IrelandA pre-paid voucher expired before I could use it.
In Ireland, pre-paid vouchers must clearly state their expiry date, and if they expire, you generally lose the value — unless the terms are unfair or misleading under the Consumer Protection Act 2007.
What the Law Says
The Consumer Protection Act 2007 sets out rules about how businesses must treat consumers when selling pre-paid vouchers. Section 42 specifically addresses expiry dates and transparency.
Under Irish law, businesses that sell pre-paid vouchers (like gift cards or service vouchers) must make the expiry date clear to the consumer before purchase.
If a voucher expires and no extension or refund is offered, you usually cannot claim the remaining value — unless the expiry term is considered unfair, misleading, or contrary to good faith.
The law does not require businesses to extend or refund expired vouchers, but it does prohibit misleading practices — for example, hiding the expiry date or making it unreasonably short without justification.
Statutory TextA trader shall not supply a pre-paid card unless the card states clearly and prominently the date on which the card expires.
— Consumer Protection Act 2007, s. 42 — Pre-paid cards
What to Do
Check the voucher for a clearly printed expiry date — it must be prominent and legible.
Contact the business to ask if they’ll honour or extend the voucher — some may do so as goodwill.
If the expiry was hidden, unclear, or seemed deliberately misleading, complain to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
Keep your receipt and any communications — these support your complaint.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.