For gift card users - an important lesson I learned yesterday

[belle2008]

Keep your receipts!

My DH is normally against using gift cards for trips since we normally only do room only reservations, but since we have a package booked coming up, he relented this time. I transferred various gift cards I had gotten onto an old one I've had lying around for a few years back in February and then left it so I could add some more before I made a payment since I was still waiting to hear about a couple things to make sure we could go on this trip.

Fast forward to yesterday and I logged into my account to find that my balance said $0. What?!?! I called the gift card line to find out that someone had transferred all the money to another gift card a week ago.

I was really upset, but they said if I could provide the receipts showing I had bought the gift cards that were transferred they could see what they could do. Luckily I could find almost all of them (and the one that I couldn't find didn't have much on it because I had used it for a few purchases already) so I've emailed them and now I just have to wait and see (the department that deals with this is apparently open only during the week until 5pm Pacific).

So for those who are combining gift cards, keep your receipts from when you bought them until you use them up just in case!

 

[AmyAnne]

Wow - sorry this happened to you but thanks for sharing. I hope it gets straightened out for you quickly.

 

[holden]

Good advice. I hope it all works out for you.

 

[disneylove69]

Gift cards are considered cash to companies. Many organize theft groups will steal blank cards and the do balance inquires on the phone or online changing the ending numbers until they find one with a balance and then use it or make a bogus card with that number. I know one company that changes the card number by 8. For cards such as VISA or WalMart green cards the steal them, record the pin# and put them back on the shelf. The check balances and once money is on them they make bogus cards and steal the balance. Do no take a card if the pin # is exposed.

 

[disfanforlife]

Gift cards are considered cash to companies. Many organize theft groups will steal blank cards and the do balance inquires on the phone or online changing the ending numbers until they find one with a balance and then use it or make a bogus card with that number. I know one company that changes the card number by 8. For cards such as VISA or WalMart green cards the steal them, record the pin# and put them back on the shelf. The check balances and once money is on them they make bogus cards and steal the balance. Do no take a card if the pin # is exposed.

What about the gift cards that come from the Disney store online? I just got some recently and they don’t have any place to scratch off - so the pin is exposed.

 

[disneylove69]

What about the gift cards that come from the Disney store online? I just got some recently and they don’t have any place to scratch off - so the pin is exposed.

Criminals really like Visa, MC, Lowes, etc where they can buy expensive goods to sale or convert to cash fast. I would say dont put all your mo ey one 1 card till.your ready to use.

 

[belle2008]

Update: they were great and once they verified that I had bought all the gift cards they sent me a replacement. Soo glad I didn't lose all that money but I will definitely be more careful in the future to keep all receipts.

 

[Tikitoi]

Thanks for the information. Glad it worked out for you.

 

[MooseBucks]

Glad this worked out! How frustrating - we use Dis gift cards every trip. Definitely going to be more careful going forward.

 

[AJollyHoliday]

Oh wow! That is really scary! Thankfully my most recent cards were bought from Sam's and I was able to go online and get PDFs of my receipts.