New Michigan Law Makes Gift Certificates Keep Their Value

From?http://www.chinalightindustry.com/
Tag?I think it's only fair?a gift certificate during a sale?gift certificates?a good chunk of money

Rachelle Powell felt she got shafted when she couldn't use a gift certificate at the former Speakeasy Restaurant after it announced it was closing in February.
The Mt. Morris Township woman says the experience left a sour taste in her mouth and she's glad retailers will no longer be able to get away with refusing gift certificates under a new law.
"I think it's only fair, " Powell said.
Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm has signed into law legislation that strengthens consumer protections on gift cards and gift certificates.
One of the provisions prohibits retailers from refusing to accept a gift certificate during a sale, closeout or liquidation. The package of new laws also bans most "inactivity" service fees on gift certificates.
Rachelle and her husband, Keith, received a $100 gift certificate to Speakeasy in Flushing Township for Christmas from their daughter.
Two months later, they learned the restaurant was going out of business and showed up to use their gift certificate.
"They knew there was a problem when they were selling those gift certificates and were getting cash and we didn't get anything except a piece of paper, " she said.
"That was a good chunk of money from (our daughter). We felt we had an obligation to go use that so we could tell her we enjoyed that. Who would have dreamed that we would have to race to use it that quickly."
Speakeasy Owner John Bonardelli previously stated that he announced his plans to close a few days early, partly because he wanted people to be able to use their gift certificates. He could not be reached for comment Monday.