 |
 |
|
|
|
| home > US products > gift Card > Gift Card FAQs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Gift Card FAQs
The Gift Card is a prepaid payment device that, when purchased, comes with a set dollar value that is printed on the front of the Gift Card. It is not a credit card, charge card or debit card. The Gift Card can be used at over a million businesses in the United States where American Express® Cards are accepted. Use it for meals and entertainment or to purchase goods from catalogs, online vendors or at your favorite store. The Gift Card is for use within the United States and cannot be used at car rentals, cruise lines, casinos, ATMs or for recurring billing purchases (cellular phone service, subscriptions, etc.). Usage restrictions also apply for international airlines. Additional usage restrictions apply. See Terms and Conditions for further details on Gift Card usage.
Do I need to do anything before using my Gift Card? Before using your Gift Card, you must sign your signature on the back, where indicated. Write down the Gift Card number and the Customer Service number on a separate piece of paper in case the Gift Card is lost or stolen. If you are required to activate the Gift Card, instructions will be provided on the face of the Card. For your protection, during an activation or any Customer Service call, we may request that you provide the card security code printed on the front of your Gift Card, as well as additional identification information such as your home phone number, date of birth, and zip code. For more information on this data collection, see the section entitled "Before Using the Gift Card" in the Terms and Conditions. We will hold your information in confidence in accordance with the section below entitled "Data Protection and Privacy."
Are there any fees associated with the Gift Card? Yes. While you may leave a balance on the Gift Card as long as you wish, starting 366 days after the date your Gift Card was purchased, and subject to applicable law, we will deduct a monthly service fee of $2.00 from your available funds. If we send you a replacement card for a lost or stolen Gift Card, the initial 365-day period is still tracked from the date your original Gift Card was purchased.
As further described in the Terms and Conditions and subject to applicable law, we will deduct a $5.95 replacement Card fee from your available funds to replace a lost or stolen Gift Card. Subject to applicable law, if you ask us to issue you a check for the amount of any available funds remaining on the Gift Card after the "valid thru" date expires, we will deduct a $10.00 check-issuance fee from the check we send you.
Does my Gift Card have an expiration date? No. While there is "valid thru" date indicated on the front of the Gift Card, the available funds on the Gift Card do not expire but may be reduced by service fees as described in the question above. The "valid thru" date is simply required to ensure that the Gift Card can be used at merchants that request and/or require customers to provide a plastic expiration date during the transaction process. You may not use the Gift Card after the "valid thru" date. If available funds remain on the Gift Card after the "valid thru" date, contact us at the Customer Service number to obtain a replacement Gift Card or for instructions on how to redeem the available funds. We will issue you a replacement Gift Card free of charge if your "valid-thru" date expires. Subject to applicable law, if you ask us to issue you a check for the amount of any available funds remaining on the Gift Card after the "valid thru" date, we will deduct a check-issuance fee of $10.00 from the check we send you. Before redeeming any available funds, we may hold the available funds for ten (10) business days after you request a check to ensure that all transactions have posted to our system. We reserve the right to decline to issue a replacement Gift Card.
What should I do if my Gift Card is lost or stolen? You agree to safeguard the Gift Card and treat it like cash. If your Gift Card is lost, stolen or used improperly, contact us immediately at the Customer Service number -- 1-877-AXP-GIFT. You will be asked to provide the Gift Card number and other identifying details. We cannot provide a replacement card if you do not have your Gift Card number available. If our records show that there are still available funds remaining on the Gift Card, we will cancel the Gift Card and send you a replacement Card. The replacement Card will be in the amount of available funds on your lost/stolen Gift Card at the time you notified us that it was lost/stolen. Subject to applicable law, we will deduct a $5.95 replacement Card fee from your available funds. PLEASE SAFEGUARD YOUR GIFT CARD AND TELL US IMMEDIATELY IF THE GIFT CARD IS LOST OR STOLEN. NO REFUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR AMOUNTS DEBITED FROM YOUR LOST/STOLEN GIFT CARD BEFORE YOU NOTIFY US.
Can value be added to the American Express Gift Card? No. Once the value of the Gift Card has been depleted, the Gift Card is no longer valid and should be cut in half and discarded. However, we recommend that you retain your Gift Card at least until you are sure that you do not intend to return any merchandise purchased with it.
Where can I not use my Gift Card? The Gift Card is for use within the United States and cannot be used at car rentals, cruise lines, casinos, ATMs or for recurring billing purchases (cellular phone service, subscriptions, etc.). Usage restrictions also apply for international airlines. See Terms and Conditions for further details on Gift Card usage.
What if I don't have enough on the American Express Gift Card to buy what I want? How do I combine other forms of payment? If you wish to use your Gift Card to purchase an item for more than the available funds, depending on the merchant's policy, you may be able to use your Gift Card toward a portion of the final purchase price, and then use another form of payment to pay the balance of the final purchase price. This is called a "split tender" transaction because you would be splitting the final transaction amount between your Gift Card and another form of payment. Before you request a split tender transaction, please call Customer Service to check the balance of the available funds on your Gift Card. Then, you MUST ask the merchant if two forms of payment will be accepted for the purchase you wish to make. If the merchant agrees, first request that the merchant place a specific dollar amount on the other form of payment (e.g., the final transaction amount less the balance of funds available on your Gift Card), and then use your Gift Card to pay the remaining balance. Some retailers, particularly department stores, will only allow a "split tender" transaction if the second form of payment is cash or check. Internet and most mail order merchants do not permit "split tender" transactions. We do not guarantee that the merchant will accept two forms of payment, such as two gift cards.
What are usage guidelines at restaurants and other "tip" oriented merchants? When a restaurant or other "tip" oriented merchant (e.g., spas, hair salons, etc.) requests approval from us to complete your transaction, the merchant will often add a fixed percentage (approximately 20%) to the amount reflected on the bill presented to you prior to payment. This additional amount is meant to cover the tip that they expect you will add to the bill. As a result of this increased authorization request, if you have insufficient available funds on your Gift Card to cover the amount that the merchant requested us to approve, your Gift Card may be declined. If you have more than sufficient available funds on your Gift Card to cover the amount that the merchant requested us to approve, it may result in a "hold" on your available funds for the additional amount if you do not add the amount they expect. Once the merchant sends us the final transaction amount you designate, we will remove the "hold" on your available funds for any additional amount exceeding the final transaction amount. This may take 3 to 7 days and during this period you will not be able to use any available funds in a "hold" position. As an illustration, if your meal, not including a tip, totaled $50 but the restaurant seeks approval from us for $60 (e.g., includes a $10 tip in the authorization request) and you choose to pay only the $50 for the meal with your Gift Card, leaving the tip in cash, then the additional $10 would be placed on "hold" until we receive a submission from the restaurant reflecting a final transaction amount of $50 on your Gift Card. TO AVOID A DECLINE OF, OR A HOLD ON, YOUR GIFT CARD, YOU CAN ASK THE MERCHANT TO AUTHORIZE A SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNT. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE MERCHANT WILL FULFILL THIS REQUEST.
What are usage guidelines at gasoline merchants? If you use your Gift Card to purchase gasoline, we recommend that you pay inside, not at the pump. If you pay at the pump, the terminal may be pre-programmed to confirm that you have sufficient available funds on your Gift Card to pay for an average purchase of gas. Before you are permitted to pump gas, many pumps seek a pre-authorization for $75 and this amount could increase from time to time ("Pre-Authorization Request"). If you have insufficient available funds on your Gift Card to cover the pre-authorization request, your attempt to use your Gift Card at the pump will be declined. If you have sufficient available funds on your Gift Card to cover the pre-authorization request, you will be permitted to continue your transaction at the pump. However, if the dollar amount of your actual gasoline purchase is less than the amount of the pre-authorization request that we approved, a "hold" on your available funds will result equal to the difference between the two amounts. Once the merchant sends us the final amount of your actual gasoline purchase, we will remove the "hold" on your available funds for any additional amount exceeding this final amount. This may take 3 to 7 days and during this period you will not be able to use any available funds in a "hold" position. TO AVOID A DECLINE OF, OR A HOLD ON, YOUR GIFT CARD, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU PREPAY FOR YOUR GASOLINE INSIDE THE STATION.
What about returns, exchanges or problems with the merchandise purchased? PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE MERCHANT'S RETURN/EXCHANGE POLICIES PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE TRANSACTION. If you wish to return or exchange any merchandise purchased with the Gift Card, you will be subject to the merchant's return/exchange policies. If the merchant agrees to issue a credit to the Gift Card for merchandise returned, such funds may not be available for 3 to 7 days.
You acknowledge that purchases made with prepaid cards, such as the Gift Card, are similar to those made with cash or travelers cheques. You cannot "stop payment" or lodge a "billing dispute" on such transactions. Any problems or disputes you may have regarding a purchase should be addressed directly with the merchant.
What if my Gift Card is declined? The Gift Card can be declined if there are not enough available funds on the Gift Card to cover the amount of your purchase. It is important to keep track of your available balance to ensure that you do not exceed your limit. To check the amount of funds available on your Gift Card, simply visit www.americanexpress.com/giftcard or call us toll free within the United States at 1-877-AXP-GIFT, which is the telephone number printed on the back of your Gift Card. Please note: Your Available Fund balance will reflect all authorization requests that have been submitted by merchants.
How do I track my transactions and the funds available on my Gift Card? To check the amount of funds available on your Gift Card, simply visit www.americanexpress.com/giftcard or call us toll free within the United States at 1-877-AXP-GIFT, which is the telephone number printed on the back of your Gift Card. Please note: Your Available Fund balance will reflect all authorization requests that have been submitted by merchants. If you have a question about a transaction that has been posted to your Gift Card (e.g., the same transaction has been posted twice or for the incorrect amount), please notify us immediately, but no later than sixty (60) days from the date of the transaction, by calling the Customer Service number.
How can I find out what kinds of special offers come with my Gift Card? Go to www.americanexpress.com/specialoffers, enter your Gift Card number, and scroll through the page to see the special offers associated with your product.
How do I redeem special offers? Offers may be redeemed in-store/restaurant, online or via phone. Redemption instructions vary by special offer and merchant participant. Go to www.americanexpress.com/specialoffers to view all offers associated with your Gift Card product. For redemption instructions, select "Click to Get Offer!" Please note that you must have a valid Gift Card in order to view the special offer.
How do I redeem a special offer on the web? Select "Click to Get Offer!" on the offer you want to redeem. You will be taken to a page that explains the redemption instructions. Please note any promotion code listed on the American Express special offer page along with the terms and conditions of each special offer. You may then click on the merchant's website link to begin shopping.
How do I redeem a special offer in-person at a store or restaurant? Select "Click to Get Offer!" on the offer you want to redeem. Print the coupon which appears on your screen and present it to the merchant, along with your American Express Gift Card to receive your offer. Prior to redeeming, be sure to read the merchant-specific terms and conditions printed on the coupon.
How do I redeem a special offer by phone? Select "Click to Get Offer!" on the offer you want to redeem. Call the number listed on the screen to be connected to the merchant. Please note any promotion code and mention it during your phone order.
What if the merchant refuses to honor my special offer? If you have followed the redemption instructions printed on the coupon, please contact the merchant's Customer Service number to report the incident. Merchant contact information can typically be found on the special offer coupon.
How long will each offer be available? Offer expiration dates are printed on the special offer coupon. Specific offers and merchants are subject to change without notice.
Why are some special offers only available on certain Gift Cards? The American Express special offer program provides extra value for our Gift Card recipients. Selected merchant participants and special offers are designed to be specific and relevant to each Gift Card product.
What should I do if I have more questions about my American Express Gift Card? If you still have questions after reviewing our FAQ's, please call our toll-free Customer Service line at 1-877-AXP-GIFT to speak with a representative. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
What is the American Express® Gift Card and where can I use it? 
