Important Gift Card, Returns Deadlines For Bankrupt Pharmacy Chain

PENNSYLVANIA — State Attorney General Dave Sunday on Monday warned that consumers have a looming June 6 deadline to use any Rite Aid gift cards, coupons or other rewards because of the pharmacy chain's bankruptcy. "Beyond that date, consumers cannot redeem gift cards, Rewards Programs points or bonus cash," the attorney general said in a statement.

Also, the stores will stop accepting returns or exchanges on June 4.

Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time on May 5. The company subsequently announced that it is closing dozens of Pennsylvania stores. It's also listing virtually all of its 1,240 stores for sale.

“I am encouraging Rite Aid customers to make returns and exchanges, and redeem gift cards and rewards points as soon as possible,” Sunday said in a statement. “These deadlines are approaching fast, and accrued points and gift card balances will soon become valueless.”

Sunday said that anyone experiencing issues redeeming their Rite Aid points, coupons, unused gift cards, or with returning merchandise to Rite Aid should submit a complaint to the Bureau of Consumer Protection online, or they may contact the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555.

According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Rite Aid also is laying off nearly 600 people at its Philadelphia headquarters by June 4. Another 501 people are losing their jobs at a Rite Aid location in Etters, York County.

The Department of Labor & Industry has announced it will host a virtual rapid response information meeting for employees affected by the layoffs on Wednesday. The online session, which requires online registration, will provide information to impacted workers on PA CareerLink services, unemployment compensation, health insurance and additional local and state resources.