Gift card expiration

I had received a gift card from a relative from Boardmans. Since I had no immediate use for it, I kept inquiring from the Edcon store group as to when the card would expire. Each time I was assured the card would expire but that the funds would not. Two days in a row I have been to Boardmans in order to use it and I have been refused, saying the card had expired. I called the head office and a lady assured me twice that the store was able to transfer the funds for me to another card. I have not used a cent of the gift card and I am frustrated and extremely annoyed with the service and treatment I have recieved. Boardmans sit with the cash in their till while the customer looses out. Had I not been assured on numerous occasions that the money could be transferred I would have used it in the time. A big disappointment to me.