Purchased Disney GC at Target ISSUE

tofubeast

DIS Veteran
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May 10, 2006
Messages
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I purchased a Disney gc ($100) at Target a couple of weeks ago. With my trip approaching, I went to enter the gift card at the Disney GC site (so I could consolidate), and I had an error. I thought it was my eyes, but I entered the codes several times to no success. I've never had an issue before with Dis gcs from Target before. Fortunately, I purchased with my Circle card so I pulled up the receipt on the app. All the numbers march. (Disney could later see all the attempts I had made to enter this card into their web site system.)

So I called the Disney # on the back. They showed that the card was never activated and confirmed there had been no purchases made. They told me I would have to go to Target to get it activated so I drove there. Explained the issue. The CS person scanned the card and said it had been already activated at the time of purchase. She then told me that I should have checked the card on the day I purchased it because there are no refunds on gift cards. She said there was nothing she could do. Most people who buy gift cards do not use them the same day. In fact, many buy them as GIFTS and the recipient will use them when they want.. but I digress. I didn't like the victim blaming. I asked to see the Manager, and I was told the Manager doesn't work on Saturday.

Disney had told me to call them back if I had an issue with Target. I pull out my phone and call them with the CS person there. Disney verifies it is not activated and that there has been not activity on the card. They said that Target must address this problem. The woman is telling Disney that the Target checkout person had activated the card. (There is nothing on my receipt that indicates anything about activation.) The Disney rep says that she should get another replacement card for me and that Disney can verify it is active right on the spot. The Target CS person hangs up on her as Disney is offering a solution! I was not happy about that, and I questioned her why she hung up. I was told, "I was done with the call and didn't need to hear anymore." She shouldn't have been hanging up on someone on my phone.

The Target person called in some other Target CS person who is not a Manager, but perhaps really was the Manager? (I have no clue but he was dressed differently.) He tells me there is nothing he can do. That it is up to Disney to fix the issue. I call Disney back so he can hear what they say. I am not going to accept that I am out $100! Finally, another TG CS hears what's going on and pulls out her personal phone to call the Target gc CS line. The hotline person gave me a case # and they are looking into things with the third-party vendor.

And now I wait. I hope I get a refund soon because my trip is quickly coming up. I am not happy that I wasted over an hour in the store. I have been to my local store for nearly 20 years and have never had issues with gift cards. Anyway, I am sharing this experience with you in case you have any insight. (This post differs from other similar Dis posts I found from the past because in those cases Target did not say they had already activated the card at the time of purchase.) If you are saving up cards for a trip, be sure to keep your receipts and perhaps check them on the Disney gc site right away or even while still in the store.

Signed, Frustrated Mouseketeer
 
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Sorry you are going through this. It validates my fears that I am likely going to run int this same issue. Just last night I tried to load a card I bought from Walmart online, it's a physical card mailed to me. I called Disney, they said it's not activated and to call Walmart. Walmart is "escalating" it but I have/had a feeling he was just getting me off the phone and nothing will come of it.
 
I had a similar experience, but not with a Disney gift card. Purchased a gift card for a restaurant as a Christmas gift. Recipient went to use it and was told there was no balance. After multiple phone calls with the restaurant and the issuer of the gift card, I was getting nowhere.

I finally resorted to disputing the charge on my credit card. The credit card company issued me a refund. The merchant has 45 days to respond to the credit card company's inquiry and they never did.
 
I am sorry you are going through this and hope it’s resolved quickly.

Did they give you the gift card activation receipt when you purchased the gift card? Disney used that to reissue me a giftcard when I had an issue in the past. They had me take a picture of it and email it them. They then confirmed that gift card was not used, then voided my current gift card and issued me a new one. I had an extra blank gift card and they loaded the balance into that blank card so I could use it right away, I was leaving for my trip.
 
I hate gift cards…
Once I bought 2 at Target …one for casual work friend wedding and one for important client daughters wedding
Accidentally switched them in cards and got a curt thank you from one and another OMG Thank you for your generous gift .Guess which person was which.
My client (Mother) gave me coldest shoulder ever next time I saw her .
$500 vs $100
 
I am sorry you are going through this and hope it’s resolved quickly.

Did they give you the gift card activation receipt when you purchased the gift card? Disney used that to reissue me a giftcard when I had an issue in the past. They had me take a picture of it and email it them. They then confirmed that gift card was not used, then voided my current gift card and issued me a new one. I had an extra blank gift card and they loaded the balance into that blank card so I could use it right away, I was leaving for my trip.
No. I can’t remember Target giving me any activation receipt for Disney gift cards. It also does not say so on the receipt. I looked at a few other receipted in my Circle account and those cards went in with no issue. (The receipts also didn’t state anything about activation.)

I feel like I’ve received them from gift cards purchased at Publix and other places (for Amazon and Disney gift cards.)
 
I had a similar experience, but not with a Disney gift card. Purchased a gift card for a restaurant as a Christmas gift. Recipient went to use it and was told there was no balance. After multiple phone calls with the restaurant and the issuer of the gift card, I was getting nowhere.

I finally resorted to disputing the charge on my credit card. The credit card company issued me a refund. The merchant has 45 days to respond to the credit card company's inquiry and they never did.
I’m sorry about that! My problem is I purchased it with my debit Target circle card. Unless I can take the issue up with my bank. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that and I just get my refund.
 
No. I can’t remember Target giving me any activation receipt for Disney gift cards. It also does not say so on the receipt. I looked at a few other receipted in my Circle account and those cards went in with no issue. (The receipts also didn’t state anything about activation.)

I feel like I’ve received them from gift cards purchased at Publix and other places (for Amazon and Disney gift cards.)
Target doesn’t give activation receipts.
 
Thank you for letting me know. I’m just about to purchase a DGC using my target bonus. I usually get it emailed to me and immediately load it on my Disney gift card consolidation site (my Disney gift card).

So super stressful and annoying. I hope you get it revolved.
 
Thank you for letting me know. I’m just about to purchase a DGC using my target bonus. I usually get it emailed to me and immediately load it on my Disney gift card consolidation site (my Disney gift card).

So super stressful and annoying. I hope you get it revolved.
By bonus, do you mean you circle reward dollars? I haven't been able to use those funds to purchase gift cards. I think it might be smarter to buy the disney gift cards digitally and receive via email. I usually do that, but sometime I get them in the store. You should have no problem I hope!
 
A few years ago a comedian had a routine. He would pocket unactivated gift cards and give them as gifts. Obviously the recipient couldn't use it. I put $100 on it. I can't believe I was scammed. IReceipt? Who keeps them. I'm sorry I can't afford another hundred.

Edited This was a comedian; Obviously not literally true.
 
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File the chargeback with Circle Card now. Item not received. It isn’t your fault the system glitched during activation.

This can happen with any gc. With Disney always check the balance within a couple days. I would never buy a physical gc from that specific store again though, they are obviously incompetent.
 
File the chargeback with Circle Card now. Item not received. It isn’t your fault the system glitched during activation.

This can happen with any gc. With Disney always check the balance within a couple days. I would never buy a physical gc from that specific store again though, they are obviously incompetent.
Any advice for me? I bought my DGC at Walmart online with a Sams Club GC. It's been over 24 hours and still no word from Walmart, he did say 48 hours but I say I have a better chance at winning the lottery than Walmart actually helping me.
 
By bonus, do you mean you circle reward dollars? I haven't been able to use those funds to purchase gift cards. I think it might be smarter to buy the disney gift cards digitally and receive via email. I usually do that, but sometime I get them in the store. You should have no problem I hope!
Yes! I meant the bonus. They worked digitally for me just now. I’m so sorry that store clerk did not activate, but I’m super glad you kept your receipt. Keep us updated, please, and good luck!!
 
Any advice for me? I bought my DGC at Walmart online with a Sams Club GC. It's been over 24 hours and still no word from Walmart, he did say 48 hours but I say I have a better chance at winning the lottery than Walmart actually helping me.
You have to* get Walmart to work it out so pack your patience :scared: I would suspect it will eventually, someday, over the rainbow settle out.

*When you use a gc to buy a gc you give up the consumer protections that debit and cc have- like chargebacks
 
You have to* get Walmart to work it out so pack your patience :scared: I would suspect it will eventually, someday, over the rainbow settle out.

*When you use a gc to buy a gc you give up the consumer protections that debit and cc have- like chargebacks
Just thinking about having to call them again is making me exhausted.

I have been lucky that this is the 1st time I have had a problem. I knew it was going to happen one day. Just sucks it happened on a GC to GC purchase.
 
Sorry you are going through this. It validates my fears that I am likely going to run int this same issue. Just last night I tried to load a card I bought from Walmart online, it's a physical card mailed to me. I called Disney, they said it's not activated and to call Walmart. Walmart is "escalating" it but I have/had a feeling he was just getting me off the phone and nothing will come of it.
This just happened to my dad! He’s getting the run around! He said the card came with no receipt or anything showing activation, card # or anything. They have to keep track of this stuff?
 
This just happened to my dad! He’s getting the run around! He said the card came with no receipt or anything showing activation, card # or anything. They have to keep track of this stuff?
Just a gift card in an envelope and nothing else. Im going to try calling again tomorrow. I honestly dont expect much from them which is sad
 
Just a gift card in an envelope and nothing else. Im going to try calling again tomorrow. I honestly dont expect much from them which is sad
That’s what he said he got. I meant should Walmart be keeping track of what cards they are activating and sending out to customers and so forth? Fishy to me! Someone is sitting in a warehouse and pocketing the activated cards and likely sending blanks/unactivated. My dad called Walmart and it was an overseas call center, the person he spoke to said that Walmart doesn’t activate them he needed to call Disney to activate the card and get the money onto it 😑 that’s not how it works…
 












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