BEWARE

States are claiming unused gift card balances. In an attempt to help pay off debts, many states are considering legislation that will allow them to clan the balances on gift cards that go unused. About half of all states already collect unused gift card funds after two to five years of inactivity, even of the gift card has no expiration date. Self-defense: Only buy cards that allow you to register your information with the issuing company. Example: With an American Express gift card, you can associate a name and address with the card through the company's Web site or phone number. This can help you to retrieve the balance even if the card is lost or stolen.