# Expiry and reminders - Giftline 1.x documentation

> Gift cards don't expire unless you set them to; when they do, customers get a reminder first and the balance is written off after the date.

Gift cards don't expire by default. In many countries and states a gift card may not expire at all, or only after several years, and some require the expiry date to be printed on the card. Check the law where you sell before you set one.

## Turning expiry on

Under **WooCommerce → Giftline**:

- **Gift cards expire after**: a number of months. `0` (the default) means gift cards never expire.
- **Remind before expiry**: how many days before the date the customer gets the **Gift card expiry reminder** email, while the card still has a balance. Default 30; `0` for no reminder.

The expiry applies to cards made from then on, counted from the day each card is made: bought, created by staff or through the API. Cards made earlier keep the date they had (or none). Imported cards take the date in their `expires` column; left empty, they get the default expiry like a new card. Store credit never expires.

The date is in the gift card email, on the printable card ("Valid until …") and in the balance check.

## What happens on the date

Once a day, Giftline:

1. emails the reminder for cards whose date is within the reminder days, once per card;
2. expires the cards whose date has passed: the remaining balance is written off with an **Expired** entry in the history, and the status becomes **Expired**;
3. combines old history entries, when **Keep history for** is set (see [Settings and emails](settings-and-emails)).

An expired card can't be used, and its balance no longer counts as outstanding.

## Changing a card's date

On the card's screen under **WooCommerce → Gift cards**, **Details → Expires** sets, moves or clears one card's date. Leave it empty for no expiry.

Moving an expired card's date into the future makes it **Active** again with a zero balance: what expired stays written off. Add it back with **Change balance** if you want the customer to have it.

Source: https://extendiment.com/plugins/giftline/docs/1.x/expiry-and-reminders