New Jersey lawmakers still want to steal unused gift cards
Last summer, New Jersey ammended the state’s Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, allowing the state to seize (steal) unused money on gift cards. The law was signed by Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.). In November, a judge temporarily struck down the law. How I missed this before, I just don’t know, as is a prime example of actions that would be considered criminal if done by a private party.
Gift cards may certainly be convenient for many, but I think they are a pain in the you-know-what. They can cause trouble for both merchants and customers who willingly enter into financial agreements. Cards can easily be lost by the customer, and the merchant has to figure out the accounting when a customer holds onto the card. Of course, you also have the issue with merchants going bankrupt.
Not to mention, you always end up having a 97 cent balance on that damn card…
New Jersey – like most other states – spelled out regulations concerning gift cards and gift certificates back in 2005 and 2006 when customers were complaining about fees and cards expiring. Those mean corporations got to keep the money after they expired, even though the terms were clear when the cards were purchased.
Well, the law in New Jersey that prohibited cards from expiring within two years and limited fees to protect consumers was not enough, especially after New Jersey found out they could scoop up almost $80 million a year in unclaimed property. This revision of the law steals from consumers.
On July 1, 2010, New Jersey passed a revision to the Uniform Unclaimed Property law stating that gift cards – which were not previously covered by the unclaimed property act – are presumed abandoned after two years. This includes paper gift certificates and rebates cards. The law also reduces the time to redeem travelers’ checks and money orders from 15 years to three years and seven years to three years, respectively. Finally, the law forbids fees charged on stored value cards and limits the amount of dormancy fees businesses can charge on travelers’ checks.
Got that? Since you have not used the card in more than two years, you obviously don’t need the funds. The other option would be the merchant gets to keep the funds per the agreement you had with the merchant. Well, the big, bad, evil companies certainly can not be allowed to keep the money!
So the state collects the funds as “unclaimed property” to support the collective.
Oh come on! What the heck gives the state the power to stick it’s nose into the transaction between private parties? If I leave a savings account dormant for a few years, at what point will the state deem the funds unclaimed property? I enter an agreement with a bank to have them hold my money in return for interest. Just because I don’t make any deposits or withdrawals for a few years certainly does not mean I’m OK with the state taking it in support of the collective good.
They, of course, would figure I don’t need it since I have not spent it. They, of course, would remind the public it’s not our money. (Yes I know, banks are heavily regulated … just using this as an analogy.)
In November, a judge put a hold on the revisions made during the summer, and just today a few stories popped up indicating New Jersey’s state legislature was going to keep fighting to keep the cash for themselves. Mind you, this revision is not aimed at consumer protection. The clear goal is to steal money from consumers and businesses to keep it for the state, to spend on the needs of the collective.
These types of seizures are not new. In May of 2006, Connecticut’s attorney general – now Senator-elect Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) – felt the $6 million held by bottle distributors representing deposits you paid for bottles of soda and cans of beer belonged to “the people” (i.e. the government) and they stole it from the bottle distributors who were holding the funds in escrow.
I’m generally a fan of Gov. Christie, but I’m displeased – to say the least – that he signed the revision to the state’s unclaimed property legislation last summer. He needs to rethink his position and allow the judicial branch to kill the amended law.
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UNBELIEVABLE!! This government is out of control!!! They remind me of low-life mobsters/gansters who bully, threaten, coerce, and take what doesn't belong to them.
What gives them the right to think that they have any dibs on that money??? What was the thought process that led them to believe that they are in line to profit from that money???
Honestly!!! I'm going to borrow a line from Charlie Brown…"AAUGH!!!"
And Chris Christie…I knew he was too good to be true.
Why it is just eminent domain for your money. It isn't enough that they confiscate more than half your money in overall taxes and fees, and consider your estate unfit to control your assets after death, but now, they will "deem" that your money is not yours because you haven't used it. The bottom line: every time money moves, the government gets a cut, and if you aren't moving money, they don't get to skim off the top. Control the means of production AND the means of consumption!! They have done Marx one better.
Now watch what they plan for your 401K retirement savings, as they follow in the footsteps of the other socialists in Europe.
Just when I thought I found a silver lining, Gov. Christie disappoints me. Confiscation of wealth no longer is directed at the wealthy; they are after all of us, folks. Dimsdale, as always, nails it. What is next? 401k, IRA, CD's, Savings & checking accounts, escrow accounts, annuities, CASH in the mattress? Think about it. What is to stop them?
"Hey, Mr. Citizen, that cash has been sitting in your wallet for over two weeks hand it over!" Government mugging!
When we die; what is next? You don't have a need that gold and silver in those teeth of yours; government must take it. Reminds me of that evil little fellow with the funny mustache 7 decades ago!
They are emboldened every time they get away with treachery.
CT legislators are getting away with charging CL&P customers a "tax" to fill the budget gap. UI customers will have this same "tax" in a year or 2. But not Bozrah, Norwich, Wallingford and other CT electric utilities. This goes back to April 15th 2010 http://www.courant.com/business/hc-clp.artapr15,0… This is NOT a tax – it is theft.
Only taxing SOME state residents, but not all. And only 1 elected official is trying to stop this. And the judge threw out the case because he didn't feel all other options had been exercised. No veto by Rell !!! Crickets from Blumenthal !!
Of course 401k's are next. After a 60% drop in 2008 my 401k is rebounding like mad – 20% in 2009, 22% in 2010. Why? So it can be stolen, just like Social Security, and an other money not physically in your hands. Assets like mortgages are now in Gov't hands – sure beats the politicallly unpopular eminent domain but accompllishes the same thing.
The banks know hold a check for a couple of days before it clears. And the bank makes the interest on it while it waits to clear – not you or I.
And as far as assuming things are theirs when it isn't – Try Cass Sunstein's (Czar of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), position on organ donations: He pushes for a default YES on donating instead of the current NO. The individual would have to opt out of donating. Clearly destroying individual rights. Where are those "Keep your laws off my body" folks when you need them? Different perspectives: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/53534# and http://writ.news.findlaw.com/colb/20090914.html He is another Harvard elite by the way. Does this not stink of Fabian socialism?