Gift cards have become increasingly popular as a way to ensure that you give family and friends their hearts’ desires. You can stay within budget while dodging an endless search for the perfect keepsake; as a recipient, you avoid the inconvenience of a duplicate gift or the wrong size.
How They Operate
As commerce has migrated from stone-and-mortar stores to the internet, traditional gift cards have expanded to digital versions. Now you can purchase a gift card online, followed by the store emailing a digital card to both the giver and the receiver. In addition to vouchers tied to a single enterprise, there are also generic cards that function as a debit card, redeemable in a wide variety of places in the world as well as online.
Documentation Saves Time and Money
Since gift cards work the same as cash, it’s imperative to archive their purchase and use. Save a copy of the card’s code in your email, plus print a copy. If the total amount of the gift is not used immediately, keep any receipts to track spending. When shopping online, file all your emails: orders, receipts, tracking numbers, and card updates. Problems are unlikely, but if there is one, it will be easier to resolve if you have information handy.
Buyer Beware
There are times a store will close before you have the chance to redeem your voucher; contact them as soon as possible to confirm if you can use the gift card or redeem it in another fashion. Check if another enterprise has acquired the store from which the card originated; often they will honor the card.
Worst Case Scenarios
As with other digital information, gift cards can be subject to fraudulent activity. Scammers will remove cards from available displays and electronically or physically copy the card number before activation. Upon activation, they can immediately use the number to make purchases. When the intended recipient uses the card, the account is already depleted. To avoid this rip off, only purchase cards from a clerk, not from publicly available racks.
Even more common are online auctions that offer discounted cards; these are often invalid because of theft or prior use. Only purchase gift cards at the issuing store or from a website starting with https://, an indication that it is secure. Some stores offer card registration so you can discover fraudulent use faster.
However, don’t settle for disappointment if you discover that your gift card is worthless. The Solicitors Guru website can connect you with a professional to advise on your next step.
Opponents of gift cards argue that you’ve chosen the most impersonal of presents. However, you can still put effort into choosing a card that matches the interests of the recipient, be it for books, sports, fine dining, movies, travel…the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. The majority of time Gift cards work smoothly. But in the event of a problem, check with a family law solicitor to explore your options and legal remedies to make sure your benefactor intended.