Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman says that holders of gift cards purchased from the former retailer Radio Shack, which had several stores in St. Lawrence County, can now file claims seeking to recover the unused balance on their cards.

Radio Shack stores in Potsdam and Massena were part of more than 1,000 stores said to be closing earlier this year after the company announced it was filing for bankruptcy.

The stores in St. Lawrence County closed in February. A franchise “store within the store” in Rex Hardware, in Canton’s University Plaza, was not affected.

“Individuals who have unused balances on Radio Shack gift cards may now apply to get their money back,” said Schneiderman. “When a company goes bankrupt, it is important that consumers are protected and this claims process will ensure just that.”

Consumers who have unused Radio Shack gift cards with a balance can go to the website OldRadioShackGiftCards.com to obtain a claim form which they can submit electronically or by mail.

The claims process is part of a settlement agreement previously approved in the U.S. Bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware and supported by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, 23 other states, and the District of Columbia.

All claims will be reviewed according to the court-approved plan and settlement that established the RSH Liquidating Trust to review and approve claims in accordance with the court’s orders.

Under the court’s order, the trust will treat as a priority claim and pay one hundred percent of the balance on the cards to consumers holding gift cards that were purchased (by either the holder of the card or by the person who gave the card as a gift) from Radio Shack, the Radio Shack website or any of its authorized sellers. Per the court order, gift cards acquired in other way will not have priority and will be treated as a general unsecured creditor.

The deadline for filing claims is Dec. 2, 2016 and consumers in New York as well all fifty states are eligible to file proofs of claim.

Schneiderman cautions consumers that no one associated with this settlement will contact them to ask for personal or financial information or to request any payment. Consumers asked for such information or payment should say no to those requests.

For more information call Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s Internet Bureau at 212-416-8433 or visit OldRadioShackGiftCards.com.