trust effective period" sometimes seen on gift certificates. This indicates that the merchant has placed the gift certificate's value in a bank as a guarantee. If the business fails, consumers can claim their money from the bank within the guarantee period. He reiterates that consumers should not discard expired gift certificates to avoid losing their rights.