Forever 21 is a popular fast fashion retailer that allows customers to earn and use store credit for purchases. A common question many Forever 21 shoppers have is whether unused store credit expires after a certain period of time. This article will provide a detailed look at Forever 21’s store credit policies to help you understand if and when your credit may expire.
The Short Answer
Yes, Forever 21 store credit does expire. Unused store credit expires 12 months after it is issued. This means you have one year to use your Forever 21 store credit before it is no longer valid.
When Does Forever 21 Store Credit Expire?
All Forever 21 store credit expires exactly 12 months after the date it was issued. So if you received a store credit on March 1, 2022, it would expire on March 1, 2023. The expiration date is tied specifically to when the store credit was given, not the calendar year.
This 12-month expiration policy applies to all types of Forever 21 store credit, including:
- Credit from returns
- Gift cards or gift certificates
- Store credit issued for any other reason
In most cases, your store credit receipt will include the expiration date printed clearly at the bottom. However, even if you do not have the receipt, any unused credit will expire 364 days after you received it.
Does Forever 21 Provide Notice Before Store Credit Expires?
Unfortunately, Forever 21 does not provide any notice before your store credit expires. They do not send alerts, emails, or reminders about upcoming expiration dates. The only way to track when your credit will expire is to reference the expiration date printed on your original receipt.
Forever 21 expects customers to monitor their credit expiration dates independently. Make sure to mark your calendar when you receive any store credit, so you remember to use it within 12 months.
What Happens When Forever 21 Store Credit Expires?
Once Forever 21 store credit reaches its expiration date, it is no longer valid. Any unused balance remaining on the credit is forfeited.
Expired store credit cannot be used for purchases in-store or online. If you try to apply expired credit at checkout, it will be declined. The register system automatically voids any credit that has passed its expiration date.
Unfortunately, there is no way to reactivate or extend the validity of expired Forever 21 credit. Any unused balance is permanently lost. You cannot get a refund for unused expired credit either.
How to Check Your Forever 21 Store Credit Balance
To monitor how much you have left to use, you can check your Forever 21 store credit balance in a few ways:
- Ask an associate in-store
- Call 1-888-494-3837
- Check your receipt
Store associates can look up your credit balance when you are in a Forever 21 location. Just bring your receipt or gift card to the register.
You can also call Forever 21’s customer service line and provide the credit ID number from your receipt. An agent will let you know how much is still available.
As mentioned previously, your remaining balance is printed on the original store credit receipt. So hold onto your receipt to track how much you have used and how much is left before expiration.
Tips for Using Forever 21 Store Credit Before It Expires
Since Forever 21 store credit is only valid for one year, you want to remember to use it up in time. Here are some tips to help you use your credit before it expires:
- Set a reminder for the expiration date – Mark your calendar or set a reminder on your phone for one month before your credit expires. This gives you time to use it up.
- Use it for bigger purchases – Rather than small purchases, save your credit for a larger shopping trip to use the full balance.
- Shop seasonal sales – Look for big savings events like Black Friday or end-of-season sales to maximize your credit.
- Buy gift cards – If you won’t use all your credit in time, you can buy gift cards with the remaining balance to extend usage.
- Check your balance often – Frequently check how much credit you have left so you know how much more you need to spend.
Taking these steps will help ensure you use up all of your Forever 21 store credit within the 12-month validity period.
Does Forever 21 Store Credit Transfer or Reload?
Forever 21 store credit cannot be transferred to someone else or reloaded with more funds. The original credit issued is the only amount you can use before expiration.
If you received store credit as a gift, it can only be used by the intended recipient. You cannot transfer the balance to someone else.
It is also not possible to add more money to a Forever 21 store credit. The initial credit amount is the maximum that can be used before the expiration date.
Getting a Replacement for Lost or Damaged Store Credit
If your original Forever 21 store credit receipt or gift card becomes lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a replacement by contacting customer service.
To get a replacement credit, you will need to provide the original credit ID number, the purchase date, and the issuance amount. Forever 21 will verify your information and can issue you a new credit with the same expiration date.
Keep in mind that if your lost/damaged credit already expired, it cannot be replaced. A replacement can only be issued if the original credit is still valid.
Making Returns with Store Credit
If you make a purchase at Forever 21 using store credit, either in full or partially, you can still make returns and receive back the applicable credit. However, there are a few policies to be aware of:
- Returns made entirely with credit will be refunded back to store credit.
- Returns made partially with credit can be refunded back to your original payment source or to new store credit.
- Refunded credit keeps the same expiration date as the original credit used.
So if you use $50 in store credit to make a $100 purchase and need to return it, you could get $50 back to your original credit and $50 on your payment card. The $50 returned to store credit would keep the same expiration as before.
Does Store Credit Expire for Closed Accounts?
If you have unused Forever 21 store credit associated with a closed customer account, it can still expire per the standard 12-month policy.
Your account history and credit balance remain in Forever 21’s system even after an account is closed. So unused credit from a closed account would still expire 365 days after original issuance.
To avoid unused credit being forfeited on a closed account, try to spend any remaining balances prior to account closure. You can also request any credit balance be issued back to your original payment method if allowed under Forever 21’s policy.
Using Store Credit for Online Purchases
Forever 21 store credit can be used to make purchases on Forever21.com in addition to in-store. To redeem your credit online:
- Add desired items to your cart
- Proceed to checkout and select payment options
- Choose the “Gift Cards/Store Credit” payment method
- Enter the store credit number from your receipt
- Apply the credit balance to your order total
Your credit balance will be automatically validated and deducted from your online purchase total if the credit is unused and still valid.
Checking Your Balance Online
Unfortunately, Forever 21’s website does not allow you to look up your current store credit balance online. There is no online account management of store credits.
To check your credit amount remaining, you will need to call customer service, visit a store, or reference your original receipt. The only way to view your balance for web purchases is by applying your credit at checkout.
Using Credit In-Store vs. Online
Forever 21 store credit works the same whether you shop in-store or on Forever21.com. The policies and expiration dates are consistent for both channels.
The only difference is that you need to physically present your receipt or gift card when using credit in-store. Online, you simply enter the credit number at checkout instead.
No matter how you shop with Forever 21 though, all store credit expires 12 months after being issued, whether used online or in-store.
Can You Get Cash Back for Unused Credit?
Forever 21’s policy is that store credit cannot be exchanged for cash back or refunded back to your payment method. You are only able to redeem credit for merchandise purchases.
This means any unused store credit remaining when it expires cannot be cashed out or converted to actual money. The credit has no cash value and will simply be forfeited after the expiration date passes.
The Benefits of Store Credit
While it does expire, Forever 21 store credit offers a few nice advantages:
- It never goes down in value – The store credit amount remains equal to the issued amount regardless of price inflation or anything else while valid.
- No fees – Forever 21 gift cards and store credit don’t have any purchase fees, maintenance fees, or cash-out fees like some types of prepaid cards or store credit.
- Easy to understand – The policies are straightforward with a fixed 12-month expiration period.
As long as you are vigilant about remembering to use it up in time, Forever 21 credit can be a nice bonus and discount on your purchases.
Store Credit Alternatives
If you think you might forget to use Forever 21 store credit before it expires, some alternatives to consider are:
- Shop gift cards – Open-loop gift cards from Visa, Mastercard, or American Express do not expire, so leftover balances remain valid.
- Sell it – You can sell unused Forever 21 credit for cash on sites like CardCash or GiftCardGranny.
- Regift it – Give unused credit to a friend or family member who will use it in time.
Exchanging soon-to-expire credit for a gift card with no expiration or regifting it to someone else can help prevent you from losing unused balances when they expire.
Summary
- Forever 21 store credit expires 12 months after being issued
- Unused credit is forfeited after the expiration date passes
- No expiration reminders are sent
- Mark your calendar to use credit before 12 months is up
- Spend big or on gift cards to maximize expiring credit
- Credit cannot be reloaded, transferred, or converted to cash
Always check your Forever 21 store credit expiration when receiving any new credit, and set usage reminders. With some planning, you can avoid losing unused balances and enjoy the full value before your credit ultimately expires.
