Borders and Angus & Robertson book stores are under fire for refusing to honour the face value of gift vouchers.
Customers attempting to use gift vouchers are being told they have to spend double the value of each certificate.
No legal action can be taken against the company because it is in voluntary administration.
Consumer Action Law Centre spokeswoman Eileen Kerrigan says customers may be better off holding onto their vouchers until the future of the company becomes clearer.
"At the moment they're in a state where they're reviewing the situation, they're looking at a way to get out of the difficulties that they're in," she said.
"They may, in fact, be able to restructure. They may be able to sell parts of the business. We don't know.
"So it could be that in six months' time that Borders is back up and running and they're happily redeeming these gift vouchers."
She says the company appears to be taking advantage of a legal loophole to help them trade out of their financial difficulties.
"They're really breaching the terms and the conditions of the contract the customer has with them when they purchase that gift certificate," she said.
"Unfortunately, because the company has gone into voluntary administration you're not allowed to sue them for that behaviour."
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