NEWARK
– The New Jersey Division of Consumer
Affairs today reminded shoppers to know their
rights about gift cards and item refunds and
to check the national list of recalled toys
before going online or to stores this holiday
season.
“A
safe and pleasant holiday shopping begins
with consumers knowing how New Jersey’s
laws and regulations protect them in the marketplace,”
said David Szuchman, Director of the Division
of Consumer Affairs. “Any suspected
violations committed by merchants should be
reported to us for investigation.”
Szuchman
noted the following highlights for consumers:
Gift
Cards:
-
No gift card or gift certificate can expire
for 24 months after purchase;
-
No dormancy fee can be imposed within the
first 24 months following purchase or within
the 24 month period following last use of
the gift card;
-
After 24 months of non-activity, the issuer
may charge a maximum dormancy fee of $2
per month; and
-
The gift card must include a telephone number
to call for information about its expiration
date or dormancy fees.
Refunds:
-
Retailers must conspicuously post their
refund policy for all merchandise in one
of the following locations:
-
Attached to the item itself;
-
Affixed to each cash register or at point
of sale;
-
Situated as to be clearly visible to the
buyer from the cash register; or
-
Posted at each store entrance used by the
public.
Store
Lay-A-Way:
-
Know the terms of the store’s lay-a-way
plan. Do not assume lay-a-way is free.
Rainchecks:
Retailers
must offer a raincheck to all customers when
advertised merchandise is not available for
purchase, unless the merchandise is advertised
as being available in a specific quantity
(i.e. “10 per store”) or in “limited
supply.” When a raincheck is issued:
-
The retailer has 60 days to honor the raincheck,
unless the consumer holding the raincheck
agrees to an extension;
-
If the item costs more than $15, the retailer
must give written or telephonic notice to
the consumer when the item becomes available;
and
-
After such notice is given, the item must
be held for the consumer for at least 10
days or the end of the 60-day raincheck
period (whichever is greater).
Online
Purchases:
-
Be certain the web site is secure or uses
encryption before entering personal and
credit card information; look for “https”
in the web site address;
-
Print out a transaction record for each
purchase and keep it to resolve any issues
regarding the item being purchased; and
-
Do not click on links contained in unsolicited
emails from supposed shopping web sites;
Toy
Safety:
The
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has
authority to issue recalls for unsafe or dangerous
toys. Consumers can check the list of recalled
toys via the Division’s web site at
www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/recall/recalls.htm.
Charitable
Giving:
All
charities doing business in New Jersey must
be registered, unless the charity raises less
than $10,000 annually and does not use paid
fund raisers to solicit donations.
To
verify whether a charity is registered, check
the online registry maintained by the Division
at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/charity/chardir.htm.
Know
the warning signs of a scam. If you receive
a telephone call from a charity asking for
a donation:
-
Avoid being pressured into making an immediate
donation;
-
Beware if you are offered a prize or gift
in return for your donation;
-
Do not give credit card information to an
unknown person over telephone; and
-
Never agree to have a messenger or delivery
person come to your home to pick up your
donation.
When
receiving a solicitation for a donation by
mail, remember:
-
Trinkets and other items accompanying the
donation request are gifts. You are not
required to send a donation because you
received a trinket or item;
-
Be dubious if the charity claims you made
a past donation or pledge but have no record
of it; and
-
Ignore harassing letters that demand payment
of a donation pledge that you have no record
or recollection of making.
Consumers
may file complaints with the Division online
at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp/ocpform.htm
or by calling 1-800-242-5846
(toll free within N.J.) or 973-504-6200.
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