Chris Mason of Yarrawarrah said she was upset by the treatment she received when told by shopkeepers that her gift card had a zero balance, when in fact it had a small credit.

Mrs Mason took her complaint to Westfield Miranda management and was offered a $10 gift voucher as recompense.

She said she was dissatisfaction at the amount as she still had two gift vouchers that she was unable to use.

"This has happened to me three times now,'' Mrs Mason said.

"The main one was finishing on December 31. It was for $500, but my husband and I had whittled it down.

"I was sure there was some money left, but when I went to use it in a shop they said it must be empty.

"As it had happened to me once, a year before, I checked with the Westfield Miranda desk and there was $6.60 or some [such] little amount left. I was told I could still use [the current gift card] and I said: `You tell me where I can use it and I will use it','' she said.

"I was told KFC, McDonald's or a chemist.''

Westfield spokeswoman Julia Clarke said customers were advised of the gift card terms and conditions upon purchase.

"Our retailers participate in the Westfield gift card program at their discretion, and shoppers are advised of this fact when they buy our gift cards,'' she said.

"This is also stated in our terms and conditions, which are provided to shoppers when they buy a gift card, as well as being posted on our website.

"If a retailer chooses to accept a gift card with less than $10 on it, the card itself will work.''

The terms and conditions are given to customers purchasing gift cards, and the wordy document states that not all retailers may accept the card.

But Mrs Mason said she was not advised of these conditions in a proper manner.

"They are not upfront with how to use the card,'' she said. ``It's wrong, and it's unfair. It's not about the money; it's the principle.''

Fair Trading spokeswoman Kimberley Ramplin said consumers were protected from false and misleading representations under the Trade Practices Act.

"This means that shoppers have the legal right to receive accurate information about the products they want to purchase without being misled,'' Ms Ramplin said.

"Given that the consumer has tried to resolve this issue directly, the NSW Office of Fair Trading would be pleased to pursue this matter with the trader if provided with all the relevant details.''