Amazon Gift Voucher Complaint

bazza2000_2

powerful_Rogue said:

bazza2000_2 said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

bazza2000_2 said:

born_again said:

bazza2000_2 said:

For context, the MoneySavingExpert community was created to empower consumers — to help ordinary people understand their rights, challenge unfair treatment, and hold large companies to account. It’s concerning to see a shift away from that purpose, where discussions appear to defend global conglomerates rather than support those trying to resolve genuine consumer issues. Perhaps a little re-education on why this forum exists would help remind us all what “consumer advocacy” actually means.

Please take a step back. 
We are here to help & provide correct information.
We could all agree with you 100%, but that would not be "consumer advocacy”, or helpful to you in anyway.
Nothing Amazon have done wrong here. A gift card has been purchased & redeemed. Now someone else claims it is their card (no offence intended) If you were a retailer, what would you do?

While we get you have lost a unknown amount, Consumer rights are with who bought the card. Amazon can not provide them with details of the 3rd party who used the card. Odds on police will not be interested in it. Going money claim route will not get Amazon to provide their details.
Fraudster has exactly the same rights under GDPR as you do. Not happy about that take it up with your MP.

Amazon might work with 3rd party retailers to educate sellers staff to check the cards have not been tampered with before they activate them, nothing more they can do. Other than that nothing Amazon can do other than stop 3rd parties selling them. But then they may fall foul of consumer regulations by blocking other retailers selling them 🤷‍♀️

The suggestion that “nothing more can be done” isn’t consumer advocacy — it’s resignation. MoneySavingExpert was created to help ordinary people understand their rights and challenge opaque corporate behaviour. If this forum begins from the premise that the consumer must be mistaken and the corporation must be right, we’ve lost sight of its purpose.

People have given you information about your consumer rights.  It's quite simple in this case, you don't have any.  Those rights are held by your sister.  Her rights are to have received what she paid for: an unredeemed gift card from Tesco.

This is solely a matter between your sister and Tesco.  Whatever may or may not have gone on with the card before, during or after the purchase and before you received it, if Tesco try and palm her off to Amazon she needs to escalate it with Tesco.  If she still gets no joy, she takes Tesco to court, or at least threatens to.  Tesco will probably fold (if the voucher is for a relatively small sum) but if they don't, then the court will decide on the balance of probabilities who is right.  My money would be on her winning because why would a consumer go to all that trouble and court proceedings if they knew that they (or someone they knew) had done something dodgy?

If Tesco then want to review how they work with Amazon as a result of this case and any others, that's up to them.  They have no obligation to you or your sister to do so.

That said, I must say I’m deeply disappointed by the comments suggesting it must have been a close relative or friend who redeemed the card, or that Amazon somehow has evidence to support that. The reality is, Amazon doesn’t have any evidence, because there isn’t any. As clarified by the store manager, the issue is with the cards themselves, and any alleged data Amazon claims to have either has been misinterpreted or, at worst, fabricated to brush me off. These assumptions are not only wrong, but they’re damaging to the principle of supporting consumers in situations like this. Instead of speculating that the consumer is guilty, we should be advocating for them and focusing on the facts. This forum exists to stand up for consumers, not to blindly defend large corporations and dismiss legitimate concerns without proper consideration.

Well you posted the reply from Amazon and I have no reason to doubt their response.

I think you've been lucky in this instance. Which ever close relative or acquaintance squnadered the gift card got away lightly this time.

I don't quite follow, are you saying that you still believe a close relative of mine took the card data and redeemed it?

Okell

bazza2000_2 said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

bazza2000_2 said:

born_again said:

bazza2000_2 said:

For context, the MoneySavingExpert community was created to empower consumers — to help ordinary people understand their rights, challenge unfair treatment, and hold large companies to account. It’s concerning to see a shift away from that purpose, where discussions appear to defend global conglomerates rather than support those trying to resolve genuine consumer issues. Perhaps a little re-education on why this forum exists would help remind us all what “consumer advocacy” actually means.

Please take a step back. 
We are here to help & provide correct information.
We could all agree with you 100%, but that would not be "consumer advocacy”, or helpful to you in anyway.
Nothing Amazon have done wrong here. A gift card has been purchased & redeemed. Now someone else claims it is their card (no offence intended) If you were a retailer, what would you do?

While we get you have lost a unknown amount, Consumer rights are with who bought the card. Amazon can not provide them with details of the 3rd party who used the card. Odds on police will not be interested in it. Going money claim route will not get Amazon to provide their details.
Fraudster has exactly the same rights under GDPR as you do. Not happy about that take it up with your MP.

Amazon might work with 3rd party retailers to educate sellers staff to check the cards have not been tampered with before they activate them, nothing more they can do. Other than that nothing Amazon can do other than stop 3rd parties selling them. But then they may fall foul of consumer regulations by blocking other retailers selling them 🤷‍♀️

The suggestion that “nothing more can be done” isn’t consumer advocacy — it’s resignation. MoneySavingExpert was created to help ordinary people understand their rights and challenge opaque corporate behaviour. If this forum begins from the premise that the consumer must be mistaken and the corporation must be right, we’ve lost sight of its purpose.

People have given you information about your consumer rights.  It's quite simple in this case, you don't have any.  Those rights are held by your sister.  Her rights are to have received what she paid for: an unredeemed gift card from Tesco.

This is solely a matter between your sister and Tesco.  Whatever may or may not have gone on with the card before, during or after the purchase and before you received it, if Tesco try and palm her off to Amazon she needs to escalate it with Tesco.  If she still gets no joy, she takes Tesco to court, or at least threatens to.  Tesco will probably fold (if the voucher is for a relatively small sum) but if they don't, then the court will decide on the balance of probabilities who is right.  My money would be on her winning because why would a consumer go to all that trouble and court proceedings if they knew that they (or someone they knew) had done something dodgy?

If Tesco then want to review how they work with Amazon as a result of this case and any others, that's up to them.  They have no obligation to you or your sister to do so.

Thanks for the clear explanation — it’s great to finally get some straightforward advice. It’s refreshing to read a response that directly addresses the situation without the negativity that’s mixed in with other bits of advice.

I’ve now been to the Tesco store with my sister, and the store manager explained that they had a spate of issues around the time my card was purchased, so they expected several of these cards to be returned. They gave her a full refund for the amount on the card and also made a point of showing us that the cards have been removed from display while they investigate...

Before "the clear explanation" that you like above there had been 7 posts all clearly telling you the same thing - that the only person with any consumer rights here was your sister, and that she herself needed to take it up with Tesco, not Amazon.  (The other 27 posts were not addressing how you  - or rather your sister - should go about resolving the matter).

What happens?  Your sister goes to Tesco and it's resolved.

Now if you hadn't come to this forum, would it have been resolved or would you still be banging your head pointlessly against the brick wall of Amazon?

sheramber

bazza2000_2 said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

bazza2000_2 said:

born_again said:

bazza2000_2 said:

For context, the MoneySavingExpert community was created to empower consumers — to help ordinary people understand their rights, challenge unfair treatment, and hold large companies to account. It’s concerning to see a shift away from that purpose, where discussions appear to defend global conglomerates rather than support those trying to resolve genuine consumer issues. Perhaps a little re-education on why this forum exists would help remind us all what “consumer advocacy” actually means.

Please take a step back. 
We are here to help & provide correct information.
We could all agree with you 100%, but that would not be "consumer advocacy”, or helpful to you in anyway.
Nothing Amazon have done wrong here. A gift card has been purchased & redeemed. Now someone else claims it is their card (no offence intended) If you were a retailer, what would you do?

While we get you have lost a unknown amount, Consumer rights are with who bought the card. Amazon can not provide them with details of the 3rd party who used the card. Odds on police will not be interested in it. Going money claim route will not get Amazon to provide their details.
Fraudster has exactly the same rights under GDPR as you do. Not happy about that take it up with your MP.

Amazon might work with 3rd party retailers to educate sellers staff to check the cards have not been tampered with before they activate them, nothing more they can do. Other than that nothing Amazon can do other than stop 3rd parties selling them. But then they may fall foul of consumer regulations by blocking other retailers selling them 🤷‍♀️

The suggestion that “nothing more can be done” isn’t consumer advocacy — it’s resignation. MoneySavingExpert was created to help ordinary people understand their rights and challenge opaque corporate behaviour. If this forum begins from the premise that the consumer must be mistaken and the corporation must be right, we’ve lost sight of its purpose.

People have given you information about your consumer rights.  It's quite simple in this case, you don't have any.  Those rights are held by your sister.  Her rights are to have received what she paid for: an unredeemed gift card from Tesco.

This is solely a matter between your sister and Tesco.  Whatever may or may not have gone on with the card before, during or after the purchase and before you received it, if Tesco try and palm her off to Amazon she needs to escalate it with Tesco.  If she still gets no joy, she takes Tesco to court, or at least threatens to.  Tesco will probably fold (if the voucher is for a relatively small sum) but if they don't, then the court will decide on the balance of probabilities who is right.  My money would be on her winning because why would a consumer go to all that trouble and court proceedings if they knew that they (or someone they knew) had done something dodgy?

If Tesco then want to review how they work with Amazon as a result of this case and any others, that's up to them.  They have no obligation to you or your sister to do so.

Thanks for the clear explanation — it’s great to finally get some straightforward advice. It’s refreshing to read a response that directly addresses the situation without the negativity that’s mixed in with other bits of advice.

I’ve now been to the Tesco store with my sister, and the store manager explained that they had a spate of issues around the time my card was purchased, so they expected several of these cards to be returned. They gave her a full refund for the amount on the card and also made a point of showing us that the cards have been removed from display while they investigate.

That said, I must say I’m deeply disappointed by the comments suggesting it must have been a close relative or friend who redeemed the card, or that Amazon somehow has evidence to support that. The reality is, Amazon doesn’t have any evidence, because there isn’t any. As clarified by the store manager, the issue is with the cards themselves, and any alleged data Amazon claims to have either has been misinterpreted or, at worst, fabricated to brush me off. These assumptions are not only wrong, but they’re damaging to the principle of supporting consumers in situations like this. Instead of speculating that the consumer is guilty, we should be advocating for them and focusing on the facts. This forum exists to stand up for consumers, not to blindly defend large corporations and dismiss legitimate concerns without proper consideration.

The second post on this thread gave you that advice to go back to Tesco,  but you chose to ignore it.

TELLIT01

What hopefully has become clearer to consumers is that -

(1) the right to redress for any problems lies with the purchaser, not with anybody else.

(2) The purchaser needs to deal with the retailer, not the 'manufacturer' (for want of a better term).  In this instance Tesco, not Amazon. 

It can get confusing if something is unwittingly purchased on Amazon Market Place.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

I think a lot of people are putting too much faith in the accuracy of customer services from these types of companies.

They are all based overseas and seem to have an objective to answer all questions. 

I haven’t spoken to Amazon CS for years but @Soolin will confirm eBay customer support will more often than not make any old thing up rather than say “sorry we don’t know”. 

OP just ask your sister to go back to Tesco.

Within 6 months burden of proof is on Tesco so she shouldn’t let the store fob her off by passing back to Amazon or refusing to investigate the matter.

Arguing here will get you nowhere…. 

powerful_Rogue

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

I think a lot of people are putting too much faith in the accuracy of customer services from these types of companies.

They are all based overseas and seem to have an objective to answer all questions. 

I haven’t spoken to Amazon CS for years but @Soolin will confirm eBay customer support will more often than not make any old thing up rather than say “sorry we don’t know”. 

OP just ask your sister to go back to Tesco.

Within 6 months burden of proof is on Tesco so she shouldn’t let the store fob her off by passing back to Amazon or refusing to investigate the matter.

Arguing here will get you nowhere…. 

As you say, we can only go on the information presented.

GingerTim

MSE Forum rules said:

If we feel something does cross the line and/or is harmful or detrimental to our users, we reserve the right to remove it.

This includes posts we believe have been generated by AI. ... the Forum is a place for real people to share their experiences and insights.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/forum-faqs/

born_again

GingerTim said:

MSE Forum rules said:

If we feel something does cross the line and/or is harmful or detrimental to our users, we reserve the right to remove it.

This includes posts we believe have been generated by AI. ... the Forum is a place for real people to share their experiences and insights.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/forum-faqs/

Seems this posts has passed by some, who despite having post deleted for using AI to dig at other posters have done it again.