Problem with Gift Card purchase on Ebay

don9999

I have recently purchased an Amazon Gift Card on Ebay. Have done so before with no problems.

On this occassion, I received the card as described, with the 'Claim Code' panel still intact.
'I' scratched off the panel, and immediately attempted to apply the code to my account.
An error message popped up stating that the code had already been redeemed!

Howe could this be, if the Claim Code panel was still intact? Could someone have 'guessed' the code?
Or perhaps could it be an Amazon error where they have issued a code twice?

I contacted Amazon and was informed of the account against which the code had already been redeemed. I did not recognise the name, and neither is it the name of the ebay seller. I asked, but they were unable to provide me with the date when it was redeemed (presumably some time before I even received the card!)

They asked where I got the card from, and for now, I just said I had been given it (I 'think' it is againt Amazon's T&Cs to re-sell their gift-cards, so I was protecting the seller.) Apparently the issue has been transferred to a different department (probably some type of 'fraud' department since something fishy is going on).

Anyway, I said I would return the card to the person who had given it to me and that 'they' would have to follow-up with Amazon.

Meanwhile I have contacted the seller, explaining the situation, asking for a refund, and advising that they follow-up with their supplier and/or Amazon (I am told that they obtained it from their employer). They are currently resisting refunding me, claiming that 'I' am fiddling them.

Is a difficult case, though I assume that they (or their employer) would be able to discuss it in more detail with Amazon directly, who will have full details of where it was bought, and where and when it was used. Amazon are unlikely to discuss these details with me.

I'm assuming that I will be able to get my money back, when the claim has passed 8 days, and ebay steps in.

But I don't really understand how this might have happened. 'Assuming' that the company obtained the card legally (I am told that they regularly provide cards), and since 'I' scratched off the panel, how could 'someone else' have already used the code?

angryparcel

report it to ebay as a SNAD

theonlywayisup

don9999 wrote: »

I have recently purchased an Amazon Gift Card on Ebay. Have done so before with no problems.

On this occassion, I received the card as described, with the 'Claim Code' panel still intact.
'I' scratched off the panel, and immediately attempted to apply the code to my account.
An error message popped up stating that the code had already been redeemed!

Howe could this be, if the Claim Code panel was still intact? Could someone have 'guessed' the code?
Or perhaps could it be an Amazon error where they have issued a code twice?

I contacted Amazon and was informed of the account against which the code had already been redeemed. I did not recognise the name, and neither is it the name of the ebay seller. I asked, but they were unable to provide me with the date when it was redeemed (presumably some time before I even received the card!)

They asked where I got the card from, and for now, I just said I had been given it (I 'think' it is againt Amazon's T&Cs to re-sell their gift-cards, so I was protecting the seller.) Apparently the issue has been transferred to a different department (probably some type of 'fraud' department since something fishy is going on).

Anyway, I said I would return the card to the person who had given it to me and that 'they' would have to follow-up with Amazon.

Meanwhile I have contacted the seller, explaining the situation, asking for a refund, and advising that they follow-up with their supplier and/or Amazon (I am told that they obtained it from their employer). They are currently resisting refunding me, claiming that 'I' am fiddling them.

Is a difficult case, though I assume that they (or their employer) would be able to discuss it in more detail with Amazon directly, who will have full details of where it was bought, and where and when it was used. Amazon are unlikely to discuss these details with me.

I'm assuming that I will be able to get my money back, when the claim has passed 8 days, and ebay steps in.

But I don't really understand how this might have happened. 'Assuming' that the company obtained the card legally (I am told that they regularly provide cards), and since 'I' scratched off the panel, how could 'someone else' have already used the code?

I take it you've opened a claim as you have mentioned being able to get your money back after 8 days....

Just be mindful not to call it a 'code' in the case as intangible goods are not covered and an eBay rep may just assume it is exactly that.

don9999

Yes I have raised a case.

And yes it was a physical card that I received, on which was the code.

The seller seems to be calming down now and willing to discuss.

I still don't understand how it could have happened though.....

forgotmyname

Plenty of ways to read the codes, under certain lights you maybe able to read it. Or scratch the code off and recover with a new foil.

You can buy if on a roll...
http://www.foilco.co.uk/products/scratch-off/

or discs...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Circle-Scratch-off-Stickers-pack/dp/B001FBRWRC

glentoran99

I wouldn't be confident this is a guaranteed win,

Items Not Covered

Items like real estate, motorised vehicles (of any kind), custom-made items, industrial machinery (for manufacturing), prepaid cards, or items that violate our policies, anything you buy in person, or money transfers to friends or family

In fact its probably not covered

COOLTRIKERCHICK

I get Argos vouchers from a survey site and one of them wouldn't go through. And they scraped the security stuff away to get a code and it still didn't work.

theonlywayisup

glentoran99 wrote: »

I wouldn't be confident this is a guaranteed win,



In fact its probably not covered

Where are you linking from? I suspect you are looking at Paypal. This is an Ebay case which has different rules. The buyer is covered in Ebay.

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/money-back-guarantee.html

Not covered
Buyer’s remorse or any reason other than not receiving an item or receiving an item that isn't as described in the listing (see the seller’s returns policy for returns options);
Duplicate claims through other resolution methods;
Items sent to another address after original delivery; or
Vehicles, Real Estate, Business & Websites for Sale, Digital Content, Intangible Goods, Classified Ads, Services, and some Business Equipment categories.

glentoran99

theonlywayisup wrote: »

Where are you linking from? I suspect you are looking at Paypal. This is an Ebay case which has different rules. The buyer is covered in Ebay.

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/money-back-guarantee.html

I was looking at paypal buyer protection

theonlywayisup

glentoran99 wrote: »

I was looking at paypal buyer protection

The rules are different. Ebay Money Back Guarantee covers more than Paypal cover.

glentoran99

theonlywayisup wrote: »

The rules are different. Ebay Money Back Guarantee covers more than Paypal cover.

Seems that way, however I would still say its not a guaranteed win, The seller could argue it was used by the buyer