We are being urged to check the expiry date, terms and conditions and charges on gift vouchers this Christmas. 

It comes after a new survey from the National Consumer Agency (NCA) reveals that 49% of consumers receive gift cards or gift vouchers as presents and yet almost half do not check the conditions of use. 

The NCA says its helpline received over 700 calls this year relating to the issue of gift vouchers alone.

Many were concerned about their rights if a company goes into liquidation. 

Karen O'Leary is Director of Public Awareness and Financial Education at the NCA.

"Gift vouchers or gift cards can be a good option for a present as they offer consumers flexibility and choice...There are a few simple questions that you can ask before you buy a gift voucher or gift card. Find out when it is due to expire, what happens if you don't spend the total value of the voucher in one go or the voucher gets lost" she said.

The agency is advising consumers to always ask a trader what their policy is on partially used vouchers - as some traders will give you a new voucher as change if the unused amount is over €5, or cash if the amount is less than that. 

However you are not automatically entitled to change and some traders will only allow you to spend the voucher in one go, even if you do not use the full amount.

Advice from the NCA

The research carried out on behalf of the NCA highlighted that nearly half of adults had received either gift cards or gift vouchers

While most did check the expiry date, just over half checked to see the conditions attached to the vouchers they had received. 

The following are a list of things to watch out for when buying or receiving gift vouchers:

• Watch out for expiry dates - in many cases gift vouchers or cards have an expiry date and you may not be able to use them after that date. If the expiry date is not clear or there is no expiry date on the gift voucher or gift card, find out what the expiry date is. If the voucher is a present for someone else pass on the information to the recipient.
• Always check the terms and conditions before you buy a gift voucher or gift card - you may be shocked to find that some traders will have a condition that says if the voucher is partially used the remaining balance is void.
• Take care of your gift voucher or gift card - if you lose a gift voucher, the shop who issued it is under no obligation to replace it. It's just like losing cash, so always keep the voucher somewhere safe.
• Check store policies to see what rules apply to balances left on gift vouchers or cards – do you have to spend the gift voucher or card amount all in one go? Find out what the stores policies are regarding unspent balances.
• Have a look to see if any charges apply – this should be mentioned in the terms and conditions. The charges may include an inactivity or maintenance fee, which may come into effect if you don't use the card within a certain period of time. Some airlines may charge an administrative fee for processing the purchase of gift vouchers.

Assistant-Director of Public Awareness and Financial Education at the NCA Aine Carroll has this advice.

Consumers are being urged to get advice from the NCA this Christmas: