vpFREE2 Forums

Burned on Gift Card

#1

Went to use a $100 Shell Gift Card for first time today and learned at pump that balance was zero. Went home and called card company and learned $100 balance was loaded 12/8/15 and $100 was used at a gas station in Colorado on 12/23/15. I haven't been to Colorado in over 15 years so it wasn't me. Based on the date, I am pretty sure it is a card I got from the CET holiday shopping event, but I didn't save the receipt. Wonder how this happened? Guess gift cards aren't as safe as cash.

···

Sent from my iPad

#2

I must have gotten some from the same batch earlier this year. Two of the five I picked up at HSI were also used up in Colorado. Apparently a large batch of numbers were stolen, and the company was aware of the issue. The added annoyance was that the casino knew about it long before I did, and made no effort to communicate or compensate anyone. My host did get mine replaced, but I had to make another visit to pick them up. At least that was not a long trip.

But it makes me cautious about the GGWU this year, where I usually redeem all of my points for various gift cards. I’ll definitely call and verify every one before leaving town!

#3

This isn’t an unusual story these days. Many gift card systems have been hacked and funds have been drained. The days of being able to trust a gift card received from a third party have passed.

If you receive a gift card now from a third party (such as a casino, eBay, etc), I’d advise using it ASAP. If you aren’t able to redeem right away because you haven’t found a suitable item to purchase then just go in the store and buy anything then return in the next day for a gift card issued directly from the store. Yep it’s a PIA but at least you’re protected.

#4

I’ve redeemed gift cards from casinos several times without any issues. Every time I used one there was a very small latex patch on the reverse side which could be scratched off revealing a PIN number to activate the card.

I am curious to know whether these bad gift cards had a tiny latex area already scratched off with the PIN numbers revealed? If most gift cards use this latex patch it would be a good idea to check to make sure the latex is not scratched off and to ask for a replacement card before leaving the casino promotion area in case the PIN number has already been revealed.

#5

Shell Gas Cards do not have a number hidden under a scratch area like many gift cards do. Nor do Chevron Gift Cards.

At the CET holiday show they usually don't have the higher denomination gift cards in stock. They are mailed to you a couple weeks later.

···

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 1, 2016, at 2:09 PM, write-to-me@charter.net [vpFREE] <vpFREE@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

I've redeemed gift cards from casinos several times without any issues. Every time I used one there was a very small latex patch on the reverse side which could be scratched off revealing a PIN number to activate the card.

I am curious to know whether these bad gift cards had a tiny latex area already scratched off with the PIN numbers revealed? If most gift cards use this latex patch it would be a good idea to check to make sure the latex is not scratched off and to ask for a replacement card before leaving the casino promotion area in case the PIN number has already been revealed.