I'm still waiting for an answer from them, but it looks like an email they sent in November (see below) advises that our accounts have been extended to 3 years instead of 1, so we have "more time to spend it".
But apparently that simply enabled them to begin charging you if your account has not been used in a year.
<< Webcertificate.com has recently extended the expiration dates of all its account holders from ONE (1) to THREE (3) years. This means your Webcertificate is still active, and you have more time to spend it anywhere Mastercard is accepted. >>
Fvskin bankers--always wanting to help themselves to your money.