The two gift cards were purchased in store in Ireland and are fully protected under the Irish Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019,
a customer pointed out to high-end retailer Flannels after her vouchers were declined, The Irish Times reported. The high-end retail chain, owned by the UK-based Frasers Group, has faced scrutiny over its gift card policies in the Republic of Ireland after attempting to enforce a two-year expiry limit on vouchers that legally must remain valid for five years under Irish statutory law.
Flannels Rejects Vouchers Over Two-Year Limit
The dispute began when a customer named Audrey attempted to use two €100 gift vouchers at the Flannels store on St Patrick’s St in Cork. The vouchers had been issued in January 2023 and January 2024. Store assistants declined both cards because they had exceeded the retailer’s corporate two-year expiry limit. Flannels is currently running a closing down sale in Cork after opening its branch three years ago and closing its Blanchardstown location during the summer.
Following the rejection in-store, Audrey contacted the retailer’s customer service department by email to request reinstatement. A customer service representative refused the request, stating in an email that the gift card expired in accordance with the corporate two-year validity period. The representative acknowledged Audrey’s reference to Irish consumer protection legislation but maintained that the company’s decision remained unchanged.
Legal Obligations Under the Consumer Protection Act
Under the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019, all gift vouchers sold by retailers and service providers operating in the Republic of Ireland must carry a minimum validity period of five years. Corporate policies that restrict voucher validity to 24 months breach Irish statutory law. The statute overrides any individual company’s internal terms and conditions.
When contacted regarding the dispute, representatives for Frasers Group initially offered to extend the vouchers as a goodwill gesture
if the customer provided the voucher numbers. After further correspondence clarifying that complying with statutory minimums is a legal obligation rather than a favor, the retailer agreed to correct the vouchers to a five-year term and issue reminders to staff regarding Irish voucher laws.
Broader Retail Scrutiny in the Irish Market
This incident follows a similar enforcement issue earlier in the year involving JD Sports. Following queries from consumer advocates, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) investigated JD Sports, revealing that 5,500 online gift cards had carried incorrect expiry dates. That retailer was subsequently forced to issue refunds totaling a quarter of a million euros.
The recent intervention at Flannels raises questions regarding how many restricted-expiry vouchers have been sold across brands operating under the Frasers Group umbrella in the Irish market since the 2019 legislation took effect. While the retailer ultimately agreed to correct the specific vouchers belonging to Audrey, communication ceased after investigators asked how many other two-year expiry cards had been issued locally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Irish Gift Voucher Laws
What is the minimum expiry period for gift vouchers in Ireland?
Under the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019, gift vouchers sold in the Republic of Ireland must remain valid for at least five years from the date of purchase.
Can a retailer enforce a two-year corporate policy in Ireland?
No. Irish statutory law overrides any retailer’s internal terms and conditions, meaning a 24-month expiry limit is legally void for vouchers sold within the State.
What happened when JD Sports breached similar regulations?
An investigation by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission found that 5,500 online gift cards carried incorrect expiry dates, forcing the company to issue roughly a quarter of a million euros in refunds.
How can consumers challenge an expired voucher?
Customers can cite the Consumer Protection (Gift Vouchers) Act 2019 directly to the retailer or report non-compliant businesses to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
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