Can Amazon keep my Gift Card balance?

GreatBeyond

From what I have seen with Amazon they don't just close people accounts.

Basically they think that the OP has been abusing their returns policies in someway - normally there would be a warning email first just saying there seems to be a high proportion of items that haven't arrived/have had to be returned and is there anything they can do to help correct this or better understand what the issue is.

My advice would probably be if you can account for all of the returns/refunds on your account then fight them for it, however if you have been abusing their policies then probably forget about it.

visidigi

GreatBeyond wrote: »

From what I have seen with Amazon they don't just close people accounts.

Basically they think that the OP has been abusing their returns policies in someway - normally there would be a warning email first just saying there seems to be a high proportion of items that haven't arrived/have had to be returned and is there anything they can do to help correct this or better understand what the issue is.

My advice would probably be if you can account for all of the returns/refunds on your account then fight them for it, however if you have been abusing their policies then probably forget about it.

I haven't heard of anyone who has successfully fought the account being closed.

Amazon are pretty ruthless with this policy, and like you say its usually deserved.

missbiggles1

ciaccino wrote: »

How many items have you returned? I have returned many items but I have also bought many items.

Also, what sort of items - ebooks for example?

pinkshoes

It doesnt matter how many items the OP has returned.

If AMAZON did not clearly state the number of returns permitted before an account is closed, then this is an unfair T&C.

They are perfectly entitled to ban the OP from using Amazon, but they can NOT keep the OPs money, and need to return it.

daytona0

pinkshoes wrote: »

It doesnt matter how many items the OP has returned.

If AMAZON did not clearly state the number of returns permitted before an account is closed, then this is an unfair T&C.

They are perfectly entitled to ban the OP from using Amazon, but they can NOT keep the OPs money, and need to return it.

Nah, they can close an account whenever they like and for whatever reason. If the number of returns is high then the customer is costing them more money than amazon are making, and thus not worth dealing with. Perfectly understandable.

I do agree that they should, on the face of it, be entitled to the money back. Two cases where OP would not be able to get money back is if they were acting fraudulently (certainly a possibility if the returns are extremely high), or if the money was a promotional bonus of some sort. Can't really find anything which states that they'll keep customer funds if they close down an account under normal, non fraudulent, circumstances.

gazter

visidigi wrote: »

I haven't heard of anyone who has successfully fought the account being closed.

Amazon are pretty ruthless with this policy, and like you say its usually deserved.

But they cannot 'fine' you as a punishment for breaking their terms and conditions. Which is in essence what they have done. Suspend the contract and refund the balance seems fair.

GreatBeyond

pinkshoes wrote: »

It doesnt matter how many items the OP has returned.

If AMAZON did not clearly state the number of returns permitted before an account is closed, then this is an unfair T&C.

They are perfectly entitled to ban the OP from using Amazon, but they can NOT keep the OPs money, and need to return it.

What if it just one return but they know that the OP has acted fraudulently (not saying that they have)?

Also would it depend on where the gift card was purchased from - if it was a shop or given to the OP by a company?

Another thing I'm just wondering about, had the gift card been used on any orders and the balance been put back on through a refund?

DandelionPatrol

GreatBeyond wrote: »

What if it just one return but they know that the OP has acted fraudulently (not saying that they have)?

Then they can close the account but should not keep the Gift Card balance unless they have proof which is good enough for a court. If they want to recover the losses from the alleged fraud, then really they should sue.

daytona0

DandelionPatrol wrote: »

Then they can close the account but should not keep the Gift Card balance unless they have proof which is good enough for a court. If they want to recover the losses from the alleged fraud, then really they should sue.

Key words in the post you quoted are:

"they know"

DandelionPatrol

daytona0 wrote: »

Key words in the post you quoted are:

"they know"

Companies claim that "they know" all sorts of things, many of which would not stand scrutiny here let alone stand up in court.

I want to draw attention to the criterion really being to a standard of proof accepted external to Amazon, not just Amazon deciding in the light of their own wisdom.