Gift cards are expected to be at the top of plenty of Christmas lists this year, but with many retailers closing doors for good, shoppers requesting gift cards could end up with worthless pieces of plastic.According to the National Retail Federation’s Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, 54.9 percent of consumers would like to receive a gift card this holiday season, up slightly from 53.8 percent last year.The study, conducted by BIGresearch, surveyed the holiday spending plans of 8,117 respondents.Only 3.1 percent of the study’s respondents said they would be less likely to buy gift cards because of the possibility the retailer will go out of business.In several cases, if a business goes bankrupt before gift cards are redeemed, the cards purchased from the store become worthless.When Sharper Image filed for bankruptcy in February, some $20 million in unredeemed funds remained from patrons’ prepaid gift cards.Electronics store Circuit City filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last Monday, making it the latest addition to a long list of companies in trouble. Circuit City said in a news release it plans to continue accepting gift cards until further notice.General Growth Properties, the Mall of Louisiana’s parent company, may also be in trouble.GGP said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission last week that “in the event that we are unable to extend or refinance our debt or obtain additional capital on a timely basis and on acceptable terms, we will be required to take further steps to acquire the funds necessary to satisfy our short term cash needs, including seeking legal protection from our creditors.” In an e-mail to The Daily Reveille, GGP Public Affairs Director Nicole Spreck said “regardless of our situation, our properties and company will continue to operate, remain vibrant and look forward to a prosperous holiday season.”Linens ‘n Things, a home decor store with a Bluebonnet Boulevard location, has been running a “going out of business” sale since Oct. 17 at all 371 stores nationwide. Ron Campagna, operations manager, said the store will be accepting previously issued gift cards but won’t be selling more. Campagna said the final closing date is tentative, but he estimates it will be around the first week of January.Campagna said all gift cards need to be redeemed before the store’s sale ends. Those stuck holding unredeemable gift cards can file a claim with U.S. Bankruptcy Court and may be able regain some of their lost money, according to the Consumer Reports Web site.In Louisiana, retailers are required under the 2005 Pro-Consumer Gift Certificate Bill to honor their gift certificates and gift cards for as long as the consumer holds them, provided there is no expiration date on the certificate.The law also prohibits gift certificates and gift cards from having fees in excess of a one-time handling charge of $1. The legislation aimed to end the practice of charging consumers a fee for honoring old gift certificates.The law says nothing about companies who file for bankruptcy.Keith Kimble, owner of 4H Loft, a boutique on Perkins Road, said he sells more merchandise than gift cards. When he does sell gift cards, shoppers usually come right away to redeem them. Overall, Kimble said business has seemed slower than last year.Stephanie Burden, psychology junior, said she “loves getting cards because you can buy whatever you want instead of getting a horrible gift.” The NRF study found shoppers mainly bought gift cards because they allow recipients to select their own gift and are easier and faster to buy than traditional ones.Katie LeBlanc, pre-nursing freshman, said she likes getting gift cards and usually spends them quickly.—-Contact Jack LeBlanc at [email protected]