Ranting

Ok I have just got to pull my little step ladder up to my soap box....My son wanted to order a membership for an RPG game on the internet so I thought this would be a nice C-mas gift. I don't have a credit card and refuse to give my bank account # out so I bought a Wal-mart visa gift card. Notice the word VISA. You know the one, taken everywhere mastercard isn't! I filled out all the online paperwork and entered the card # and.....Declined. " Unacceptable security". Huh? so I contacted the RPG company. Answer: since the card doesn't have a traceable address it can't be varified. Advice from them: Call Wal-mart. Called # on back of card: NEVER could get a real person to answer my questions. I didn't just call once and the stupid machine hang up on me, I tried to find some button that would get me a piece of breathing matter for over 1 hr!!!! Went to the Wal-mart gift card site online and ask for some clarification there. Nicely. I received a nice reply saying that there were some places online you could not use the card for security reasons. Period. Ok....I accept this, can't use it online. Well I have to use it somewhere so I go today to wal-mart to get gas. Slide my little wal-mat gift card in.....DECLINED!!! I could just spit. I absolutely hate situations like this. This is why I never pray for patience. I'm always afraid GOD will give me one of these!

All right I feel a little better. Stepping down...wiping the sweat from my forehead and giving someone else a chance for a post holiday rant

Tina

Tina,

The gift cards are often not accepted at gas stations, because depending
on the system, it tries to draw in advance of what it thinks you have. For example,
even if you had $25.00 on the card and only tried to get $5.00 worth of gas, it
could likely be declined.

Some machines even require that you enter the card as a credit card, even
if it is not.

You never know what machines want these days. :-)

KM

Tina,
I'm so sorry this has caused you such a headache. You would think those cards would come with the info about what places (types of places) they couldn't be used at. Hopefully you can at least use it at Wal-Mart....for plants or shoes, tee hee hee.

I would say to go back to the Wal-Mart you purchased the card at and let them know what a bad time you've had. Once when I was grocery shopping at WM I had all these cool coupons I had printed out from the internet. When the cashier was done ringing up my whole order she told me the coupons wouldn't scan so she couldn't accept them. Huh? I didn't understand why she couldn't key in the numbers....it works when you want to buy something and the UPC won't scan. She told me all I could do was talk to the folks at the service desk.....giving me the impression that they would accept my coupons there and give me money back (or a credit slip).

I was ticked. This wasn't just $3 in coupons, this was like $20 and I had purchased name brands that I never would have without coupons.

So, over to the service desk I go, coupons in one hand, receipt in the other. I talk to the lady there and she tells me there's nothing she can do...if the register won't scan them then too bad for me. I said I wanted to speak to management.

Management finally comes. I tell them what's going on and that I would never have put these items into my cart if I wouldn't have had the coupons. Again, she tells me there's nothing she can do. I'm super ticked at this point, not because of the money, but because of how they are treating me. Grrr (LOL!). I tell them that if they cannot accept printed coupons they *at least* need to put up a sign that says so in both entrances to the store....because I'm *sure* I'm not the first person this has happened to.

A couple of days later I had to visit my friendly WM again (same store) and there was this HUGE sign hanging up in both entrances that they now accept computer printed coupons! LMBO!!!!!

So, the moral of the story is, if you really are passionate about something and take the matter to as high of an employee as you can, sometimes you do get results. Ok, maybe "passionate" isn't just the right word....maybe "miffed", "ticked", or "distraught" would be better. lol.


Now, don't even get me started on the time I waited for 20 minutes in the paint dept for assistance! An employee only showed up when I decided to start mixing my own paint with their machine (a manager to tell me I wasn't allowed to do that and I should wait [longer] for assistance). I don't pray for patience either....at least not before I go to WM!

I did hit credit card at the pay pump just like the little fine print said but it still declined. Who knows...I'll save the battle for later in the week;)

Hi Tm,

I forgot what it is called, but some places 'reserve' a certain amount
of money on your card, above the amount of your purchase. It was on
the news last year, I guess it presented quite a problem for many people.

:-( KM

Credit card
Charge card
Gift card
Stored Value Card
In-store card
Travelers Checks

... all different "plastic" or "paper" products. All function differently.
But the bottom line is the "institution" has your money/cash until its spent and the card is empty. The institutions make millions of dollars a DAY on the investment in interest on your money that's loaded onto "whatever" card. This is meant to be a convenience to you and a money maker for them.

Another good reason to shun the famous Wal-Mart. I bet if little local place gave out coupons they would honor them. Sam Walton is dead, by the way.

I recently aquired a $50 AMEX gift card. Loved it until I couldn't use it online to purchase seeds. I did notice at Walmart and my local grocery store all the load-a-credit-gift-cards, including VISA. I guess it's hit or miss. But I did very well at Barnes and Nobles, FoodLion, and Walmart. Just wish I could do it online.

r30

heathrjoy, good for you for making a stink. I've gone one step further in similar situation - got my money back and left the merchandise. I did this once at a grocery store that required my card or coupons to get discounts. I got to the register and no membership card (I need a membership card in grocery stores-truly no life-but I've managed to gather quite a number for stores cross the country). I didn't know at the time that the coupons were in the flyer at the front of the store and the clerk didn't offer them, nor a courtesy card swipe.

Ended up going to the service desk to complain and get the discounts and got treated about the same....got my entire order's money back and walked out and boycotted for a few months, too.

I saw on the "crawl" under CNN or some channel that Walmart has an issue with gift cards that they are correcting. Seems like they would test things before they sell them!!

yeah, like drug companies...oh wait, they do testing on first consumers.

Ya'll are hilarious;)

you started it, getting that ladder out and standing on your soapbox - GOOD for you!

That is very frustrating.
We got a rebate from a cell phone company in the form of a debit card. Confusing instructions on how to use it. Explained to the waitress so she might understand how to run it through and she said, yeah she had one too and never used it because of failures getting approved. Imagine the money the company is making from that.
I am annoyed at LL Bean. I ordered a minimum amount that would earn me a 10 dollar 'gift card' When it came, it expires in Feb!! (as in less than three months.)

Somewhere I heard how many gift cards were never used. What a way for companies to make 100% profit!

I do know that some places do reserve an amount on your credit cards. We learned this while vacationing in FL years ago. We had driven down, with no reservations at any hotels and just stayed wherever we ended up. We had a high credit limit on our card, but about 5 minutes after getting settled into one hotel room the phone rang and it was the front desk saying we had a problem with our credit card. DH went down to see what was going on, because we knew the problem wasn't on our end. The hotel manager told DH that every hotel that we had stayed at for the last 2 weeks had put a reserve on our credit card and not all of them had come off yet. Sheesh. It wasn't a big deal because the manager understood what was going on....but if it had been a gas pump it would have been another story!


Now, what burns my butt is this thing at the bank where they wait for checks to clear when you deposit them, but ONLY if you write in on your deposit slip as a check. If you write it in as a cash deposit they consider it as cashing the check, then depositing cash. Guess how we learned the valuable lesson of how important it is to write your deposit amount on the "cash" line and not the "check" line?

DH and I deposited our income tax refund check and headed to Aruba the next day. The flight and room was on our credit card...the ONE we took with us. We had taken our debit cards for purchases. When we had spent the cash we had on us we attempted to use our debit cards for purchases....DECLINED. Huh? We just deposited thousands of dollars 3 days ago!

Every bank, atm and store we went to, it was the same story. We couldn't figure it out. The horrible thing was that to call home (at that time) cost like $8 for the connection and $5 a minute. No exaggeration. With the little money we figured we had left we didn't want to waste it being put on hold with a call to the bank. What to do? We were freaking out.

Thankfully we had gotten an all-inclusive package, so we were able to eat, lol. (That's actually not funny.) We called a close friend and gave her all of our banking info. She went to our bank and raised cane. They gave her a very hard time, but she was persistent. She got things cleared up and called us back to tell us the check would be cleared by the next day....and it was, we had access to our money.

Talk about a way to ruin a vacation!

A year or so later one of the students at our local high school told me that the bank managers come in to speak to the kids about different things and give lectures. She said the one guy talked about a "local couple" who went on vacation to Aruba after depositing a check that hadn't cleared yet and "they got stuck with no money." She said she knew exactly who they were talking about. Oh, fer goodness sakes, that was embarrassing.

Yeah, it's always been on the top of my wishlist to be the poster child for the banks to say "Don't do this." Live and learn, huh?

SallyG,

I think we have the same cell phone rebate cards. I gave up
trying to use it for good and just began using it at Sonic for an
occasional drink. It worked.

Sigh.

Wuvie--could you telepathically let me enjoy some Sonic ice, any flavor drink will do. I love those little pellets!!! No Sonic in MD!!

So many stores gave ten dollar off coupons this year! You know, you get in the store and spend more than planned. But it takes some will to turn down ten dollars right off. Then Mastercard was sending a ten dollar off for using my MC at Penneys. Course, I would go and then feel like a stooge unless I bought a 20 dollar item, so I owuldn't be charging, say 97 cents....

Geeze - I've been lucky so far with my rebates. The tricky thing for me was to keep track of how much was left on a $100 card from Radio Shack, but I was able to get the balance online and I was able to use it and cash on a pizza. :-)

I buy a lot with rebates involved - it's part of how I shop for big ticket stuff. It better not get messed with!

It's a good thing you had a friend at home that was able to raise Cain with the bank, heathrjoy!

Pretty sad to have to use a rebate up a $1 at a time, but how much should that cost them in fees? Or do they get to double dip the other way and charge the merchant for using Visa or Mastercard. hmmm...

Have to add. A few days ago I happened upon a fabulous sale
at one of those pot smoker shops. (Not that there is anything wrong with
pot smoking shops, LOL)

I had not a dime in cash, only my card, one which is not accepted as
much because of the fees associated. The clerk and I laughed about
using my card for such a low amount, then he handed me the bag and
said something along the lines of "It doesn't bother me as long as you
don't mind the fees."

My response? "Actually, it is YOU who pays the fees." and I walked
out with a smile. Shame on me.

Sally, I'm so sorry about your not having a Sonic. I LOVE their ice, too!

Received a ten dollar off any purchase coupon for J.C.P's recently. Went
to the store during lunch hour, picked out a pair of pants and a shirt from the
clearance rack (75% off!) saw how busy the customer rush was, stuffed
my clothing into the middle of the rack and left.

When finished with work that day, I strutted in, stuck my arm into the display,
pulled out the clothing and walked right up to the checkout with my coupon
and left the store with a new outfit for less than ten bucks. Ha!

I'm keeping my eye on those rings with the semi-precious stone beads, too.
Not paying 60.00, I'm not even paying 16.00. They WILL go on sale, and by
golly, I'm going to get one. LOL

Tina, I'm sorry, I got off track of discussing the cards. :-(

You all are cracking me up! I can't even find my cards, wallet, etc.............let alone worry about a coupon. I would love to be organized but am not....If they don't take an ATM or a credit card, I am dead!

Never have money in my purse with me.....don't have but one credit card because I lose them.

WUVIE- way to play the retail game sista!! Everything goes on sale eventually. if not, I probably didn't really need it. Rule does not apply to any garden related items..impulses allowed.

Back to the first post- That is the ultimate, that the walmart gas wouldn't accept the walmart Visa bought there.........

Update! I put on my big girl panties and marched into walmart, right up to the service desk and ask for the customer service manager. When she ask me what the problem was...I told her. Boy did I! I was actually a little ashamed of myself afterward;) This lady calls every ph. # she can think of to get an actual person to talk to. By the 8th{yes 8th} # she was fit to be tied! @ ticked off southern women, not good. FINALLY a real person. Doesn't speak very much english but hey at this point.......So I'm then told that I haven't registered the card online...my fault she says. WRONG LADY! I did register it and even checked my balance online afterward. "Oh yes" she says" I see the 1.00 charge where you check balance" WHAT??? Now I find I've been charged a dollar for every time I tried to get an answer from these nuts. 'steam rising from the to of my head' After telling her what I thought about being called a liar she finally tells me that there had been a 24.95 hold placed on the card where I had tried to use it and was declined but that hold was no problem....just have to wait until next tues for time to be up! OOOOOOOH!!! So I get furious slam the phone down in front of God and everybody by this time the store manager had been summoned. He took one look at my face and said give her the $ back! They do and as I'm leaving I hear him say on the phone "I need to speak to the idiot in charge!!"

Isn't Wal-Mart Great!
I do not darken their door if at all possible!
Wal-mart has run all the decent businesses of of town around here. And people can't get enough of them!
I can't figure it out, if you check prices, they are highest on most things. Their ads make you believe they are low. Keep your eyes open, they are not lowest if you check everything in your cart.

Bernie

I'm not going to bad mouth Wal-Mart (because a lot of small businesses didn't mind charging a lot when Wal-Mart was a blip on the map) but more about the Visa gift card scam. What gripes me is paying extra to get the gift card, why not just give cash instead and save money? I tell my wife "NO" to buying Visa (or AmEx) cards because they are a rip off.

My only Wal-Mart story that baffled me is when I bought a camera and memory card there a few years ago. I saw an ad the next day for the same camera at Office Max for the same price with a free memory card. I took the camera and card back to Wal-Mart with the ad from Office Max hoping they would refund the price of the memory card but they said they didn't do "free". I got my money back for the camera and card, drove a couple of blocks to the nearest Office Max. bought the same camera there and got the free card.

Sorry to hear that story about Aruba. It is nice to have ATM's around the world - we used it twice in Thailand in 2006 but you get cash in bahts (we had to think twice about the amount to enter before pressing OK).