Buying, Giving and Using Gift Cards

Gift cards are wonderful way to give somebody a gift who is extremely hard to shop for or if you have absolutely no idea what to get them. However, what many people do not know is that there may be some strings attached to certain gift cards that can limit where and how they are used.

For example, some gift cards have expiration dates that cause the card to be invalid once that date has come and gone. Some gift cards offer the use the option to load or reload them and still others have fees attached to them. These fees can be any number of things such as: activation fees, inactivity fees, card replacement fees, transaction fees and monthly maintenance fees.

Store cards sold by retailers usually are issued free of charge. But banks often charge consumers a fee to buy their cards. Some bank gift cards come with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that lets the user withdraw cash from an ATM.

Tips For Buying Gift Cards

You should always buy from sources you know and trust. Avoid buying gift cards from online auction sites; the cards may be counterfeit or may have been fraudulently obtained. Before you buy a gift card for someone make sure you read the fine print and if you don't like the terms associated with you should go elsewhere to purchase.

When you're buying a gift card, you should ask the retailer or clerk about any expiration dates or fees that may not be noted in the terms and conditions. If you don't see anything on the card in regards to fees and other information you may wish to know, ask.

Sometimes when you buy a gift card that type of information will be on the receipt or a separate paper so be sure to give this to the recipient of the card.

Before actually making the payment for the gift card verify that none of its protective stickers have been removed and that the codes on the back of the card have not been scratched off or tampered with.

Tips for Using Gift Cards