Consumer Affairs Offers Tips on Valentine’s Day Gift Certificates

Nashville, TN – The rush to find the perfect gift ahead of Valentine’s Day (Sunday, February 14th, 2016) is in full swing, and gift certificates are a quick and easy way to make your loved one’s day.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance’s Division of Consumer Affairs offers a few helpful tips for consumers who are considering purchasing gift certificates or discounted services for Valentine’s Day.

When you are sold a gift certificate in the State of Tennessee, remember:

• In general, the expiration date must be at least two years after the date it was issued to you.
• You should not be charged a fee for the gift certificate to be issued to you.
• Within two years of purchasing the gift certificate, you should not be charged service fees (including dormancy fees, latency fees, or administrative fees) that reduce the total value of the gift certificate.
• A gift certificate does not include prepaid cards.
• As always with shopping, be aware of return policies which are typically displayed in the store, on the receipts or on the businesses website.
• Be sure to ask about the locations where the gift certificate(s) can be redeemed.
• Inquire about the terms and conditions associated with purchasing and redeeming the gift certificate(s).

Websites like Groupon or Living Social are commonly used to purchase discounted services as gifts. Those services might include a free or discounted hair-styling, manicure, or pedicure. Before purchasing a discounted service, call the company or individual offering the discount to ensure the offer is legitimate.

Remember these tips when you visit a hair salon or nail salon to redeem your gift certificate or discount for services:

• A manager or managing owner must be on site when the shop is open for business.
• Everyone providing a service must have an active license at all times.
• Instruments must be sanitized after every use.
• Footbaths must be cleaned and disinfected after every use.
• In every shop, a current Tennessee license and graded inspection sheet should be posted for the public to view.

The Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners has more than 67,000 licensees in the State of Tennessee. For more information about the Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, visit www.tn.gov/regboards.

Also, visit www.verify.tn.gov to ensure the individual or company is properly licensed to operate in the State of Tennessee. For more consumer tips, or to file a complaint, visit www.tn.gov/consumer.