Bank of America ( BAC - news - people ) aims its bank- card pitch at employers who buy them in bulk as staff gifts. (BofA declined to comment on whether employers receive a discount rate for buying scads of cards at a time.) There's no dormancy fee with BofA's product, but after nine months the cards become worthless, whatever the remaining balance is.

FORBES: Holiday Shopping

Although these companies still pass most of their revenue to the government, they can keep a commission of 4%-5%, and staff appear to receive generous gifts from the growing number of Chinese companies competing for their business, she said.

WSJ: Trade Binds North Korea to China

Other members of U2's staff also took to the witness box and said they had never been given gifts from the band's wardrobe.

BBC: Bono outside the court

It employs 10 staff and has 3, 000 sq ft (280 sq m) of floor space where it sells books, gifts and music.

BBC: Dorset