Q: Is it illegal for university meal plan points to expire after 11 weeks? Especially in California.
University meal plan points are strikingly similar to gift cards, stored value, etc. I know there are laws in California pertaining to the expiration of gift card points, stored value, etc. University meal plan points expire after 11 weeks. Is this illegal?
A: I assume you knew that when the plan was purchased. If so, the terms were accepted by you, and it became a legally binding contract.
A: A school's meal plan is substantially different than a restaurant's gift card. The use of a similar card is irrelevant.
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A:
In California, while gift cards and certain stored value cards cannot expire under the California Gift Certificate Law, university meal plans may not necessarily fall under the same category as these consumer gift cards or stored value cards. The rationale behind the non-expiration of gift cards is to protect consumers from losing prepaid value. However, universities might argue that meal plans are different, perhaps due to the perishable nature of food or other logistical reasons.
That said, if students feel that such a policy is unfair, especially if it's not clearly disclosed at the time of purchase, there may be grounds for a complaint. It would be important to review the terms and conditions associated with the meal plan. Students concerned about this practice may wish to seek advice from an attorney familiar with consumer protection laws or university policies in California. They might also consider discussing the matter with student representatives or university administration to address potential concerns.
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