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PattyCake
LIF Adult
Member since 2/07 1007 total posts
Name:
Hope
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WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
One of my bosses gave me a $100 American Express gift card for Christmas. I was delighted.
I was careful to treat the card like cash or one of my other credit cards in my wallet. I had it for about 10 days, then attempted to use it at a fancy dinner one evening. Imagine my embarrassment when the waiter returned with the card and the check stating "this didn't go through". (Unfortunately I had taken for granted that the card was okay and had been properly activated.)
The boss who gave me the card was still on Christmas vacation and I was not about to email her and bother her with it, and honestly, I didn't even want to tell her what happened, but I did after she got back from vacation. Of course, she feels awful, and that feeling is compounded by the fact that she can't find the receipt by now for the purchase of the card. (She is totally not the type that would try to get away with anything like give me a bum card, etc.)
Should I have kept my mouth shut about it?
Now that I've opened my mouth and told her what happened, should I just chalk it up to a loss or should I expect a replacement card? (The 800 number on the back of the card said without a receipt to get it properly activated, tough nuggies. She paid cash).
I'm so confused. 
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Posted 1/6/10 1:40 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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MrsPJB2007
MBA at your service!
Member since 7/06 12020 total posts
Name:
MJ
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
You let her know -- its done. I'd just forget it and not say another word.
Obviously she feels bad about it not being properly activated--if she finds the receipt and fixes it, great. But if not I would not expect anything at all. But that's just me.
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| Posted 1/6/10 1:48 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Posted by MrsPJB2007
You let her know -- its done. I'd just forget it and not say another word.
Obviously she feels bad about it not being properly activated--if she finds the receipt and fixes it, great. But if not I would not expect anything at all. But that's just me.
Agreed.
FWIW, are you certain the restaurant ran it through properly. Some merchants have a lot of trouble with the AmEx gift cards, especially if the bill is for an amount less than the card. Have you tried to use it anywhere else? The only one I ever got took the cashier a few times to make it go through properly. You have to have the exact amount on the card, etc.
Possible it could be the merchant's error?
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| Posted 1/6/10 1:54 PM |
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Pray4Baby2010
<3 Cutest Giants Fan
Member since 10/09 5796 total posts
Name:
MB
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
I agree with the pp about the restaurant not running it correctly- if the bill was more than the card is for- it wouldn't work-
maybe go online and see if you can check the card balance on tehre
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| Posted 1/6/10 1:56 PM |
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Peainapod
Peanuts are here!
Member since 1/09 13591 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
try it somewhere else..i've had lots of trouble using amex cards at various places b/c they have trouble running it through the right way. I dont think it has anything to do with it being activated properly. The purchaser does not have to activate it.
actually, i dont recall having to activate amex cards i've received, but usually there is a sticker on the front on how to do so.
see if you can use it at a store or other place thats not a restaurant.
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| Posted 1/6/10 1:57 PM |
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PattyCake
LIF Adult
Member since 2/07 1007 total posts
Name:
Hope
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Posted by Pray4Baby2010
I agree with the pp about the restaurant not running it correctly- if the bill was more than the card is for- it wouldn't work-
maybe go online and see if you can check the card balance on tehre
I checked - customer service at Amex confirmed that it was not properly activated.
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| Posted 1/6/10 1:57 PM |
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MrsPJB2007
MBA at your service!
Member since 7/06 12020 total posts
Name:
MJ
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
edited cause you just answered my questions. 
Message edited 1/6/2010 1:58:35 PM.
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| Posted 1/6/10 1:58 PM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
It might not be a problem with the card. I've tried using my amex gift cards at supermarkets and they will not go through when I know there is money on them.
If your meal came close to the balance on the card, it might have not gone through. I think they put a hold on the card for 25% over (or something like that) of what the actual bill is.
I've had $30 on my card left over, tried to pay for a $25 meal, and have it rejected.
nevermind..you said it wasn't activated properly...
Message edited 1/6/2010 1:59:29 PM.
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| Posted 1/6/10 1:58 PM |
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JennChris
life moves fast
Member since 5/05 4225 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Check the balance first, I've had problems using an Amex gift card in a restaurant before.
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| Posted 1/6/10 1:58 PM |
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Posted by Pray4Baby2010
I agree with the pp about the restaurant not running it correctly- if the bill was more than the card is for- it wouldn't work-
maybe go online and see if you can check the card balance on tehre
Yes, this happened with DH. He got an AMEX card for his bday and it didn't work at one place but did at the next.
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| Posted 1/6/10 2:02 PM |
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MrsList
Sweet cheeks
Member since 4/09 1696 total posts
Name:
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Have you tried it at another store? Maybe it was just that particular restaurant that had an issue with it.
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| Posted 1/6/10 2:04 PM |
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Cheeks24
Living a dream
Member since 1/08 8589 total posts
Name:
Cheeks
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
It could have been the merchant. At Coach they won't go through unless you put the exact amount in that's on the card.
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| Posted 1/6/10 2:05 PM |
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Cpt2007
A new love!
Member since 1/08 5946 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Posted by MrsPJB2007
You let her know -- its done. I'd just forget it and not say another word.
Obviously she feels bad about it not being properly activated--if she finds the receipt and fixes it, great. But if not I would not expect anything at all. But that's just me.
same here.
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| Posted 1/6/10 2:06 PM |
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Deeluvsvinny
DONE
Member since 10/08 4952 total posts
Name:
Whatever
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Posted by Cpt2007
Posted by MrsPJB2007
You let her know -- its done. I'd just forget it and not say another word.
Obviously she feels bad about it not being properly activated--if she finds the receipt and fixes it, great. But if not I would not expect anything at all. But that's just me.
same here.
I agree. I got a Macys gift card mailed to me for my shower from Dh's Stepmom's sister and it didn't work. We told step mom, who returned it to her sis (who purchased it at CVS, not Macys) and It's a year and half later and still never heard anything about the card. I chalked it up as a loss.
Although I DID send a TY card before I discvoered the card wasn't activated. 
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| Posted 1/6/10 2:26 PM |
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Jenn627
Laaaaaaaambert!
Member since 5/08 9818 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Posted by MrsPJB2007
You let her know -- its done. I'd just forget it and not say another word.
Obviously she feels bad about it not being properly activated--if she finds the receipt and fixes it, great. But if not I would not expect anything at all. But that's just me.
Ditto.
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| Posted 1/6/10 2:29 PM |
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PattyCake
LIF Adult
Member since 2/07 1007 total posts
Name:
Hope
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Thanks everybody. I did check directly with Amex and they verified that it hasn't been properly activated, so it's not a matter of trying it at different places. I checked it online as well. It's just a loss. Sux.
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| Posted 1/6/10 4:07 PM |
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jes81276
summer fun!
Member since 3/06 4962 total posts
Name:
Jaime
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Funny the same thing happened to me once with an Amex gift card....then I tried to use it somewhere else and it went through just fine. Maybe you can try it at another store. I give you credit for telling your boss....I wouldn't have the guts to, but on the flip side, if I had purchased the card for someone and it didn't work, I would absolutely want to know about it.
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| Posted 1/6/10 8:07 PM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
I gave one to my SIL and it didnt work.....turns out it was a bad card and it never had any money on it
I was able to find the receipt and went back to the store and they exchanged it. I would call AMEX. they can tell if the card was activated and if it had ever been used.
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| Posted 1/6/10 9:49 PM |
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PennyCat
Just call me mommy :)
Member since 7/08 19084 total posts
Name:
Jib
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
It's interesting you brought this up because I was just thinking about that situation. I bought a $100 gift card for my boss from me and a coworker- and I couldn't help but think how awkward we would feel if the cashier didn't activate the card properly...
In your case, I agree with other people, you'll probably just have to chalk it up to a lose. That really stinks tough! 
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| Posted 1/7/10 2:03 AM |
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JenG
Love my little boy!
Member since 6/05 2489 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
Dh and I tried to use a gift card at a restaurant also and it did not go through, when i told them that it was a gift card, they said they do not accept it and a lot of restaurants do not take them also
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| Posted 1/7/10 10:01 AM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name:
Veronica
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Re: WWYD - Amex Gift Card Related
I agree with PP, you have told her, she feels bad enough, end of story.
I wouldnt expect a replacement.
nothing really lost. I'd feel bad enough that my boss felt so badly about it and lost out on the cash. I'm sure she'll make it up in another way.
*shrug* that's just me.
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| Posted 1/7/10 11:34 AM |
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