In most cases, you cannot return a gift card for a cash refund, even if it is unused and you have the receipt. Retailers generally consider gift cards non-refundable to prevent fraud. While some policies vary by store, most consider all sales final once the card is activated.
No, most gift cards are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash, as they are treated like cash and often have "final sale" policies, even with a receipt. However, you can often get store credit if you return items purchased with a gift card, and sometimes you can cancel an online purchase within a short window (like 14 days) for a refund. Legal rights vary, but generally, retailers aren't obligated to refund a gift card itself.
Selling gift cards for cash. There are several third-party websites that allow you to exchange gift cards for cash. There are typically restrictions, such as no cards with expiration dates, promotional cards that can only be used in certain areas or non-transferable cards.
In the UK, gift voucher rules require clear display of expiry dates (usually 12-24 months, starting from purchase), which must be fair and visible, not hidden. Buyers get a 14-day cooling-off period for online purchases to cancel and get a refund, but this doesn't apply to in-store or paper vouchers. Retailers can refuse expired vouchers, but some might honour them, and after three years (the statutory limitation period), customers can claim a refund for the value.
While it may take gift cards years to expire, experts say it's still wise to spend them quickly. Some cards — especially generic cash cards from Visa or MasterCard — will start accruing inactivity fees if they're not used for a year, which eats away at their value. Inflation also makes cards less valuable over time.
If you received a gift card to a store you don't shop at or restaurant you don't like, you're not out of luck. Several legitimate websites like Gift Card Granny, Card Cash, and Raise let you sell your unwanted gift cards for cash or trade them for other cards.
That's because laws passed in 2019 mean gift cards have to be valid for three years after the day they were supplied or bought. But that doesn't apply to all gift cards — some have to be activated within a certain time frame, or the funds could expire.
UK returns law gives consumers rights for faulty goods (Consumer Rights Act 2015) and distance purchases (Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013), allowing full refunds within 30 days for faulty items and a 14-day "change of mind" cancellation period for online/phone orders, plus 14 days to return; retailer policies can't remove these statutory rights but can offer better terms (e.g., longer periods). You must get a refund if goods are faulty (not quality/described/fit), but for change of mind, online returns usually require 14 days' notice and return, while in-store change of mind is often at the retailer's discretion unless faulty.
You generally can't directly transfer most gift card balances to a bank account due to issuer policies, but you can use workarounds like linking Visa/Mastercard gift cards to PayPal or Venmo and then transferring to your bank, using platforms like CardCash to sell them for cash, or for specific cards like Amazon, using Amazon Pay to withdraw funds, though selling often results in less than face value, notes PayPal and Eneba.
In short: Physical gift cards bought online are typically treated as goods. The purchaser usually has 14 days from delivery to cancel and a further 14 days to return the item. You must refund the purchase price (and standard delivery) within 14 days of receiving the returned item or evidence of return.
Gift cards do not expire. If lost, stolen, or damaged, the card can be replaced for any remaining value if satisfactory proof of purchase is provided. However, most states have mandatory cash-back requirements that can allow you to be refunded for the remaining balance on a partially used gift card.
Over time, unused gift cards are accounted for as "breakage," representing the estimated funds that will never be redeemed. Companies often recognize this as revenue, contributing to their profits. In many states, unclaimed gift card funds are subject to escheat laws.
No, most gift cards are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash, as they are treated like cash and often have "final sale" policies, even with a receipt. However, you can often get store credit if you return items purchased with a gift card, and sometimes you can cancel an online purchase within a short window (like 14 days) for a refund. Legal rights vary, but generally, retailers aren't obligated to refund a gift card itself.
If you return an item bought with a gift card, the refund generally goes back onto the same gift card or a new store credit/gift card, not cash, because the retailer is returning funds to the original method. If you used a gift card plus another payment method, the partial refund usually goes to the gift card, with the rest returning to the other payment method; but some retailers might refund the other method first. Always keep the original gift card or e-gift card details for returns.
Another way to get the cash value of your gift card is to use a conversion, exchange, or selling platform. These services all charge a fee, but they may provide the simplest way to turn your gift card balance into cash.
1Voucher cannot be exchanged for cash or refunded in cash. Once a 1Voucher has been purchased it can only be redeemed at selected 1Voucher partners and is valid for three years.
Gift vouchers sold after 2 December 2019 must have no expiry date or be valid for at least 5 years. If there is more than €1 left on your gift voucher after a purchase, the seller must refund you the balance. They can do this with cash, transfer it electronically to your bank or by giving you another gift voucher.
