$300 from a Macy's gift card - vanished
He bought a $300 Macy's gift card for his mother's birthday in August. She never got to use it - a thief did first, online.
$300 from a Macy's gift card - vanished
Jeff Gelles, Inquirer Business Columnist
Leo Shulzitski bought a $300 Macy's gift card for his mother's birthday in August. The first time she tried to use it, to buy a winter coat at a store in September, Macy's said that virtually all the money was gone - spent online, apparently by a thief in California.
Worst of all, Macy's has so far just said that Margaret Shulzitski is simply out of luck. As the company's website puts it under gift-card "terms and conditions," the card's bearer is "responsible for its loss or theft."
Shulzitski contacted me after reading my Thanksgiving column about positive gift-card trends, and an accompanying piece that noted some lingering worries - including the lack of protections for lost or stolen cards.
"Apparently gift cards can be stolen from Macy’s computer, used by other people, and Macy's does not believe they are liable for the loss. I would warn everyone to stay away from gift cards," says Shulzitski, who says he has not heard back from Macy's despite numerous attempts to contact the company.
"I finally walked into a local store," says Shulzitski, of Harleysville, Pa. "That’s the only way I’ve gotten anybody to talk to me." But so far, all he's gotten at the store is a little talk and sympathy.
I haven't heard back from Macy's either, despite several attempts to reach a company spokesman. I'll let you know what I hear.
Consumer advocates and analysts such as Brian Riley, of Tower Group, say the lack of protection for lost or stolen gift cards is a major shortcoming. Click here to see the Federal Trade Commission's warnings on the cards.
That shortcoming makes them riskier than other forms of plastic payment.
If a credit card is lost or stolen, a cardholder's liability is limited to $50 under federal regulations. If an ordinary debit card is lost or stolen, federal rules limit a cardholder's liability to $500, though Visa and MasterCard have long touted a "zero liability" policy for their branded debit cards, which can be used with just a signature and without the protection of a secret PIN code.
But a gift card - even if the theft might have occurred from Macy's computer system?
Apparently you're just stuck.
Did you pay for the gift card with a credit card? If so, try to get your credit card company to help you.— niptek
When I give a gift, the person receiving it will have 100% control of it! NOT A STORE! That is why I only give CASH! And what they spend it on is their choice, even if they pay bills.- I too fell victim to a stolen Macy's e-card I received as a gift last year. Having a balance of $69 on the card, I went to use it to find it was not longer valid. After contacting Macy's, I was told that my balance was used to purchase another gift card that was send to California. Macy's did not replace the card and told me that I was responsible for the lost/stolen card because of their terms. The card never left my wallet other than handing it to their employee to make a purchase. Obviously to me this theft happened inside Macy's system since I protected my card. My advice: DO NOT BUY GIFT CARDS— mlr1tiger
- This just happened to me! My aunt gave me a $30 gift card last week. Tried using it today at Macy's to purchase something that was $24-- I find out that only $4.41 is left on the card! The store clerk kept my gift card because I just went ahead and finished off the balance and was trying to think of a logical explanation of where the rest of the $25+ on the card went. For some reason, it didn't occur to me that someone would be able to scam & steal the barcode info without using the actual gift card, which was locked away in my wallet this whole time. I should have just kept the gift card with me, even if it the balance was gone.
I have the receipt for the gift card (which my aunt thankfully gave me), but that unfortunately does NOT have the 3 digits that are normally printed on the back of the gift card--- so there is literally no possible way for me to call the 1-800 number and find out what my card's been used to purchase - and where. I'll try calling the exact store tomorrow, and will hopefully get some direct help, but I doubt it.— praja07
Reach Jeff at jgelles@phillynews.com.
