From Bankrate.com: "The lowdown on gift cards," by Lucy Lazarony--
Before you give that hard-to-shop-for someone a gift card, be sure to take a close look at the fees that come with it.There's nothing remotely festive about monthly maintenance charges and other fees your gift card recipient may be tagged with. And the hefty shipping, handling and service fees charged to the gift-card giver can take a big chunk out of any budget. As appealing and convenient as gift cards may be, you'd better take a good look at the boring old fine print that comes with it.
And while several states have passed new gift card laws aimed at bolstering consumer protections, being a smart and savvy card shopper is still the best protection of all.
Follow the link to see the "10 important questions every gift card giver and recipient should ask." And to find out what steps have been taken in Illinois to protect consumers, see "Illinois Passes Law to Protect Consumers."