Costco has recalled Synergy World gift cards it sold after being notified that Synergy Gift Card Network/Synergy World stopped operating as of January 31, 2026.
According to a February 17 report by ABC, Costco said customers who are unable to use remaining balances after that date may return the cards to a nearby Costco store for a refund.
The recalled products include gift cards purchased between October 27, 2025 and January 26, 2026. Notification letters have been sent to affected customers.
Synergy World stated that it recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy (a liquidation filing) <internalreference:Feb.11,G−1>and decided to discontinue its restaurant gift card program. As a result, the cards can no longer be used at affiliated restaurants nationwide, including in California, where they were previously accepted at up to 400 partner locations. A list of affected restaurants has not yet been released.
Although Costco generally does not offer refunds for gift card purchases, the company said it will make an exception in this case.
Concerns about potential consumer losses had been raised earlier after the gift cards became effectively useless following the issuer’s bankruptcy.
BY YEONGCHAE SONG [song.yeongchae@koreadaily.com]
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