Holiday Gift Card Warning

Whatever happened to gift cards being designed tothe check-out.
maximize the recipient's holiday tidings of great joy?But for the sake of argument, what happens to gift
Today, Christmas gift cards come with manycards that are not absconded by criminals? Gift cards
drawbacks, limitations and even rip-offs. Between theare issued by some financial institutions and banks;
fine print and holiday thieves' new era in scams, giftwhile, others are directly assigned by the retailer.
cards have become downright outrageous.However, both come with many drawbacks and a
A Consumer Reports survey named gifts cards asnumber of restrictions:o Some gifts cards charge
the second most common holiday present of 2006.fees on cards that are unused more than a year. For
However, more than 23 million Americans still haveexample, certain major department stores are known
not redeemed last years' unused gift cards. Crooksfor charging an additional fee on gift cards older than
are celebrating the season with a new criminala year.o Expire after a year. The renowned spa,
mastermind.Mario Tricoci details the expiration date of their gift
The swindle starts in the aisles of large and smallcertificates. Once the card expires, it no longer has
retailers. Thieves record the bar codes of the giftany value.o Require the recipient to use their credit
cards. Once the gift cards are purchased, bandits gocard to redeem the gift. NetFlix uses gift cards as a
in for the kill by using the bar code to redeem themarketing tool. The online DVD rental behemoth
gift card's value before the recipient ever receivesrecommends its customers to give the gift of NetFlix.
the gift certificate. Just imagine, sending a gift cardBut when the recipient goes to redeem the gift, they
to someone, only for them to be embarrassed atare required to input a credit card.