I put some money on a Visa gift card that I bought at a Pharmacy. I went to another store to make a purchase and the card was automatically declined. WTF?This was the first store I took the newly bought card to after the pharmacy, so naturally, I was shocked and embarrassed. It makes you look bad when a gift card is declined. It kind of looks like you stole it, and the rightful owner canceled it. I apologized and mentioned I was going to call the card company to complain, as I just bought the card. The cashier nodded and I left.

I called the card number, and I was told that the pharmacy never activated the card. I already paid the activation fee and the receipt told me that I had paid the activation too. I angrily told the card company,"That shouldn't be my problem if they didn't activate it, I already put the money, plus the activation fee, I need to be able to make purchases." They told me they understood my frustration, but I still had to go back to the original pharmacy to talk to them.

I went back to the original pharmacy and complained to the manager who sold it to me. and even rang up a food item with the card and she was shocked when the card was declined since she had just literally sold it to me. She called the card company herself and confirmed that I did put money on the card. I remembered thinking that it was odd that the security code on the card was 000, and not a higher set of numbers like 345 like most security codes are. Especially since my other card that I had purchased from this same company that actually worked had a number like 705. She told me that the card company told her that the card I purchased had a fraud alert on it and the code that was on the packaging did not match the card that I had bought, and matched a completely different card. She told me that the card I had purchased had a fraud alert on it! WTF? I was so scammed.

The card company told me that I would need to send a copy of my state ID, a fax of the card information, and the receipt in order to get my money back which would take 2 weeks to get back. Excuse me. I am not sending a copy of my state ID anywhere just to get my money back, especially since I have had an ID Theif steal $1,000 from me before. I just left in disgust. I was pissed off.

At home I looked up Visa gift card scam, and I saw a website where there were roughly 290 complaints about buying a fraud card from a pharmacy. I was shocked that many of the fraud card complaints came from the same pharmacy I had bought my own fraud card from. One of the tips from a complainer said to open the card in front of cashier and make a purchase on the spot so if it is fraud, a manager may be able to reverse the transaction on the spot and give you your money back right then and there. I remembered thinking,"That is actually good advice."

I went to another store the very next day and bought a Mastercard gift card, learning my lesson from the Visa fraud card. I bought a bag of candy and it went through. So, at least the Mastercard is legitimate.

I hate those gift cards. Last year I got a gift card to Amazon and one from Discover. I had so much problem using the Discover card and I had to buy another Amazon gift card to use it on Amazon. Lots of trouble. Not to mention apparently they can even charge interest and lots more. I hope I don't get any this year.

I hate those gift cards. Last year I got a gift card to Amazon and one from Discover. I had so much problem using the Discover card and I had to buy another Amazon gift card to use it on Amazon. Lots of trouble. Not to mention apparently they can even charge interest and lots more. I hope I don't get any this year.

I bought a legitimate gift card straight from my bank when I got paid. The legitimate gift card charges a 20 percent tip on even food court food!:eek: Since when do people routinely tip food court places?:rolleyes: I knew that the card company automatically charges a 20 percent tip at restaurants, but I didn't know that they also did it for food court places. What the hell? Food court places are not restaurants and shouldn't be automatically tipped from a card. My roughly $8.50 food court meal came up to almost $11! :rolleyes: :eek:

why are you even bothering with these "gift cards" ?

don't you have a bank account - its way safer just to use a debit card? or cash? they really can't charge you interest or fees or screw up your cash, and as long as you don't carry a lot of it and don't flash it around it should be relatively safe.

I bought a legitimate gift card straight from my bank when I got paid. The legitimate gift card charges a 20 percent tip on even food court food!:eek: Since when do people routinely tip food court places?:rolleyes: I knew that the card company automatically charges a 20 percent tip at restaurants, but I didn't know that they also did it for food court places. What the hell? Food court places are not restaurants and shouldn't be automatically tipped from a card. My roughly $8.50 food court meal came up to almost $11! :rolleyes: :eek:

That is wrong. The only food people I tip are those who bring me meals (like waitresses). I wouldn't tip fast food workers. I say this as someone who worked various food jobs.

That is wrong. The only food people I tip are those who bring me meals (like waitresses). I wouldn't tip fast food workers. I say this as someone who worked various food jobs.

I know, right? It seems so incredibly wrong to take out a 20 percent tip on a food court meal. :rolleyes:

It does. What business is it of theirs if one tips? I've heard fast food places want to tack this on for everyone to which I reply, why should I pay more because they are paying their employees so little? Not my fault they make minimum wage.

It does. What business is it of theirs if one tips? I've heard fast food places want to tack this on for everyone to which I reply, why should I pay more because they are paying their employees so little? Not my fault they make minimum wage.


I remember someone saying that they were shocked when they went to a restaurant and spent about $7.50 including tax and were shocked when they looked at their balance and saw that the company had taken out about $9.00. When they inquired, the company said that they took out 20 percent tip. The person was livid because they had already paid 20 percent tip in their own cash. They said that the company shouldn't automatically take out 20 percent tip from the card, as many people already tip in cash. That was at a restaurant though, and not a food court place, a big difference.

I remember someone saying that they were shocked when they went to a restaurant and spent about $7.50 including tax and were shocked when they looked at their balance and saw that the company had taken out about $9.00. When they inquired, the company said that they took out 20 percent tip. The person was livid because they had already paid 20 percent tip in their own cash. They said that the company shouldn't automatically take out 20 percent tip from the card, as many people already tip in cash. That was at a restaurant though, and not a food court place, a big difference.

I see both sides. I was a waitress and hated when people were cheap. On the other hand what if the service is poor? I liked when people paid cash b ecause most paid more than 20%.

I have read horror stories from rich Celebs tipping a dollar on a huge meal.($100 +So demeaning and belittling.:eek: :rolleyes:

I buy mine from Walmart. They have their own gift cards with Visa. I have never had a prioblem with theirs. I refuse to buy one from an unknown company.

And that bank that asked for your ID. they are hoping that you refuse to give that information so they can rip you off and get away with it. If the money you put on the card was alot, you should check into small claims, and maybe take them to court and sue them. People refusing to step up against these common thieves is why they get away with it.

I buy mine from Walmart. They have their own gift cards with Visa. I have never had a prioblem with theirs. I refuse to buy one from an unknown company.

And that bank that asked for your ID. they are hoping that you refuse to give that information so they can rip you off and get away with it. If the money you put on the card was alot, you should check into small claims, and maybe take them to court and sue them. People refusing to step up against these common thieves is why they get away with it.

I'm honestly thinking about going to that pharmacy and demanding my money back. $80 is nothing to joke around with.

You know I had a problem just the other day. My mom purchased a visa debit card to buy a gift. Now, when I bought it, it said it was activated. Paid for the card and the activation fee. Well, I didn't realize you have to pay monthly fee of 5 bucks. And if you don't pay it, you get charged another 5 bucks. Plus, I think you could only spend it on certain things.Anyway, the thing became such a hassle when your on a very tight budget. I tried activating the card online and. I couldn't. I tried taking it back but they wouldn't take it back because there was no error when I purchased it. I tried calling the debit card company and after not being helped for an hour or so, finally I got through. I get a full refund and it turns out that. I didn't need the card after all because they who was helping me purchase the gift said I got it for nothing.

Bottom line, I don't get the being charged part. If you spend 25 bucks plus activation fee that should be it. If you spend the 25 bucks then you can't use it until you put money into the card. None of this monthly fee stuff.