Kind of a strange Walmart question

[Alicefan]

My best friend and her mother went to Walmart a couple of weeks ago and bought a couple of gift cards for $150 for our upcoming Disney trip. Well neither one of them can find them anywhere and they are not sure if the cashier ever handed them back to them. My friend scanned the receipt so she has proof of buying them. When her mother who is in her 70's went back to the store, of course she didn't want to "be a bother", but the cashier seemed to remember an awful lot about the transaction and said, "Oh yes, you handed them to another girl that was with you and she put them in a red envelope." My friend says they bought no Christmas card and she has no red envelope of any type. My question is this, if the time and date and register number are on the receipt, wouldn't they be able to pull up surveillance footage to show the actual transaction to see if maybe the cards were left laying there or never handed back etc? I mean they use cameras to catch criminals every day right? I know I couldn't afford to just eat $150 at Christmas time. Her mother even used to work at that particular Walmart. Anyone have advice or know what she should do?

 

[Alesia]

Well, they can try that, but even if the video was clear enough to show that much detail, I doubt that they still have the footage.

Regardless, they need to contact the store manager and see if anything can be done. They shouldn't get their hopes up, though. A few weeks is a long time to wait to deal with something like this.

 

[goofy77]

They keep record of all the receipts. They can pull it up.

 

[Mizzoufan]

I doubt they would pull up the footage and if they did it would be super hard to make out what was handed over. I doubt there much they can do now with so much time gone by.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would talk to the store manager there could be other similar complaints regarding this cashier. If you paid with a CC I would call my CC company and see if they can help you. It does not hurt to say something.

 

[robinb]

That really stinks! I really don't know what can be done since gift cards are essentially cash. I agree with @Shelly F - Ohio. Your friend should start with the manager and then call the credit card company if they paid with one. I know it would be worth my while to at least try to get my $150 back.

 

[KathyTX]

They don't need surveillance footage, they can use the information on the receipt to see if the gift cards have been used. If not, they can cancel those cards and activate new cards for your friends (assuming the cards were lost.)

You'd probably need to contact customer service for this and they'd need to research it, I would think this would NOT be something the local store personnel would handle.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

I work at target, so it's a similar concept for us. We usually have our footage for quite some time (admittedly though I don't work in security so I'm not sure how long exactly but it's worth a shot)

I agree with what others have said, since it's been a month they may be out of luck. I know at my store if someone came in after a month there might not be much we could do, since to be completely honest if it's been a month it's more likely they lost them (at least from the store's point of view) if you go through corporate, you may be able to get the old cards deactivated and then have them activate new ones in their place. You can also call Disney, give them the numbers in the cards, and they should be able to tell you if they've been used.

 

[Alicefan]

She said it has only been 2 weeks and had just thought to get them out and put them in cards or what have you. Her mother did go to the store to ask about it, that's when the cashier told the manager that she remembered selling them to her and said that she gave them to the girl with her (my friend) and the girl put them in a red envelope....(which my friend says she has no idea what she's talking about because she didn't have one). For me, I hate to accuse anyone but 2 weeks later and the cashier remembers exactly where a customer put some gift cards sounded a little shady to me. It seemed a little too detailed. I just thought maybe the camera could have caught the cashier at least handing the cards back after scanning or laying them down or something. I hate it for my friend. I sure hope her elderly mother wasn't taken advantage of. I told her to go back herself and at least ask to see the footage. I will pass on the info to see if they were paid for by credit card. Thanks all.

 

[mom2rose&john]

The below website instructs you on how to replace a lost/stolen gift card. If you have the receipt there should be no problem. I would think any footage of that day has been taped over. Many stores do not archive footage unless there was a known problem that day.

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/how-to-replace-lost-stolen-gift-card-1271.php

 

[tvguy]

The below website instructs you on how to replace a lost/stolen gift card. If you have the receipt there should be no problem. I would think any footage of that day has been taped over. Many stores do not archive footage unless there was a known problem that day.

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/how-to-replace-lost-stolen-gift-card-1271.php

I agree. Security video isn't what you need to worry about. There is a system in place to replace lost cards if you have your receipt. Just get them replaced.

 

[s3058]

As others have said check if they've been used and if they haven't just replace them

If they have and your friend suspects theft then ask to see the footage, I'm not sure about the US but I know in Ireland we have laws around who can see CCTV and also strict laws around how long footage can be held, if thats the case where you are I would get on sorting it out ASAP as the longer you wait the less likely it is that they'll have it.

 

[Pooh2]

Not sure how Walmart works, but I recently had a gift card replaced from a small downtown business. My husband purchased the card for me 6 months earlier. He happened to have the register receipt and they cancelled the initial card and replaced it with a new card.

Obviously, Walmart has a much larger volume and the card might be used already but it is worth a shot to ask a manager if it can be cancelled and replaced.

They should be able to tell which cashier rang up the purchase by the receipt. If she has pulled that on once customer, there are likely others.

Good luck!

 

[Alesia]

I agree. Security video isn't what you need to worry about. There is a system in place to replace lost cards if you have your receipt. Just get them replaced.

...unless the card has already been used. If that's the case, they're screwed.

 

[wenrob]

Can't speak for Walmart but a couple weeks ago I pulled out a receipt to look at something I'd bought at Target and realized they charged me for three identical toys when I had bought only two. This was like a week and a half later. Went in and the manager looked up the footage from my receipt number and could make out what happened clearly. It didn't take long at all either, I'd say just a couple of minutes. If it's been two weeks and you suspect the cashier may have taken them then I'd get on that asap. I'd call the number provided first though to see if they've been used and if not just have them cancelled and reissued. Less of a hassle that way.

 

[tvguy]

...unless the card has already been used. If that's the case, they're screwed.

True. Never been in a store where they don't make a bit of a production out of HANDING you the gift cards so this issue doesn't come up.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Most footage is kept for 30 days. But they should be able to note if the cards were used.

 

[Alicefan]

The below website instructs you on how to replace a lost/stolen gift card. If you have the receipt there should be no problem. I would think any footage of that day has been taped over. Many stores do not archive footage unless there was a known problem that day.

http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/how-to-replace-lost-stolen-gift-card-1271.php

Thank you I sent that to her!

 

[Alicefan]

Thank you all for the great advice! I'm copying and sending everything to her.