Here are some tips for protecting gifts cards to accessing them via phone and replacing gift cards that don’t work:
Remedy for gift cards that don’t work.
You need the activation receipt, they just don’t activate them correctly. With that slip of paper, a gift card giver can at least prove the card was activated and they can take it back.
Returning a malfunctioning gift card? Deal with the company that issued it, that means if it’s a store gift card, take it back to the store, and if it’s a bank-branded gift card, call the toll-free number on the back of the card.
Shield some gift cards from theft and loss.
In the past, if lost or stolen, they were gone permanently. These days, with bank-branded cards, you can register the cards with the issuer to get protection from loss or theft. The funds will be replaced if it’s lost or stolen.
It works for some retail gift cards, too. To register a gift card, call the toll-free number or visit the website listed on the back of the card. You’ll supply the card number, and likely the PIN and expiration date of the card, along with your name and address.
Storing gift cards on a phone is becoming more common.
More and more gift cards are being redeemed through mobile technology. Some apps allow shoppers to take a picture of the front of the card and store it, along with the recorded balance.
Stretch more out of gift cards.
When is a $50 gift card worth more than $50? When you use it online to score a discount or free shipping.
If you’re making a purchase with a gift card, shop both the brick-and-mortar location and the store’s website to see if one of them will offer a discount, free delivery or free shipping. Most retailers have moved to this digital-and-physical environment.
Want to boost the value of that gift card you just received? Snag a coupon to go with it. With a few minutes of searching, you could increase your gift-buying power by 10 or 20 percent.
There are two kinds of gift cards and (generally) two menus of fees.
With cards that carry a credit card brand name, you often pay a purchase fee. In return, you can use them any place that accepts that card brand.
Buy a gift card at or for a particular retailer, and you pay only the face value of the card. But you can only use it at that specified retailer, and sometimes at affiliated businesses.
Majority of retailer gift cards don’t have expiration dates, activation fees or dormancy fees.
Under the federal Credit CARD Act of 2009, gift cards have to be good for at least five years from the purchase date, but the best advice is to spend them as soon as possible.
Treat them gently.
Plastic gift cards still use magnetic stripes, like pre-chip credit cards. Those stripes can occasionally get demagnetized.
Some gift cards include a scratch-off panel. If you use something too sharp you can accidently remove the numbers underneath, then it’s no good to you.
Some gift cards are made of paper or thin cardboard, another reason to put them in a separate envelope.
According to research from the National Retail Federation, gift cards are the No. 1 requested present 9 years in a row.
