Treasurer Zweifel Reminds Missourians to Hold on to Gift Cards, Certificates

JEFFERSON CITY – Holiday shopping hits high gear on Black Friday. With so much of that shopping being done in the form of gift cards and certificates, State Treasurer Clint Zweifel is reminding Missourians to keep track of these small pieces of plastic and paper because in Missouri even an expired gift card or certificate is never really expired; it just might be Unclaimed Property.

“This year alone, I have returned $130,000 worth of gift cards and certificates to Missourians, and there is $5.8 million waiting to be claimed,” Zweifel said. “By law the remaining value on gift cards and certificates is turned over to me after five years. It is essential Missourians keep track the cards and certificates because even if they are expired they may be able to get their money from my Unclaimed Property team. The average claim right now is $300, and that is money that I think any family would like to have to pay for holiday gifts, utility bills and travel.”

If a Missourian believes his or her expired gift card may have become Unclaimed Property, they should first check with the business that their unused gift card was originally from to see if it is redeemable. If the business will not redeem the card or certificate, owners should then check www.ShowMeMoney.com to see if their name is listed.

If the owner’s name is not listed on the website and he or she has a gift card or certificate with value a business will not redeem, the card owner should email Treasurer Zweifel’s office at unclaimedproperty@treasurer.mo.gov.

Not all credit from gift cards and certificates is turned over with account owner contact information, so having the physical card or certificate may help an individual claim their property.

Since January 2009, Treasurer Zweifel has returned $102 million in Unclaimed Property to more than 297,000 account holders. He and his staff are breaking records and making it easier than ever to find and claim your Unclaimed Property.