Gift Cards! Friend or Foe?

iaak1983

So im very bad at budgeting and more often than not, I'm finding my way onto Olio at the end of the month for a few meals here and there, as I've ran out of money. 

So for the past few months I've been living a dream in a sense as when I was getting paid on the first, I was topping up Sainsbury and Tesco's gift cards to keep me going until the end of the month. They are great i cannot spend on tobacco products which means i won't compromise for that last pack of cigarettes when I'm almost skint and stressed!

On 11th Oct, I decided to try Morrison. I had £250 left in my account for my food budget, as I hadn't fully topped up my other cards. So i did this i went into a store and got a card from the rack and asked the self service attendant to help me top it up. I topped it up £250 and though nothing of it. Then a few days later on the Monday, I went to use the card and could not pay the £26 for my shop as only £20 was on the card. 

I went back to the store that I got it from and was told they could not help me. It was just the gift card people that could. I then went and rang them because their email from on the back of the card returns a blocked email response. 

The gift card people then told me on the phone they could only help me if this was a online purchase but as i had bought in store they could not assist me. Not only this, they also informed me that the card I had gotten on the 11th from the rack was topped up £20 on the 9th two days before i got it. I then went and opened a faulty product ticket on Morrison's website and responded that this would all get resolved. This was the last Sunday. I emailed them on Thursday for a update and not had a reply from them.

I have opened a dispute with my bank but they demand evidence that i was not given what i paid for but i don't have a statement I just have my receipt from the till for £250 and the proof it cleared my bank account. I feel Morrison could have easily tracked where this money is by now and offered me a response how they plan to rectify the matter. 

I would like to ask if anyone else has had such a experience and what advice there is for what possible next steps I could take?

Thanks,
Al.

MattMattMattUK

iaak1983 said:

So im very bad at budgeting and more often than not, I'm finding my way onto Olio at the end of the month for a few meals here and there, as I've ran out of money. 

Have you established in what way you are bad at budgeting? Some people underestimate costs, others lack impulse control and so spend essential money on unneeded things? The former is easier to deal with than the latter. 

iaak1983 said:

So for the past few months I've been living a dream in a sense as when I was getting paid on the first, I was topping up Sainsbury and Tesco's gift cards to keep me going until the end of the month. 

It can work for some people, if it works for you that is not a bad thing.

iaak1983 said:

They are great i cannot spend on tobacco products which means i won't compromise for that last pack of cigarettes when I'm almost skint and stressed!

Have you accessed smoking support services from the NHS? When you say stressed, do you mean just normal occasional frustrations, or do you mean medical stress? If the former then it would be worth finding a different way of unwinding, possibly something like running? If the latter then please see your GP. This does indicate the impulse control issue rather than the underestimating costs issue. 

iaak1983 said:

On 11th Oct, I decided to try Morrison. I had £250 left in my account for my food budget, as I hadn't fully topped up my other cards. So i did this i went into a store and got a card from the rack and asked the self service attendant to help me top it up. I topped it up £250 and though nothing of it. Then a few days later on the Monday, I went to use the card and could not pay the £26 for my shop as only £20 was on the card. 

I went back to the store that I got it from and was told they could not help me. It was just the gift card people that could. I then went and rang them because their email from on the back of the card returns a blocked email response. 

The gift card people then told me on the phone they could only help me if this was a online purchase but as i had bought in store they could not assist me. Not only this, they also informed me that the card I had gotten on the 11th from the rack was topped up £20 on the 9th two days before i got it. I then went and opened a faulty product ticket on Morrison's website and responded that this would all get resolved. This was the last Sunday. I emailed them on Thursday for a update and not had a reply from them.

I have opened a dispute with my bank but they demand evidence that i was not given what i paid for but i don't have a statement I just have my receipt from the till for £250 and the proof it cleared my bank account. I feel Morrison could have easily tracked where this money is by now and offered me a response how they plan to rectify the matter. 

If you look online it should show you the current balance, as well as a history of spending. Can you screenshot what it shows, with any personal information and the card number redacted. 
https://morrisons.cashstar.com/recipient-experience/balance/[object Object]

iaak1983 said:

I would like to ask if anyone else has had such a experience and what advice there is for what possible next steps I could take?

Raising a formal complaint with Morrisons is going to be the route to take, it is unlikely to be quick unfortunately. 

Emmia

This sounds like you've been a victim of gift card draining. 

Essentially fraudsters take the details of the gift cards on display, wait for them to be topped up (as you did with £250), and then spend on them. Leaving little or no balance.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/beatthescammers/article-13235925/Draining-gift-card-scam-arrives-Britain-Victim-loses-150-local-Sainsburys-heres-works.html

iaak1983

Emmia said:

This sounds like you've been a victim of gift card draining. 

Essentially fraudsters take the details of the gift cards on display, wait for them to be topped up (as you did with £250), and then spend on them. Leaving little or no balance.

Defo not card draining when i spoke to them on the phone the card already had £20 on it before i got it. So none of the money that got taken from my account was technically topped up onto the card. 

MattMattMattUK said:

iaak1983 said:

So im very bad at budgeting and more often than not, I'm finding my way onto Olio at the end of the month for a few meals here and there, as I've ran out of money. 

Have you established in what way you are bad at budgeting? Some people underestimate costs, others lack impulse control and so spend essential money on unneeded things? The former is easier to deal with than the latter. 

iaak1983 said:

So for the past few months I've been living a dream in a sense as when I was getting paid on the first, I was topping up Sainsbury and Tesco's gift cards to keep me going until the end of the month. 

It can work for some people, if it works for you that is not a bad thing.

iaak1983 said:

They are great i cannot spend on tobacco products which means i won't compromise for that last pack of cigarettes when I'm almost skint and stressed!

Have you accessed smoking support services from the NHS? When you say stressed, do you mean just normal occasional frustrations, or do you mean medical stress? If the former then it would be worth finding a different way of unwinding, possibly something like running? If the latter then please see your GP. This does indicate the impulse control issue rather than the underestimating costs issue. 

iaak1983 said:

On 11th Oct, I decided to try Morrison. I had £250 left in my account for my food budget, as I hadn't fully topped up my other cards. So i did this i went into a store and got a card from the rack and asked the self service attendant to help me top it up. I topped it up £250 and though nothing of it. Then a few days later on the Monday, I went to use the card and could not pay the £26 for my shop as only £20 was on the card. 

I went back to the store that I got it from and was told they could not help me. It was just the gift card people that could. I then went and rang them because their email from on the back of the card returns a blocked email response. 

The gift card people then told me on the phone they could only help me if this was a online purchase but as i had bought in store they could not assist me. Not only this, they also informed me that the card I had gotten on the 11th from the rack was topped up £20 on the 9th two days before i got it. I then went and opened a faulty product ticket on Morrison's website and responded that this would all get resolved. This was the last Sunday. I emailed them on Thursday for a update and not had a reply from them.

I have opened a dispute with my bank but they demand evidence that i was not given what i paid for but i don't have a statement I just have my receipt from the till for £250 and the proof it cleared my bank account. I feel Morrison could have easily tracked where this money is by now and offered me a response how they plan to rectify the matter. 

If you look online it should show you the current balance, as well as a history of spending. Can you screenshot what it shows, with any personal information and the card number redacted. 
cant post links yet so removed it

iaak1983 said:

I would like to ask if anyone else has had such a experience and what advice there is for what possible next steps I could take?

Raising a formal complaint with Morrisons is going to be the route to take, it is unlikely to be quick unfortunately. 

Thanks for all your responses there Matt yes ive acessed many support options that have not helped even quit many times its hard to not buy cigarettets when they do offer genuien stress relief even tho not good for your phisical health! Much apreciate the link had not found it yet will have a look there now!

iaak1983

If you look online it should show you the current balance, as well as a history of spending. Can you screenshot what it shows, with any personal information and the card number redacted. 

Actually this does not offer any detail on spending or topping up just a balance! Thanks for the link tho.

Brie

Maybe you would benefit from popping over to the debt free wannabe board to get some budgeting advice?  There's a Statement of Accounts (SOA) you can fill out and post and people will look at ways to help you suit your spending to your income.  Normally quite friendly and helpful.

molerat

Does the receipt not give the number of the card being topped up ? - every one I have seen does.

So either card draining or switcheroo slight of hand by the till operator.

Flugelhorn

molerat said:

Does the receipt not give the number of the card being topped up ? - every one I have seen does.

So either card draining or switcheroo slight of hand by the till operator.

I would have thought that the receipt should have the number and be able to sort this out, though could be switcheroo

I bought a SIM card and got them to top it up at the till - got home and there was nothing on it  - went back to supermarket with the receipt , they claimed that the assistant just didn't do it right and duly made sure that it was topped up but maybe something else had gone on

tastyhog

Emmia said:

This sounds like you've been a victim of gift card draining. 

Essentially fraudsters take the details of the gift cards on display, wait for them to be topped up (as you did with £250), and then spend on them. Leaving little or no balance.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/beatthescammers/article-13235925/Draining-gift-card-scam-arrives-Britain-Victim-loses-150-local-Sainsburys-heres-works.html

You can't use morrisons gift cards online and you'll need the card or digital vouchers to use them instore