Pa. bill would eliminate gift card fees, expiration dates

A Pennsylvania senator has introduced legislation to eliminate expiration dates and inactivity fees that lower the value of gift cards.

Sen. Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin/Perry) said his proposal would go beyond the protections of the federal Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009.

The CARD Act says money on store-issued and bank-issued cards cannot expire before five years and inactivity fees are prohibited unless the card is not used for 12 months.

Teplitz’s measure, Senate Bill 150, would prohibit the sale of gift cards and gift certificates that have an expiration date, service charge, dormancy fee, account maintenance fee, cash-out fee, replacement card fee or activation or reactivation fee.

Pa. bill would eliminate gift card fees, expiration dates

IMPORTANT FOR PENNSYLVANIA PEOPLES!! Press: The Attorney General's Press Office

Over the past few weeks, the Office of Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection and the independent Office of Consumer Advocate each have received hundreds of calls and complaints from consumers regarding unexpected and dramatic spikes in the cost of their electricity. Complaints suggest that in some circumstances consumer electricity costs increased as much as 300 percent in recent months. Many of the consumers affected appear to have recently switched to variable-rate pricing for their electricity.

Attorney General Kane is asking consumers to be proactive and quickly submit complaints about abnormal and extreme increases in electricity rates on recent utility bills. Complaints should be sent with documentation on contracts, billing, and marketing from energy generation suppliers.

"These spikes in the price of electricity are alarming and have put many consumers, especially the poor and elderly, in a dire situation," Attorney General Kane said. "It is my duty to protect consumers and act on their behalf. We are looking at these price increases and will be prepared to take action to protect affected consumers."

The Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection is working collaboratively with the independent Office of Consumer Advocate to learn whether consumers have been improperly overcharged for their electricity.

(More information available at attached link)

Press: The Attorney General's Press Office - Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General