New rules for gift cards sold by Manitoba shopping malls come into effect on Tuesday.
Gift cards sold by malls will no longer be subject to fees when the cards aren't used for 12 consecutive months.
The new rules specifically apply to gift cards sold by malls which can be used at multiple stores in a mall. Up until now, malls had been allowed to charge a fee of up to $2.50 if cards were left inactive for a year.
Malls were the last businesses allowed to charge annual administrative fees. Other Manitoba businesses were prohibited from charging fees on Nov. 1, 2007.
While the new rules don't take effect until Dec. 1, St. Vital Centre general manager Cheryl Mazur said the mall got rid of inactivity fees starting on Nov. 1, so shoppers buying cards as gifts for the holiday season wouldn't have to worry about inactivity fees.
Mazur said any cards bought before that date will still be subject to an inactivity fee if it's not used for 12 months.
The rules previously put into place prevent any business from charging any fees or putting an expiry date on gift cards unless the card is for a specific service or product or if the card is given out for free. Businesses are allowed to charge fees for a lost or stolen card.
Business who don't comply with the rules can face a penalty of up to $20,000.
