Late November is when many Salt Lake City med spas run holiday offers. A gift card, a prepaid package and a monthly membership can look alike at the front desk, but different rules cover each one.
Every rule below was read on an official government source on 9 November 2026. It is general consumer information, not legal or medical advice.
Which rule covers what you are buying
| What you are buying | Rule that applies (source) | What to ask before paying |
|---|---|---|
| A gift card or certificate for a dollar amount | Federal gift card rule, 12 CFR 1005.20 (CFPB): money on the card cannot expire for at least 5 years, and inactivity fees are limited. | Is there an expiry date or any fee? Is it printed on the card or receipt? Can it be used at every location? |
| A bonus or promotional card, such as an extra card with a purchase | Loyalty, award and promotional cards are excluded from the federal 5 year rule, but must still show certain terms (12 CFR 1005.20) | When does the bonus card expire? Which treatments and dates does it cover? |
| A prepaid package of treatment sessions | The written terms you agree to with the clinic. Sales and pricing problems go to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection | Can I get a refund for unused sessions? Can I transfer them? What happens if the clinic closes or my provider leaves? |
| A membership that renews by itself | FTC Negative Option Rule (the 2024 "click to cancel" version was struck down) | How do I cancel, and how much notice do I give? What happens to unused credits when I cancel? |
Gift cards: expiry and fees
A federal rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Regulation E at 12 CFR 1005.20, covers store gift cards and gift certificates that can be used at one business or a group of related businesses for goods or services. A med spa gift card sold for a dollar amount fits that description. Under the rule:
- The money on the card cannot expire until at least 5 years after the card was issued, or 5 years after money was last added.
- A dormancy, inactivity or service fee can only be charged after a full year with no use of the card.
- After that, no more than one such fee may be charged in any calendar month.
- The amount of the fee, how often it can be charged, and the fact that it can apply for inactivity must be clearly shown on the card.
If no fee is printed, the fee cannot be charged against the balance.
Read the card before you wrap it, and check any printed date or fee against the federal limits above.
Promotional and bonus cards
Many holiday offers add a bonus card when you buy a larger one. The federal rule leaves loyalty, award and promotional cards out of the 5 year minimum, though they must still carry certain disclosures, including any fees. Ask for the bonus card's expiry date and limits in writing.
If the med spa closes
The CFPB's consumer advice is direct: if a business closes, the card may not be redeemable. It suggests thinking about the financial condition of the business that sells the card.
Do not count on the state to hold a forgotten balance for you either. The Utah State Treasurer's unclaimed property office says true gift cards and gift certificates are exempt from reporting. A card is only reportable if it is registered with a name and a Utah address and can be redeemed for cash.
The FTC tells shoppers to save the gift card receipt, treat gift cards like cash, and report a lost or stolen card to the issuer right away.
Prepaid packages of treatments
Laser hair removal, microneedling and facials are often sold as a series paid up front. A package is an agreement with the clinic, and its terms decide what happens if plans change. Before you pay, ask for these answers in writing:
- Do the sessions expire, and when?
- Can unused sessions be refunded, and is there a fee to do that?
- Can the sessions be moved to another person or another treatment?
- What happens if your provider tells you a treatment is not right for you after the first visit?
- What happens if the clinic closes, changes owners or your provider leaves?
Keep the signed terms with your receipt.
Memberships that renew by themselves
A monthly membership usually renews until you cancel. Here is where the federal "click to cancel" rule stands, according to the FTC and the Federal Register:
- The FTC finalized its "click to cancel" amendments to the Negative Option Rule in October 2024.
- A federal appeals court, the Eighth Circuit, vacated those amendments in 2025, in Custom Communications, Inc. v. FTC.
- On 12 February 2026 the FTC restored the rule to the text it had before the 2024 changes.
- In March 2026 the FTC asked for public comment on whether and how to change the rule again. As of 9 November 2026 the FTC's rule page lists no new final rule.
So there is no federal rule in force today that requires a one click cancel button. Another notice must arrive 30 to 90 days before the last day you can cancel.
Before joining, ask how to cancel (online, by email or in person), how much notice is needed, whether there is a minimum term, and what happens to banked credits when you leave. When you cancel, get the confirmation in writing and check your next statement.
Check who will treat you
A gift card does not tell you who will give the treatment. Our guide to who treats you at a Utah med spa shows how to look up a provider's license before the visit. If a sale, refund or membership goes wrong, our page on reporting a med spa problem in Utah lists which office handles what.
Sources
All pages read on 9 November 2026.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Regulation E, 12 CFR 1005.20, Requirements for gift cards and gift certificates: consumerfinance.gov
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Giving or receiving gift cards? Know the terms and avoid surprises: consumerfinance.gov
- Utah State Treasurer, Unclaimed Property, reporting FAQ on gift cards: mycash.utah.gov
- FTC, Tips for holiday gift card shopping: consumer.ftc.gov
- FTC, Negative Option Rule page: ftc.gov
- Federal Register, Revision of the Negative Option Rule to conform to federal court decisions, 91 FR 6507 (12 February 2026): federalregister.gov
- FTC, press release on the negative option advance notice of proposed rulemaking (11 March 2026): ftc.gov
Planning a gift or a package this season? Book a consultation and ask for the gift card, package or membership terms in writing when the med spa calls you back.
Common questions
Do med spa gift cards expire in Utah?
Under the federal rule, money on a gift card sold for a dollar amount cannot expire for at least 5 years from when it was issued or last loaded.
Can a med spa charge a fee on an unused gift card?
Under the federal rule, only after 12 months with no activity, at most once a month, and only if the fee is shown on the card. Under Utah law, an unprinted fee cannot be deducted.
Is the FTC's click to cancel rule in effect?
No. A federal appeals court vacated the 2024 amendments in 2025, and the FTC restored the earlier rule in February 2026. The FTC asked for public comment on possible changes in March 2026.
Does my bonus holiday card follow the same rules?
Not always. Promotional and award cards are excluded from the federal 5 year minimum, so they can expire sooner. Ask for the expiry date.