A gift card crackdown has been proposed as American retailers and shoppers gear up for the rush of Holiday shopping season.  

The Federal government says it wants to protect consumers.  “The rules would protect consumers from certain unexpected costs and would require that gift card terms and conditions be clearly stated,” the Fed said in a press release.

According to a report from the Associated Press, “Under the proposed rule, consumers must have at least five years to use the gift cards before they expire. The Fed also said service or inactivity fees can be imposed only under certain conditions.