Grab Codes should not expire as per Philippine law

Grab codes are treated as vouchers and not as gift certificates. See below the direct explanation from Grab headquarters

We understand that GrabGift vouchers are not covered by the Gift Check Act inasmuch as GrabGifts fall within the definition of “Coupon or Voucher”.

A Coupon or Voucher, is “any instrument issued to any person, natural or juridical, for monetary consideration or otherwise, that entitles the holder to a discount of a particular good or service, or that may be exchanged for a pre-identified good or service specified on the instrument.” 

A Gift Check, on the other hand, is “any instrument issued to any person, natural or juridical, for monetary consideration, honored upon presentation at a single merchant or an affiliated group of merchants as payment for consumer goods or services. The instrument may be in the form of paper, card, code, or other device, and shall remain valid until the cessation of business of the issuer.”

GrabGift, while issued for monetary consideration, is not used by a Grab user as payment for the use of Grab’s services, such that GrabGift is used as a substitute for legal tender. Rather, it is used in order to receive a discount on the purchase price of Grab’s services. It can only be used for GrabFood, GrabMart, GrabExpress, and GrabCar.

The Gift Check Act expressly provides that Coupons or Vouchers do not fall within the scope of the law. Thus, Grab’s issuance of Coupons or Vouchers that bear an expiry date is not unlawful.