Restaurant.com question

[tattud_gurl]

Does anyone know if these certificates have expiration dates on them? For any city

[mollyomormon]

The certificates say they expire one year from the date of purchase, but it's my understanding (and hopefully someone will know if I'm wrong), that one year limitation is inapplicable under California state law.

[groover808]

They're useful if you read the fine print and you still tip on the pre-discounted amount. Every so often the certificates are 60%-80% off too.

[soxlover]

To groover808: Many of the rest.com certificates specify that 18% gratuity will be added to the pre-discounted bill. That is the choice of the restaurant owner. Servers are less anxious about the outcome when they are guarenteed. Too often people forget that the amount of service doesn't decrease with the check. And many customers still tip extra on top. Where I work, we require the servers to remind the customer of the included tip when they present the discounted check.

[TNT Adventures]

I happen to have a printed one in front of me. mollyomormon is correct that in the state of California no gift cards or certificates can expire.

Here is the exact verbage on the gift certificate:

Expires one year from date of issue, except in California and where otherwise prohibited by law.

[jfood]

jfood thinks CT may beone of those "other" states. Anyone know for sure?

[LindaWhit]

This has been brought up before; Massachusetts law is 7 years from date of purchase, I believe. And yes, CT is one of those "other" states - no expiration, jfood.

http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_financial_services/003889.html

http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabi...

[jfood]

Thanks LW.

[bagelman01]

jfood..............

A little misinformation is a dangerous thing!

In CT GIFT Certificates cannot expire, HOWEVER, savings certificates can and do have expiration dates.

I have a restaurant.com certificate in my hand (while typing with my other hand) and it does not have the words 'Gift Certificate' on it anywhere.

So, for the rest of us in CT, be aware, when purchasing 'savings certificates' from places such as radio station websites, charities and restaurant.com they do expire and it is perfectly legal.

[jfood]

One additional item B

"Currently, two Connecticut mall owners, Simon Property Group and The Macerich Company, owners of Crystal Mall, Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets and Danbury Fair Mall, are circumventing state law by having their mall gift cards issued and administered by a federally chartered bank. A recent federal court ruling has permitted that practice, obviating a federal agency’s published decision that state law prevailed. Treasurer Nappier and Attorney General Blumenthal have called on Congress to prohibit dormancy fees and expiration dates, including those issued by federally chartered banks."

Jfood is very intrigued by the difference between savings and gift certificates. A little research is on the agenda. Nice.

[BobB]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that MA law states that if you put an expiration date on a card it must be at least seven years from the date of purchase, but if there is no expiration date printed on the card it's good indefinitely.

[LindaWhit]

I scrolled down in the 2nd link I provided and yes, you're right. I'm just so used to seeing expiration dates, I was just answering with what I knew at the time.

[enbell]

Has anyone experienced a restaurand closing/going out of business before using a "savings certificate"? A restaurant for which I purchased a certificate recently closed down, and attempts to communicate with Restaurant.com (two e-mails, one phone call) have been ignored.

[LindaWhit]

You might have already seen this, but from their FAQ page:

"What do I do if I attempt to use a Gift Certificate and the restaurant is closed or not accepting my Gift Certificate?
~~~~
This is a rare issue but sometimes restaurants go out of business or change owners without informing Restaurant.com. If you attempt to use a valid Restaurant.com Gift Certificate and the restaurant is closed or not accepting your certificate, please contact our customer service department. You may reach them by email at [e-mail] (include your Gift Certificate number) or call us at 1-800-979-8985 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Central Standard Time and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Our customer service department will exchange your unused Gift Certificate for a credit to Restaurant.com. This will allow you to choose another restaurant or merchant certificate from Restaurant.com. We appreciate your assistance in keeping our site as up-to-date as possible. You can help other Restaurant.com customer’s by informing us about your experience. "

Also, you might want to try writing their corporate headquarters, attention Customer Service, if you're not getting any responses from EMails and phone calls. (I always wait for someone to come on the line when I call, if possible, vs. "leaving a message". I find I never get responses from "leaving a message" at places like this.)

Corporate Address
Restaurant.com
1500 West Shure Drive, Suite 200
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004

[enbell]

Thank you, Linda. I have done everything you suggested short of a real letter in the mail. Thank you for the address. I will get one off to them!

[LindaWhit]

Perhaps copy the Attorneys General offices in both your state AND the state they're located in. That might get a response. ;-)

[melpy]

Why they say it doesn't happen often is beyondnme. Most restaurant.cOm places near is are the ones having trouble. This has happened to us on many occasion.

[Lyn123]

I'm late to this thread by years but I called the number Linda posted and the man who answered said the cards never expire. Good to know since I have some that are more than a year old!

[TroyTempest]

yep, on the 4 or 5 that i have it says plain as day "no expiration date"