Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

DAVID Y. IGE
GOVERNOR

CATHERINE P. AWAKUNI COLÓN
DIRECTOR

STEPHEN H. LEVINS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2016

Consumer Alert: State Urges Consumers with Aeropostale Gift Cards

to Redeem Unused Balances Immediately

Company files for bankruptcy; consumers should use gift cards, return unwanted merchandise

HONOLULU – Stephen Levins, Executive Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affair’s Office of Consumer Protection, is urging Hawaii consumers who may be holding gift cards, certificates or store credits from Aeropostale to redeem their balances as soon as possible. Consumers are also urged to return unwanted merchandise immediately for a refund or exchange.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York on May 4 of this year, and is seeking to exit certain markets altogether, including Hawaii.  The details as to the liquidation of the Hawaii stores will likely come at a hearing currently scheduled for June 2.  Until then, the company is operating under interim approval from the bankruptcy court to proceed with business as usual.

“An important guideline with gift cards is to use them as soon as you can, because if a store closes or goes bankrupt, there may be little to no recourse for a consumer to recover an unspent balance,” said Executive Director Levins. “If you currently have an Aeropostale gift card, you should try to use it immediately in order to avoid losing whatever credit it contains.”

Aeropostale operates from three stores in Hawaii, located in Honolulu at Ala Moana Center, in Kaneohe at Windward Mall, and in Aiea at Pearl Ridge Mall.

# # #

Media Contact:
William Nhieu
Communications Officer
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Email:  [email protected]
Phone: (808) 586-7582