$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.
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- 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
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.- Did you pay for the gift card with a credit card? If so, try to get your credit card company to help you.— niptek
Comment removed.- This is certainly news to me. I have spent tens of hundreds of dollars in these cards over the years and have never read the fine print. I never thought twice about electronic theft with these cards. It is nice when reporting is this timely.— gfstallin
- Another gift card scam.....bought a $300 gift card at crate and barrel for a wedding gift. It was handed to me in a fancy gift card envelope (or so I thought). A week later, I open envelope to find nothing in there. My hypothesis is that it was stolen by store clerk. If you come back that day, they claim it was a mistake, if not, it is theirs to keep. So, make sure you actually look inside envelope before you leave store. (as, i found out) they don't believe you when you come back in a week and ask them where it is. Better off giving cash.— bobcitydoc
- Had this happen to me at Babies R US. Somehow, somebody used a $100 gift card that we had received as a shower gift. I talked to someone in "loss prevention" and they issued a a new card for the same amount. They also swapped all of our other cards to a new card to make sure that none of those were at risk. Basically they said thieves right the #s down before they've been sold. They then try to use them for small purchases until they find one that has been activated. Once they know the amount on the card they then go and buy the most expensive merchandise they can and then sell it on eBay or some other secondary market.
It was a pain, but Babies R Us "loss prevention" was totally on the ball.
I haven't bought a gift card since, and probably never will.— DevDude - ...or you could give them fresh poultry...just sayin'— pmorse
- Comment removed.
- I like the "fee" they charge if you don't use them in a predetermined time. I had a $50 Visa card, and by the time I got around to using it, it had less then $10 on it. Save your loved ones the hassle, just give them cash.— Vote for Dickie
- cash gifts are crude but can't be beat.— Miss M.
- If the person who bought the Macy's card used a major credit card to purchase it, could they do a chargeback? Also, CindyE, ShopRite is a family-owned business and they tend to be responsive to customers. Try going up the chain of command with your complaint, starting with the store manager. I am sorry that happened to you, and boy, I would have been mad, too!— Jen D
- eldiablodelsol2009, while Macy's may in fact simply be a big business that is "probably protected by Republicans who don't care that the little guy is trampled on," I'm willing to bet that the thief in California who apparently used the poor woman's Gift Card is a Democrat based on those who the Satte has elected recently, i.e., Jerry Brown; Barbara Boxer; Nancy Pelosi; Henry Waxman; Maxine Waters; Pete Stark, et.al.
- don't buy gift cards. their all the same— sophwill
eldiablodel, grow up. the terms and conditions were clearly stated. so because Macys, which only became profitable again last quarter, is "big" they should have to eat a $300 loss? it would be nice of them to do it, but never would i consider them the bad guy for abiding by their own policy? next time know what you are buying before you cry foul...- Macy is just another big business probably protected by Republicans who don't care that the little guy is trampled on.— eldiablodelsol2009
- His mom is SOL. He knew, or should have known the terms and conditions of the card purchase. Move on, lesson learned.— tonyS
- This makes me mad! I also went pick up my free turkey earned at ShopRite and was told at the reigster that someone already claimed my turkey and that all they needed was a phone number to claim it. I complained and was basically told I was out of luck. I think it was inside theft becuase the number was used at another ShopRite that is owned by a different company. I use the Shop from Home service so any of those people putting my order together would know my customer number, my phone number, my address and that I earned a free turkey!— CindyE
Reach Jeff at jgelles@phillynews.com.
