Disney Gift Card Deals

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I didn't make mention of the Google search that brings up the gift card numbers because that is only one theory that some have as to what happened. The bottom line is that somehow paypal had their system hacked and are not admitting it. I have even tried reaching out to some of the major players in internet security, but they seem to doubt that paypal was really hacked. Here is the response I got from one major person (I am withholding his name at this point in the hope that he does come through):

"Thanks, I got your last message, just have been swamped with other stuff. I'll look into the paypal thing, but I have to tell you that usually these things are the result of a hack of the user (password re-use, easily guessed passwords for managing the GC account online, etc.) than any sort of breach at the merchant. Will let you know if I get anything interesting that suggests otherwise."

As you can see, no one seems to really believe that they were hacked except for the people like us whose gift card balances have disappeared.

Anyways, from the fact that some of us are reporting that Southwest gift card balances are disappearing, that makes me think the crooks are selling the gift cards at 3rd party sellers like raise, cardcash, etc. The people who stole the card are obviously not going to buy an airline ticket in their own name using stolen gift cards.

 

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If my theory is correct and the crooks are selling these gift cards through raise and cardcash, then this may create a hassle for those of you buying gift cards from 3rd party sellers. You wouldn't want to have to explain to the FBI why you were using a stolen gift card. I don't know all the legalities about using stolen goods, and one would think the 3rd party seller who sold you the card should be liable, but who knows?

 

[MommaBerd]

@wendow and others, here is what I did...we'll see if I'm successful. I first called Best Buy at 1-888-237-8289. It's an automated system, but at one point I think it asks why you are calling, and I said "stolen gift card" (or that may have been an option, I can't remember). Any-hoo, I had a *very* nice CSR and I explained to her that I had purchased these gift cards through PPDG and that they had been hacked (technically, it was a data leak, but hacking sounds more ominous ). I told her that I would like to know when and where my gift cards has been spent. She looked that information up for me (I live in Atlanta; the cards had been spent in Dallas, TX), then went on to take my information and said that she was going to pass it along to their security in hopes that they would be able to do something for me - so nice!

Armed with this info, and the information from the Doctor of Credit article and then this article: http://www.ghacks.net/2016/09/06/paypal-digital-gift-cards-code-leak/ (which I only partially understood, as it is technical), I called PayPal. I was nice, but assertive. I told them I had purchased these gift cards and due to a security leak on their part, the codes had been stolen and the funds drained and that I either wanted new cards or a refund. The CSR first tried to tell me that this was Best Buy's responsibility. I said that No, this was clearly PayPal's responsibility as they allowed this information to be leaked. She went away for several minutes and again began to tell me that this was BB's responsibility. At that point I told her I wanted to speak to a supervisor - she tried to offer the same explanation, to which I responded the same: I want to speak to a supervisor.

When he got on the line, I clearly laid out the details: I bought the GCs on 8/3. I used two of them immediately. When I went to use the other two, they had been drained; that they had been used on 9/9 in Dallas, TX and that I live in GA. I did some research on the internet and discovered that *many* people have experienced this same issue because PP had a security issue where the codes had been leaked and stolen. He did not try to deny this and did not act surprised either. I really wanted to voice my EXTREME displeasure over this situation, but I decided not to...until I get my refund. He issued me a ticket number and said that I should hear back from them in the next day or two.

Once this issue is resolved, I plan to write a letter to PayPal. Doubt it will do much good, but it will make me feel better.

I'll be sure to report back the outcome.

 

[Lain]

It distresses me to continue to see more and more people -- including those who have helped me save a bundle! -- find their PPDG cards drained. If you're past 30 days of the gift card purchase and have to deal with PPDG, and if PPDG gives you a hard time, you should tell them you'll be -- and follow through with -- filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau here: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ Click under "Credit card or prepaid card."

Here's some background: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/abou...repaid-cards-and-additional-nonbank-products/

 

[gottalovepluto]

It distresses me to continue to see more and more people -- including those who have helped me save a bundle! -- find their PPDG cards drained. If you're past 30 days of the gift card purchase and have to deal with PPDG, and if PPDG gives you a hard time, you should tell them you'll be -- and follow through with -- filing a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau here: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/ Click under "Credit card or prepaid card."

Here's some background: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/abou...repaid-cards-and-additional-nonbank-products/

People should also look into filing complaints with the California Attorney General's office. It looks a little involved but there is an online system. If indeed they are the ones who got eBay to accept gc to gc for 1 month then maybe someone in that division is listening.

 

[wendow]

@MommaBerd , thank you for the detailed post. I really hope you get a resolution soon!

 

[kristenrice]

I just realized that I bought a $100 Hyatt gift card from PPDG way back in April(?). Do I need to worry about this? I don't see any way to check the balance on it but I haven't checked the Hyatt website yet.

EDIT: I just called their customer service number and the full balance is available. I'm still wondering if I need to keep an eye on it. I wonder if they can apply it to my reservation right now?

 

[MichelleB]

Added my Kroger digital coupon for 4x this morning, and it is good until October 1 (register receipt had said Sept 24). That changes my strategy considerably, since I can now hold out until Oct 1 and get fuel points for October and November. I buy the $100 visa gift card (fixed value earn fuel points where variable load do not) and then use those $100 at a time as a debit card to buy a Disney (or whatever) gift card, which makes it more like a 22% plus SW miles (I am over my 6K limit on my 6% amex). The math goes something like this: spend 529.75 on 5 $100 visa debit cards, earn 2000 fuel points. Use 5 $100 gift cards to buy $500 in disney cards, earn 2000 fuel points. Save 140 on fuel but spent 30 on activation fees, so 110 savings/500 value is 22% saved, plus SW miles (which were worth about 1.6% but I don't know if they still are with the new usage plan).

Can someone help me with my Kroger thinking here a minute? Why not do the visa cards at Kroger when there's a 4x rewards for whatever you purchase on a normal basis.....other than the gift cards Kroger carries? If my math is right, it would be 8% on a $100 visa card purchase (it's normally 14% on $100 but taking into account the $6 fee, it brings it down to 8%) and then I get 2% for my disney visa card so a total of 10% savings and use the visa cards for whatever we purchase. I could use the visa cards for anything I buy anywhere then netting a 10% savings at places that I normally can't get a gc at Kroger for --- obviously doesn't make sense to buy these to say use at Target since Kroger carries Target gc, etc. I need to go to Meijer tomorrow and bought a $100 visa today. I could use it there in essence saving myself 10%. I hope I'm explaining this right. And, of course, this calculation only works if one maxes out the 35 gallon gas purchase limit each time you use $1 towards gas.

 

[wendow]

I went through eBay and did the 'contact seller' for both my BB and SW cards that have been drained. I have received a response for the SW, which were purchased back in June, and here is what PP said:

New message from: paypal_digital_gifts (310,780)​

Thank you for reaching out to us. We apologize that you’re having issues with your gift card. We recently had a technical issue which may be the reason why your gift card is not working. I just submitted a cancelation request on eBay for you. If there is anything else that I can do please don't hesitate to ask.

______
Robyn H - PayPal

So, I wrote her back and thanked her and gave her the info for my BB also and asked if she could assist with that transaction as well. Will update what happens.

Problem for me now is I paid with GC's that I no longer have so I need to contact ebay to see if I can get those numbers.

 

[MinMou]

People should also look into filing complaints with the California Attorney General's office. It looks a little involved but there is an online system. If indeed they are the ones who got eBay to accept gc to gc for 1 month then maybe someone in that division is listening.

Here's the link to the Attorney General's site : https://oag.ca.gov/contact

 

[anricat]

You are very brave to order from PPDGC.

Well, I did get the $10 code so that's good.

I immediately went to BB.com and ordered the cards and the order was cancelled. Grrrrr.

 

[Minnie368]

Well, I did get the $10 code so that's good.

I immediately went to BB.com and ordered the cards and the order was cancelled. Grrrrr.

Nice it came through so quickly. Can you post any restrictions listed on the promotional card?

 

[Deirdres]

I bought the BB bonus deal today, and went straight to my local BB, the bonus card worked on purchasing a new GC, no issues.

 

[wendow]

Hmm, another wrinkle in my drained GC saga, I paid for the SW with ebay bucks. Anyone ever received a refund on an ebucks purchase??

 

[CruisingGoddess]

Well, I did get the $10 code so that's good.

I immediately went to BB.com and ordered the cards and the order was cancelled. Grrrrr.

Do they send you an email when it's canceled? I placed 2 orders today and they are still listed as "In Progress" on the web site.

 

[Minnie368]

Hmm, another wrinkle in my drained GC saga, I paid for the SW with ebay bucks. Anyone ever received a refund on an ebucks purchase??

Last quarter I paid for a gc from a private seller that was just under $500 entirely with eBay bucks. The gc never I came. I filed a dispute with eBay and the full amount was refunded to me as cash to my paypal account. I was really surprised, but I remember someone else posting here around the same time that the same thing happened to them.

 

[wendow]

Last quarter I paid for a gc from a private seller that was just under $500 entirely with eBay bucks. The gc never I came. I filed a dispute with eBay and the full amount was refunded to me as cash to my paypal account. I was really surprised, but I remember someone else posting here around the same time that the same thing happened to them.

That would be an excellent resolution for me! Thanks for sharing.

 

[CinderBelleDVC]

Does anyone have any idea if Sam's will get the $500 gift card back in stock on line ? Have they had this value before ? Has it been "sold out" before and then came back available? Thanks for any insight.

As far as I know, yes, and yes. I was about to buy mine when they went out of stock, too. I wasn't hopeful they'd come back before my next trip, so I just went into the store and bought the 3-packs. The savings was a tad bit less, like, less than five dollars on $1k after you factor in the shipping cost that I didn't have to pay.

 

[Minniekins]

Thank you so much! We had a great time. The first few days were off and on rainy but we still managed lots of pool time and it kept the parks a bit less crowded. Then it got super hot and humid and we were wishing it would rain lol. We got lots of pixie dust sprinkled on us the entire trip so trying to just remember that and not stress over this gift card mess!

Aw, I'm so glad you had a great trip! Funny, you couldn't quite win with the weather, lol, but at least tropical storm rains didn't ruin the trip, and glad you had lots of pixie dust for your family! How fun and I'm sure you made many great memories, hopefully those override this gc debacle, though that might be easier if you can get this mess cleared up and your cards restored(or money back)!

 

[Minniekins]

So is it any cheaper buying gc's at at Costco or Sams than the 5% at Target? Or is it basically the same?

Also wondering, is that BB $100/$10 promo code going past today(well, Monday) or was that one day only? Not sure I'd want to buy thru there but I haven't ruled it out either, but I'd definitely have to be able to get to BB right away and that's not a sure thing. Dang, I wish it was just the old churning days with Target, lol! That was fun and very trip friendly, lol!