Requires Holds on Some Gift Certificate Sales
Virginia · HB689 · Introduced Jan 13, 2026
Why it matters
Shoppers buying gift cards for overseas use could face a one-day wait before the card works. Holders of gift certificates would keep more value because most fees would be banned.
What it does
- Requires a 24-hour hold before activating gift certificates sold in international transactions
- Requires expiration dates or phone or web info on gift certificates that have them
- Bans most dormancy and service fees on gift certificates, except promotional or award cards
- Requires local police to send gift certificate fraud reports to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center
Status
Latest action (2026-07-21): Continued from last session
About this bill
Would bar merchants from selling gift certificates in international transactions without a 24-hour hold on activation. Local police would also send gift certificate fraud reports to the FBI's internet crime center.
Perspectives
💬 The case for
Consumer groups would likely say fee limits protect people who rarely use gift cards. Fraud reporting rules could help police track scams.
💬 The case against
Some retailers would likely say the 24-hour hold adds delays for customers. They may also say fee limits cut income from unused cards.
Sponsored by
Sponsor details for this state bill are at the source link.
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