Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 19.240 · 9 active provisions
It is the intent of the legislature to relieve businesses from the obligation of reporting gift certificates as unclaimed property. In order to protect consumers, the legislature intends to prohibit acts and practices of retailers that deprive consumers of the full value of gift certificates, such as expiration dates,…
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1)(a) "Gift card" means a record as described in subsection (5)[(2)] of this section in the form of a card, or a stored value card or other physical medium, containing stored value primarily intended to be excha…
(1) Except as provided in RCW 19.240.030, it is unlawful for any person or entity to issue, or to enforce against a bearer, a gift certificate that contains:(a) An expiration date;(b) Any fee, including a service fee; or(c) A dormancy or inactivity charge.(2) If a gift certificate is issued with the sale of tangible pe…
(1) It is lawful to issue, and to enforce against the bearer, a gift certificate containing an expiration date if:(a) The gift certificate is issued pursuant to an awards or loyalty program for the gift certificate.(b) The gift certificate is donated to a charitable organization without any money or other thing of valu…
An issuer is not required to honor a gift certificate presumed abandoned under chapter 63.30 RCW, if reported and delivered to the department of revenue in the dissolution of a business association.
(1) A gift certificate constitutes value held in trust by the issuer of the gift certificate on behalf of the beneficiary of the gift certificate. The value represented by the gift certificate belongs to the beneficiary, or to the legal representative of the beneficiary to the extent provided by law, and not to the iss…
This chapter does not apply to gift certificates issued by financial institutions as defined in *RCW 30.22.041 or their operating subsidiaries that are usable with multiple unaffiliated sellers of goods or services.
An agreement made in violation of the provisions of this chapter is contrary to public policy and is void and unenforceable against the bearer.
Sections 1 through 12 of this act apply to:(1) Gift certificates issued on or after July 1, 2004; and(2) Those gift certificates presumed abandoned on or after July 1, 2004, and not reported as provided in chapter 63.30 RCW.