Complaint Review: U.S. Bank National Association

I received a $50 VISA gift card from my sister in 2012.  The card was purchased at a Kroger grocery store.  I did not activate the card since the package clearly stated an expiration date of 2020.  I put the card aside for a rainy day.  Recently I needed the money to purchase a new vacuum cleaner.  Yesterday, I opened the gift card packaging and signed on to the web site to activate my card.  I was shocked to learn the balance was $0.  I phoned the toll free card services number on the back of the card.  From the representative, I learned that the issuer charged $2.00 each month that the card was inactive after 12 months.  Consequently, over time, the original $50 balance was taken by the issuer.  The card services representative advised me to take note of the (tiny) fine print on the back of the package which described the process.  I am infuriated that the card issuer, U.S. Bank National Association (U.S. Bank, a subsiduary of US Bancorp), has such a "policy" or "practice" in place.  Though they may have the "legal" right to take money from a gift recipient, it is hardly ethical.  Why should a fee be charged for NOT USING a gift card?  Why should a card which expires in 2020 not be available to use WHENEVER the gift recipient chooses to use the card.  If my sister had given me cash instead, I could certainly use it when I needed it.  I am positive that when my sister purchased this gift card, she had no idea that the company could institute such a devious practice.