American Express Gift Cards

My son bought four $50.00 AX gift cards for my grandchildren for Christmas. I paid an additional $4.64 per card to activate. The cards were bought at Wal-Mart (1st mistake). He gathered all the cards up and took them back to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart advised him, they were aware there was a problem with the cards, so they pulled them from the shelf. Wal-Mart blames American Express. American Express blames Wal-Mart. Hello! This is fraud, plain and simple.

Wal-Mart took the money for an item bought in good faith and did not produce the goods. I don't know and don't care who is responsible, but I know that my son is out $218.56. My grandchildren still don't have their Christmas presents from their dad. Numerous calls, faxes and trips have been made to Wal-Mart and American Express and nobody wants to make it right. Gas money to travel 17 miles one way numerous times, hours on the phone, costs of faxes, son taking time off of work, the embarrassment and humiliation for my son giving a useless gift, my grandson taking his new girlfriend out for dinner and being humiliated by his card being no good and my son having to get out of bed at 11:00 at night to go pay for the dinner that my grandson had purchased.

Nobody wants to do anything to make it right. I will stop at nothing to expose Wal-Mart and American Express for the fraudulent deception this is. It is nothing short of theft, embezzlement, defaulting on a contract between the seller and buyer and I guess it could also be a form of extortion. I have contacted the news media and I'm in the process of contacting the attorney general.

I received a gift card for $100. I just tried to spend a partial amount from my remaining balance and the card was declined. When I went online to check the balance, it stated I made a purchase at a Smiths food store for an amount greater than what I spent by far! I want to know how I can file to get that money back that was charged that I did not spend. I have no remaining funds on the card due to the transaction charge.

If you want to make enemies, give people around you these frustrating cards. They don't work, not activated, they charge you fees left and right, and you have to spend a lot of time on the phone talking to people from India, who have no clue what they are doing, until you give up and throw the card away. Thank you American Express for this great gift!

I am having the same problems as all others on this site. I got a $100 American Express gift card for Christmas and I wanted to use it in St. Maarten only to learn it can only be used in the United States. I know all about the problem with using these gift cards in restaurants as I also had a Wells Fargo gift card and when I went to use it, it was declined because they add 20% for a gratuity even though I was paying the gratuity in cash. Now, I am learning through AAA there is an American Express global card available but can't seem to find where to purchase it. I called American Express and got the same run-a-round.

I received a $25 American Express gift card for Christmas. I activated it on their website and saw there was indeed a balance of $25. I tried to purchase an item on eBay, but it was declined because they could not verify the card holder's address. I tried a second time because I thought I had made a mistake while entering the numbers. I thoroughly checked each digit and the security PIN. The card was declined again. After much aggravation, I went back to the American Express website only to find out that $2 of the money had be debited from my gift card! I saw that it was debited as an AVS purchase. If my card was declined from making a purchase, then why is money being taken from my card at all? By the way, my Visa gift cards and MasterCard gift cards work just fine.

I received a $50.00 American Express Gift Card for Christmas. The giver paid a $4.95 fee to purchase the card. We tried to use it today towards an $89.64 meal at a Hillstone Restaurant in Coral Gables, Florida. The waiter told us he would charge us another 20% to use the card. Since we would still owe $39.64 plus the gratuity, this made no sense. We took our complaint to the association manager with no success. We called American Express Gift Cards and did not receive a satisfactory explanation as to why an American Express merchant would not accept the card. Can we ever use this?

There is no option for zero star rating. Received three Amex eGift cards. They all decline, $75, $50, and another $50. This is an American Express banking scam. They make these available on their website for quick purchase, confirm, and send but do not allow for these cards to be used online or in store. Every transaction was declined. I will do everything in my power to exploit this.

I received a $100 American Express gift card for my birthday. Although we have repeatedly verified that the balance is correct, three attempts to use the card to make a purchase have all failed. We have called "Customer Service" (in India of course) numerous times. First we were told that "their computers were down" and we should call back later. Eventually we were told that Amex would mail a new card. Now days have passed with no new card and no resolution.

This appears to be a new scam based on issuing unusable cards and assuming most victims will eventually give up on redeeming their gift cards. Note that American Express blocks all methods of contacting Customer Service except to call the absolutely indifferent agents in India. Never buy an American Express gift card!

Absolute worst experience ever with AmEx gift cards. Half the time, you try to use it for a purchase, it says declined, then not only do they charge $5.95 to activate the card, they take $2 a month off the balance. i feel if it's that much trouble for them to maintain your real balance on the card, then i guess they really don't want the trouble of my business. My brother buys several thousand dollars worth of gift cards each year. I will definitely tell him don't waste his money with AmEx, too much aggravation and so far on two cards, I have lost more money than was spent.

I received two American Express gift cards several years ago. Each time my husband and I tried to use them we were told the card didn't go through so we had to self pay. This went on for months and we did attempt to contact AmEx at that time. On the front of the cards it says they expired in 12/12, but on the back it says a $2 monthly service fee began after the first year. When I contacted AmEx again this year, we were told that only a $5 balance was left on both cards. I tried to use the cards again only to be refused. American Express said I had to buy something for the exact amount (you have to be kidding me) for the purchase to go through. The cashiers did not even seem to know how to do this. I wrote again to American Express only to receive no reply. I will never purchase an American Express gift card again and would advise others to follow suit. To me this is a corporate form of robbery.

My boss gave me AE gift card and it was the worst experience I've had. I tried to buy an Excel class online through a reputable source using AE gift card and it was declined. When I called AE, I was told that the transaction went through. They told me that I needed to call the vendor to verify that it didn't go through, then to call AE back so that they can put back the credit to my card. I did exactly that. But when I called back, they told me it took 8 days for the credit to appear. I told them why it took 8 days and that the sale will end. They then told me to have the vendor call them directly. All in all, they made everyone else do the work except themselves. I told them that I will let my boss know about this incident so that he will never buy gift card from AE again. I, myself, will never buy e-gift card from them.

I just recently won a contest, winning a $100 Amex Gift Card. I then went online and verified it was good. Everything's fine.

Then I went online, spent two hours picking out shoes so as to get the best possible deal. I found some great deals at The Finish Line. I went all the way through the process, then got red print telling me that it wouldn't work, try another payment method. I tried the gift card option, too. No luck. Then I called their (The Finish Line) phone number, thinking I could just place the order over the phone, no such luck!

The girl told me they don't take Amex Gift Cards at all online. I would have to go to the store. I can't because I live in the country!

What are people like me supposed to do? I am so frustrated! When I tried to buy some dang Chinese Food for dinner on the card, same day mind you, of course it was put on "hold".

What is up with these people? All I want to do is be a consumer!

I had a $25 gift card that was purchased in April 2010, and given to me as a birthday gift. I have held on to this for an emergency. When I now try to use it, a zero balance is shown.

American Express states there were no previous transactions, which I already knew, but they could not help me without a receipt (which I do not have), as I have had the card since April last year.

I had a $50 gift card purchased in December 2010 for my birthday from my daughter, a single mom with little money. I have held on to this for an emergency. When that time came this weekend, it came back as invalid.

When calling American Express, there were no previous transactions, which I already knew. However it is invalid and could not help me without a receipt, which of course I do not have since I have had it since December.

I received a gift card from American Express for mother's day. It had no sticker or warning about using it for gas. I used the card to purchase $25.00 worth of gas. The card is valued at $100. The total of $100 is frozen until American Express gets the exact amount, I am told after trying to make a purchase following my gas purchase. I was so embarrassed in the store as they told me that the card was declined. I will not be able to use this card according to AmEx for two or three days until they get the clear from the station I purchased gas in--which put a hold on the entire amount. Meanwhile, AmEx states that they see the purchase for $25.00.

I called American Express and they told me it is not their fault but the local station who puts in the hold. I called Hess and they told me it is American Express. Meanwhile, I needed to buy something and cannot use the card until after two or three days. I think this is wrong, especially if there is no warning on the card. Hess said that there should have been a peel off sticker on the card. There was none. The card was purchased in Bed Bath & Beyond. Can you imagine a gas at almost $5 a gallon and then, they hold your money on a gift card? American Express' number is 1-877-287-4438. Thank you for your help.

Received an American Express $100 gift card. Used it once for $37. When tried to use it again to buy merchandise at Amazon, I was told that there was a problem because the purchase was for more than remainder on the account - about $63. Tried a couple of days later for different purchase. This time for lesser amount and was told there was now a "hold" on account because of improper funding of card at time of purchase?

After much arguing, was finally transferred to another representative who told me that the problem was because of legislation that prohibited sale of gift cards with expiration dates under 5 years. Again, after much arguing she agreed that the account should be credited, and told me to call Gift Card Resolution Department and talk to "Brandie" . When I just called now, no Brandie available but another gal name Denny. She gave me another different explanation. According to her, the gift card was "red dotted" and suspended because of suspicion of fraud? Again no details.

Clearly this is a scam by American Express to get folks to send bucks on gift cards then refuse to honor those cards unless the receiver of the gift can produce a "receipt", which is clearly not feasible, considering the nature and timing of the gift. .

I used an AMX gift card in Florida for gas. The charge was run through by AmEx twice, same day, same time. The vendor's records showed only 1 entry and billing to AmX. AmX wasted my time. They have outsource and language problems. They have no knowledge. They have arrogant supervisors. I got the total runaround. They blame it on the vendor. It's similar to others who were reporting how they were treated by AmX. The vendor refunded the money in interest of good will and said they were no longer working with AmExpress. I am closing all personal and business with AmEx as a result of their behavior.

I bought a $200 American Express gift card at Vons. When the person I gifted this to tried to use the gift card, it was unactivated. I had the receipt and all the packaging. I contacted American Express. They told me to fax all info (front and back of the card, all packaging, receipt and my information). I did what they requested. It took them 2 weeks to contact me and they said that the card activated was not the same as the card purchased. I explained that this was the card handed to me at the counter and this is the receipt I had. They told me that there was nothing more that they could do for me. I contacted Vons, who is still researching, and they informed me that a lot of cards where fraudulent during the holidays. I purchased this on Dec 19, 2010 and still have not seen a dime of the $200 and it is Feb 8, 2011. American Express refuses to help and also refuses to allow me to speak with a manager.

Do you really read these? I saw Rigo ** and am so disappointed that his 'warning' did not include the types of problems your complainants have written here. My beloved physician gave me a gift card for $50. I came here and saw the bad reviews and called to confirm its validity. I checked the amount (A-okay) and purchased something for $10. Then, I went to a gas station and my receipt there was for $7. I then went to CVS (mind you, it's pouring outside) and their self serve couldn't process the request so I went to the register. There too it was declined. It's embarrassing to have someone tell you 'you'll have to call them'. Why? I called AMEX (big runaround) and now my complaint will be published here. But is anything being done to stop this, considering that it wasn't even acknowledged by your representative?

I had surgery in October of 2010 and I had gotten pounded back to back by infections and was depressed and weak. My mom who only has an AmEx charge card purchased products back to back trying to cheer me up. When I finally felt better, I decided to go overseas for a family event. Well, my mother decided to purchase American express gift cards for me to use on my trip and had thought that as it is considered "money" that I would be covered with about $2000 worth especially since she had a coupon to waive the fee when you buy one. Well, the coupon would not work. It was expired even though she had received it when she had purchased a $700 collar AmEx gift card for me to spend on my 1-year-old baby.

By the way, that was the same day. Somehow she ended up with close to $5000 on a total of 4 gift cards and could not cancel them so she gave them to me to see what I could do, and this is in November 2010 at this point. I read after opening that I could not use any of them outside the U.S., and that's alright, it was our fault for not reading the small print before purchase. So my flight to England is for Thanksgiving night, but my best friend's mother passed away a week prior so I am running around trying to find a way to use my gift card to buy a gift card I can reload, but I was suggested to purchase another gift card in order to buy the reloadable one because they do not accept AmEx. Nice.

So now I have lost about $20 - $30 buying five $100 Visa gift cards so that I can put them on a reloadable one that can be spent overseas. (Can you say ridiculous robbery?) So now as if that was not enough. I was robbed for what I thought was only my cell phone at the funeral for my best friend's mom and found out 2 days later, 3 days before my flight, that my pain prescriptions and antibiotics I was waiting to refill had been stolen out of my purse as well. So I made a police report and had to call the police officer back the next day because my husband's credit card was stolen, too, which I found out when I tried to use it for gas. Well, I still have the remaining gift cards, thank God, I thought. So I used them for the rest of my time before my trip which was only gas and a few small purchases.

I got home on November 28th, 2010, jet lagged and sad leaving the family event behind. I slept all the next day and awoke the day after (Tuesday) to find out that my phone ringing and got to check my email. I found out someone had opened up an Amazon account in my name, and by checking my balances on the cards (still AmEx), found out that there was someone on a shopping spree using my name and my husband's name, but I was not majorly concerned because, hey, I will just report the number stolen and get my cards canceled and AmEx would certainly reimburse the money back to the card, and I would then contact the merchants to close the bogus accounts.

Well, my jaw dropped and I started to cry once I read the terms for reporting a stolen card. They will only put transfer the remaining balance to a new card and no purchases made prior to the day of notifying them will be refunded. What a waste of money. So I started to contact the merchants starting with Amazon.com with whom I already have an account with as it is and reported that a duplicate account had been made in my name and it was not me because I would have just added it to my original account. They did not believe me because the thief had all my details and had it sent to my house (never saw a package by the way once). I explained I was robbed in my small town and was it so hard to believe after copying the card information from my wallet. They also wrote my driver's license information, too!

Okay, so they will forward the complaint to be investigated and I offered to provide my police report number, but they say they do not need it and someone will get back to me in 24 hours by phone. By the way, it never happened, but I did receive an email from them saying that they contacted American Express who verified that the card went with the personal information registered to the card (by the way there is not one place on any of the paper work they sent that said for you to register them online or else you are not entitled to anything.)

I found out that one of the cards was registered to my husband's name (remember his CC was stolen as well from my wallet). The thief called in to register it in order to make a purchase on the phone and would not be questioned for not being a woman. Now I am even angrier because my hunt to get refunds is not turning out so good at all. See, Amazon said I have to report it stolen to American Express and have them call Amazon in order for Amazon to believe me and give a refund. By now my money is moving off my cards slowly, but surely, and I cannot get anyone to give a refund because AmEx keeps telling them it is okay.

Well, I had one more company tell me that AmEx had to contact them so I decided to cut my losses and just report it stolen and asked them to call those merchants for me. I called and was told that they would not do that because it's a gift card but if the merchant spoke to them, that they would credit it back. I said they will not call you because they want you to call them to tell them it's a fraudulent charge and you notified Amazon that the card was registered to me and everything was okay, but it was not registered to me at all!

The Indian customer service representative then told me that he was sorry and to call back when I was in the store. The purchase was made and he would see what he could do. I then lost it, and through sobs, I told him they are being purchased online. So now I am trying to get the merchants to contact AmEx. And again, I can't cancel the cards yet because the merchants have to refund the money onto them, and they will not refund to any other cards.

Meanwhile, my mother gets her bill from American Express and almost all her transactions were doubled somehow. And not just her gift cards, she now owes almost $33,000 and is begging me to return some of the things she had bought because she has to pay in full or they will terminate her account. Now I am afraid to tell her about the theft and cyber identity theft that I have been dealing with. So I told her okay. So now I feel like ** and I can't really return enough to compensate the bill, plus the mail moves slow this time of year.

I now have lost any faith in saving the money left on these cards which, as of today 12/8, is down to $1000 and my mom has only been credited maybe $2000 to her bill, and I feel completely helpless. So now, after reading the complaints, I realized that American Express, the company in general is a sick and manipulative company stealing money from Americans a very slow and malicious way and I ponder what has happened to our country where people are allowing this to happen and doing nothing about it.

I received a gift card for Christmas and after several tries of using it during this year, I was informed that it was not valid. The card's value is $50.00. I also tried to call on this through the phone today and after 20 minutes, they tried to transfer me and I went to a site that sold porn. The 800 phone number business line for gift cards also directed me to purchase porn.

I purchased a $50 AmEx gift card at Walmart and soon after brought it to CVS to make a purchase. The cashier said the card was declined. She tried scanning the card and manually punching the numbers in to no avail. The cashier ended up calling the company and giving them the card number only to be told the card wasn't activated. Well, angry, I stormed back to Walmart with my gift card, receipt, and packaging. Walmart said there was nothing they could do and that I'd have to try contacting AmEx. Since some cashiers have found problems with AmEx gift cards in the past, I tried making a purchase from Walmart with it. It was also declined.

I checked the balance and activation status online, and it says "active" with a balance of $50. I called AmEx to inquire about this and clearly all of their calls are outsourced to other countries and I received poor customer service. What is going on and where is my money? There are complaints all over this site about AmEx gift cards. And a word from the wise, just pick Visa or Mastercard.

My 10 and 13 year old children received $25 American Express gift cards last Christmas as gifts. They went to use these and both cards had zero balance due to fees charged by children. I told them Amex is not trustworthy and that is why we will never do business with them. Since Amex has essentially robbed my children, they are banned from my house as is any AMEX products.

I have a complaint about their gift cards. First of all you have to pay $4 or $5 plus the gift card amount just to buy the card even though you still have to pay tax on each purchase. If you want to save the number for future reference or possible refunds after having used up all the funds, you have to register each card. Then no matter what American Express says about additional fees, there are just other fees depending on which merchant you may use. Visa gift cards are just as bad and I think they should be regulated so they cannot charge any additional fees other than the face amount of the gift cards.

I purchased a $100 gift card at my grocery store on 7/28/2010 as a birthday gift and mailed it out that day enclosed in the birthday card. As of 8/10/2010 it had not arrived at its destination. On 8/11/2010 I contacted the grocery store where I purchased the card to see if they could assist me in tracking down the card to see if it had been intercepted and spent by someone else. A grocery store clerk (Brittany) went as far as to contact the grocery store corporate office to get information to me because after calling American Express several times and speaking with a manager named Blanca, I was informed that unless I had the gift card 15 digit number they could not track down information. Blanca advised me to file a complaint. Furthermore the grocery store is only permitted to include the last four digits of a card on a receipt for security reasons.

When I called American Express back on the 8/12/10 with a 15 digit number which Brittany *** was finally able to track down I was informed that the number was incorrect and that American Express cards begin with the numbers 37 and not the 60 series of numbers I was given. I was so frustrated by this time that I decided to wait until I returned to the grocery store today to speak with a manager. As luck would have it Brittany and her supervisor, Debbie S, were both available.

After explaining the situation again to them, Ms. S spent over one hour arguing with American Express attempting to help me resolve this issue. They finally surrendered a card number to us and reported that the card had been used at a Costco in Brooklyn New York on 8/4/10 at 7:33pm. They also reported that since there was no longer a balance on the card I would not be issued a refund. Clearly the card was stolen and we were reporting as such. Ms. S insisted that she speak with a manager and the only information that the agent, Jessica #xxxxx, would relinquish was that the manager's name is Brian and she gave the standard phone number, xxx-xxx-xxx, to call him. Needless to say I consider this poor customer service.

I purchased a gift card as a birthday gift for my mother which she never received. It's clear that the card was stolen and used by someone else and although I reported the theft and enlisted the store manager's assistance in requesting a refund, American Express is refusing to refund me $107 because there is no longer a balance on a stolen card. I am appealing to you now for assistance in resolving this matter. Thank you.

I won an American Express prepaid gift card of $1000 but because I live in a small town, no one here accepts it. When I called customer service for a pin number so I could just withdraw the money, I was told "no, you have to use it at a merchant who accepts." I explained there aren't any. Well, I was told to use it online. Excuse me, that is not acceptable. If it is a prepaid gift card for $1000, what difference does it make whether you purchase $1000 in merchandise or just withdraw the cash and pay bills?

I put $400 on an American Express gift card for online ordering. I purchased a bunch of books from Amazon. No problem. Then, I tried to purchase some skin care from a different company. The card was declined so I tried again. And again. And again. It was declined each time. I went to check my balance and each of those tries had taken money out of my account! I called customer service in India. I was told that I would have to wait seven days for the monies to be reflected in my account. I asked to speak to the supervisor. He told me that I would have to wait eight days. I asked for the corporate office. He told me that I would have to file a complaint on their Web site. I checked the Web site and there's no place to file a complaint.

So now, other orders I had placed previously on Amazon will not go through. Even though technically, there's more than enough money to cover them. It seems that American Express is stealing my money to make interest on it. My $400 may not generate much interest but multiply it by the millions of people who use these "gift" cards and you can see that it's quite a racket. I'm filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and The Federal Trade Commission. This is stealing and it's illegal. I will not tolerate being tricked in this way. You shouldn't either. American Express will never get a dime from me ever again. But if there's a class action law suit out there, I would like to join it.

I purchased three (3) American Express Gift Cards from Office Depot. Two of the cards worked correctly, the third, valued @ $200.00 did not. I returned to Office Depot and was assisted by the manager. I was advised that once the card is purchased, if it does not function you can not obtain a refund. I was advised that American Express was a difficult vendor to deal with. I contacted the American Express gift card resolution department. Obviously the calls are outsourced to a foreign nation. I was instructed to fax a copy of the sales receipt, the front and back of the card, the front and back of the card packaging, a copy of a government issued ID, my name, address and phone # to their resolution dept. Someone would contact me in 10 business days by mail. I can tell you that trying to feed that much plastic through my fax was challenging in itself.

After completing the task, I called back the center to confirm that the fax with all that personal information was received. The customer service rep advised to call back in two business days to see if they received it. I asked where did my information go to? The rep did not know but assured me that it was secure. I can't help but feel that I have been ripped off as American Express holds my $200 hostage and collects interest, while I sit by and hope they have the information and will activate the card. I strongly suggest that you do not purchase gift cards from American Express unless you are financially able to loan money to American Express for at least 10 business days. I suspect I will not receive any dividends from this loan! As an average working person, $200 held hostage for two weeks is a difficult and frustrating pill to swallow. I gave two allegedly reputable companies my cash money and was cheated.

I use gift cards for online purchases, to this point I had always used Mastercard or Visa gift cards but the store I purchase them at only had American Express gift cards in stock so I purchased a $200 amex gift card for the first time. The cardholder agreement states that it can be used for online purchases. What it doesn't state is that, unlike Visa or Mastercard, these cards cannot be used for any sort of transaction outside Canada. I usually go through Paypal, but because they are based in the United States Amex declines any purchase attempts, even for purchases within Canada.

I live in a rural area & the local merchants do not accept American Express, & since these gift cards are not returnable after purchase it appears as though I might as well have thrown $200 + activation fees into the garbage. Amex customer service was very unhelpful, bottom line is that buying American Express for online purchasing is the equivalent of flushing money down the toilet. Just a warning to others not wealthy enough to throw money away.

American Express Gift Card Buyers

My brother suddenly passed away on January 11th, 2010. In his belongings was a $50 American Express Gift Card unopened. He had an unsuccessful kidney transplant surgery and has been very sick of going to dialysis 3 times a week. I am telling you this because he did not use the gift card for any purchases. My daughter gave it to him for Christmas, 2008. We returned it to her, telling her to use it. When she went to purchase something she was informed that it was worth $8. I couldnt believe it. I am a senior citizen and did not realize that this could happen.

Next called and talked with a very kind young lady (I believe her name is Leda). She offered to put $25 on the card, which meant the card would be worth $33, I refused the offer because it has become the principal of the matter and the policy of the company that bothers me as a consumer.

Next called and repeated my story again and letting Miss Abby B know that my husband has had an American Express Card since 1976. She was not impressed and I had the feeling she really did not care to hear my story. I believe she found me a little irritating. I found her a person that I would now hire for such a job. I asked Miss B to have Mr. Kenneth C (I believe he is an Executive with American Express) call me to discuss the problem. She informed me that he does not call card members. With that said I shredded my husbands card.

I hope everyone is aware that when you buy a gift card from American Express you are charged $4.95 of the card, plus the amount of the gift, you are assessed service fees monthly.

Purchased a gift card for my granddaughter's birthday. She never received it. I have the receipt and the package number. Also checked with merchant and compared their receipt to the one I got from the transactoin. Called American Express, and they said they didn't have a record of that number. Conclusion: There are counterfeit American Express gift cards hanging on the selves of merchants. Will never purchase another American Express Gift card again. I lost $$, American Express/Merchant made a profit.

Well it is about 1000 miles from Danbury,CT and the purchase was made the same day this card was purchased. I don't appreciate the fact that my grandaughter was ripped off becasue of an error on your part. I would never tell anyone to purchase your gift cards. Perhaps you should put a US map by your reps, who would drive 1000 miles to buy $10 worth of gas.

I purchased an American Express gift card for my grandmother for Christmas. When she went to use it three months later, they told her that it was never activated. Luckily (or so I had thought), I had also given her the receipt, so that if this ever happened we could replace it. When she called them to get this straightened out, they told her that she needed to fax a copy of the receipt with her driver's license, and the package, and the card. So at this point, I took over. My grandmother is 76, and had a stroke last year, so things aren't as easy for her, as they are for me.

I sent American Express all of the information they requested, and a few days later, they told me "sorry, your card doesn't match your receipt". I said, "there must be some mistake here. My grandmother never received any other American Express cards for Christmas, and I know that I paid the $100 plus $5.95 for this card, and there has to be something you can do to help me here". I was told that I needed to go to the grocery store where I bought it, and get a copy of the store ledger of sale. I did, but by now, the grocery store had deleted the ledger from their system, and all they had was a piece of paper showing my transaction with the card's information there. Bingo! They reluctantly gave me a photocopy of the store ledger, and I faxed that back to American Express. I called back a few days later, and American Express said that what I had given them was not enough information, and I needed to go into that transaction, and show more details than what the store had given me!

I told them that Stop & Shop had already cleared their machines of the records, and all they had was a paper trail. So I was told to mail everything to them. I packed all of my original documents up, and sent it in 3 days via FedEx. Finally, I thought that I was going to get someone to help me. I called in a few days later, and I was told that my receipt still didn't match the card that I was given. I am so ** that they are ripping people off over these cards, that I want to scream! They mailed me back all of my documents, with a letter saying "case closed". I had asked everyone that I spoke to "if I have a receipt, and I have proof that I bought it from this store, then why can't we just say this card was lost, and you get me a new one?"

They won't do that either, because I don't have the packaging! I was told to go back to the store, and see if they have kept a record of the packaging, and ask for a copy of it. I said "if they didn't keep a copy of my transaction on their computer after 3 months, then what makes you think they photocopy the packaging of American Express gift cards?" I have had it with them! They stole $105.95 from me, and there is nothing that I can do. I can't be the only one that this has happened to. They are robbing people, and I think it's a huge scandal that they have going on.

During the past 6 months, I bought 11 AMEX $100.00 gift cards (ea). 10 worked fine, but when my wife opened the package and tried to use the last one, it was declined. I complained to the AMEX "Gift Card Resolution Team". They said, I needed to fax a copy of the package, a copy of the card, and a copy of the store receipt. My problem was, that I didn't have the receipts cataloged to match ea of the 11 cards.

I began faxing in batches of receipts. When I called to see if the receipts I'd faxed in matched the bad card they said none did. I faxed in more receipts and am awaiting the news as to whether any of the receipts in the last batch I faxed matched the bad card. While I was waiting to find that out, I began thinking that there's a way AMEX could defraud consumers with their gift card program.

What if the card didn't match the packaging? In that case, when the consumer paid for the card [package], the receipt would appear to indicate the card was activated, but because the card didn't match the package, the card wouldn't be activated. Bottom line is that AMEX could pocket the $100.00. I mentioned this to the AMEX Gift Card Resolution team and told them there ought to be a way for the consumer to match the card to the receipt (currently there is no way for the consumer to do that). If the consumer "could" match the receipt to a specific card, then the consumer could prove they paid for that card. And if it was improperly declined, they could ask for a refund.

With the current system, a consumer could send in their receipt for a bad card and AMEX could simply say the receipt didn't match, sorry. And for me, the question is begged, "Just how many consumers, who purchased bad cards, have been declined refunds? " Do the math...such a scam could result in AMEX making millions in profits. Is it possible this is happening? I'm out $100.00 plus an activation fee and I wonder how many other consumers are in the same boat? Thousands? Millions?

American Express gift cards do expire. I believe this is illegal in CA. I cannot get a live person to answer my calls, I cannot send a question on the website without establishing an account. I have called the 800 number and was sent to an automatic response and then hung up. American Express sets its system up so that it is so cumbersome to resolve an issue. I believe this is the way this company does business, they expect us to give up! Thank you for your time and help!

A couple of years ago I gave my elderly parents two $25 gift cards. I found out yesterday that they had not used them yet. So I took them to the grocery store to buy them groceries to find that the cards would only come up on the register as $7.00 each. The clerk said I needed to contact American Express. So here I am. I originally paid $3.95 each for the cards plus $50.00 total. Of course I do not have the receipts because I assumed my parents used the cards by now. I do know that I purchased them at Safeway in Castro Valley California. They were still in the cardboard envelope when I went to use them at Lucky's yesterday. The date on the back of the envelope says good thru 10/10. Please contact me for the card numbers. The economic damage is $58.00, approximately.

Last month, my balance on my gift card was $30.02. I have made no charges on it and a month later it is $.02.

On 12/11/09 I purchased 8 gift cards. Four $100 and four $50 plus a $5.95 shipping charge for a total of $605.95. I have had many conversations with Amex and UPS (the carrier). To date all I have received are apologies and passing the blame. Each company says they are not responsible for my loss. According to the info I have my cards were stolen on 12/15 and used. They were stolen while in UPS custody. Please help! I am now out of $605.95 (no form of compensation in sight) and my family has yet to receive their Xmas and birthday gifts.

My brother bought my parents each $100 gift cards. When my dad tried to use it, it was declined. I checked the amount he got to use before this problem, it did not come to a $100. When I called, they gave me a list of three places it was used, and when I checked online, it said it was only used in one place. It's weird that there are two different accounts. Also when I was talking to them,the lady gave me one place as being Roger City, Miami. When iItold her it needs to be a city then a state she said the city was Roger City and the state was Miami I had to explain that there was no state called Miami. I actually had to tell her twice. This should scare all of us.

This is fraudulent in my opinion. You collected the money up front, experience no maintenance costs on the cards, and give nothing back. This purchase was all profit to you and all loss to us.

She told me that there is nothing I or she can do. Well I can. We use two Platinum Amex cards for our businesses and we can and will cancel them. CitiCard is much more customer service sensitive and I refuse to do business with anyone who has such unscrupulous business practices. This $75 gift card situation will cost you tens of thousands of dollars in business. Just thought you would want to know you have lost a long time customer.

I bought a $100 dollar gift card and tried to book a hotel in Las Vegas and couldn't use it. I tried using it for an online game and it didn't work and I finally used it to pay for taxes on taxact.com and it didn't work. I called the company and they said it wouldn't work out of the country and I attempted to make a purchase outside of the U.S, I said no. They said the only solution they had was to reboot the card but I wanted my money back because after all I had been through, I knew it would never work. They said I had to wait 20 business days for a refund which equals 40 days. It is terrible.

I received a $100 American Express gift card and I'm unable to spend it anywhere. The first time I used it, it went fine. But I have tried to use it three more times and it has been declined every time. I called the gift card hotline and this is what they said to me. The first time it was declined was at Micro Center. They don't have a good excuse for this one. She just said, "AmEx didn't respond to the request fast enough so the vendor canceled the transaction." Why didn't AmEx authorize fast enough? Who knows? It's a mystery. Will it happen again?

Sure, why not. Apparently, that first denial caused them to "lock" the money in the account for 2 weeks. So when I tried to use it again a few days later, it was declined again. After checking online and verifying the balance, I attempted to purchase a game off of Steam. The card was declined again. This time they claim the "Geographic Code" returned from the website shows it as outside the U.S., which is a lie because everyone knows Valve is a U.S. company.

Used $25 gift card to make purchase at Sears. Found out card was only worth $17. I was told to complain to Westfield concierge. He, in turn referred me to American Express. Card was given to me as a gift in a Westfield folder with no caveat about service charge. You can bet my purchases or those of my colleagues at Westfield North County Fair will be few; ditto for Amex. What a ripoff!

I found out there is a charge on my American Express gift card because I had not used it for over 12 months. I understand this charge was eliminated on recent gift cards purchase due to significant customer complaints, obvious due to the dishonest nature of this product was recognized and rejected by the consumers. I was not given the same recognition from AmEx that they made a dishonest product. I don't care about the $10 but the big name institution would not own up to all its consumers. They made a bad product and retracted some terms but should own up to all its users, not just the ones who called them on it.

Right now, I am really mad! I don't have a credit card. So when I want to order something off the internet, I buy gift cards. This time I choose "the great" American Express gift card! It was a $100 card. I got $10 in gas at the pump and tried to make a $4 purchase at Wal-mart. It was declined! I checked my balance on the internet and they had taken $100 for a $10 purchase! I called their 800# and they told me that they took the $100 because they wanted to make sure that the money would be there when the $10 transaction gets there, but I will get my $90 back in 7, did you read that, 7 days. How stupid is that? Then sad, "I am so sorry for the inconvenience." Am I sorry? If I **, I believe the words would be much stronger than sorry. Now I will always use Mastercard. I have no problems with them.

My son purchased two gifts cards on December 19, 2009 as Christmas presents. One gift was in the amount of $50 and the other gift card was in the amount of $100. The gift card for $50 went through but the $100 gift card did not. I've called and faxed all the information that was required as of today, nothing is on the card, and it's been a month plus six days. I can't used the Christmas Gift plus $100 is lost. We want the money back.

I purchased two AmEx gift cards from Walgreens in Newark on December 23 and sent them to a friend in Georgia. They never arrived. I tried calling Walgreens and AmEx to see what I could do to get my money back or be issued new cards. There was nothing they could do to help me. It turns out that AmEx is saying that I should have opened the gift cards and taken the numbers off of them.

This is the only way to track them. Gift cards are just like money. They told me and should be sent via UPS or insured. I will say this to AmEx, that with all the money they make from the consumers who purchase their gift cards, they should have a better way of tracking them. They rip people off with the extra $4.95 that they charge per card and no one in their company is held liable for anything. I am telling all my family and friends and co-workers not to purchase these gift cards.

I just found a few gift cars in the bottom of a drawer at my house; one was an inactivated $100 gift card from American Express. I just tried checking to see what the balance was and was told by the customer service representative that if that type of card isn't activated within 6 months of purchase it has no value. Then she thanked me for my call and asked if there was anything else she could do for me. The other cards I found for other retailers were all still good.

I bought an American Express Gift Card. I tried to buy a Greyhound bus ticket with it; Greyhound clearly accepts AMEX cards, as indicated by the option on their online payment website. They did not accept my Amex gift card, even though Amex acknowledged that the card was correctly registered with my name and address, and had a sufficient balance. The exterior packaging acknowledges that the card is not to be used for international cruises, casinos, or ATM transactions, but a domestic bus trip from Tacoma to Anaheim hardly falls into those categories. Greyhound reports that Amex is declining the purchase, AMEX claims that everything is good on their end, "unless the merchant refuses to accept gift cards."

After four hours on the phone, I put it strongly to Jeff, the Amex Customer Service Representative, "Essentially, then, an AMEX gift card is an inferior card and doesn't offer the same services as the regular AMEX card?" Knowing the situation, Jeff said, "I have nothing to say."

Let the record show that the AMEX gift card offers an inferior level of service; you'll be lucky to get any functionality out of it at all. Polite requests for a refund were rebuffed saying that it would be very difficult for them to do. The conference in Anaheim is my maiden speech before the American Philological Association, and I have used my rehearse-and-polish time to deal with the simple issue of buying a bus ticket. I will not encourage other people to use AMEX gift cards. In fact, I will encourage them in strong terms to stay away.

Since I was not able to buy the card online, I had to buy it with cash, resulting in a $60 surcharge. The $5.95 fee was a complete waste. I hope I'll be able to use the card to pay for my hotel because AMEX is dead set against refunding any money on it.

I am a young teacher who received $325 in American Express Gift Cards. I was given 3 cards. One $200 card, another $100 card, and a $25 card. The $25 card was the only one that worked. I was left with cards valued at $300 but had zero balance. I called American Express and they said the only way they can resolve the issue is if I have a gift receipt.

I received these cards as a gift weeks ago and did not receive a gift receipt. Now I'm stuck with worthless cards and this is simply a scam by AMEX since there are numerous complaints on this site that have the same issues. AMEX must figure out a better resolution to these issues. Consumers should not be held responsible for clerical errors made by the distributor of these cards. I have $300 of worthless cards and spent hours on the phone with unhelpful AMEX representatives.

AMEX Gift Card was received as a gift and when I attempted to use it I was told the $50.00 card had a zero balance. In checking with AMEX Gift Card phone number listed I got the merchant's name and in speaking with them I obtained the name of the person who had used the card. It was used along with another card sequentially numbered to purchase something online. Apparently someone had used the scam of copying down the credit card number and PIN number and checking online to see when it was activated and then used them.

I contacted AMEX fraud unit who with a couple of questions told me they would be sending me a new gift card and apologized. I was expecting quite the same run around as one always gets from these credit card companies however AMEX either knew this was part of an ongoing fraud case or out of the holiday spirit felt that making this right was the right thing to do. I hate to say it but "thanks AMEX" for making this process painless.

I would suggest they cover their PIN numbers on their cards to make this fraud more difficult to perpetrate and at least the consumer can see the number has been "scratched" off like a lottery ticket and not purchase it.

We were given a 100 dollar gift card from my fiances step mother for Christmas. It arrived via the mail in a card. We opened the orginal packaging and went into town to do our last minute shopping as the 100 dollors came at a most needed time. The store was closing in a hour and when everything was rung up and the card slide through... it was declined, after several calls to the company.. the same script was read. We were hung up on and asked to bed over backwards to even get the hard earned money that was spent on the card.

As the paperwork with in the card stated once purchaced, the money would be loaded and the card will be active within 4 hours. Now they tell us to fax over front and back of the reciept , card and drivers licence and there will be a 10-14 day dispute time that they can approve or decline it?// We do not understand the card was paid for and they are stealing money not just from us but from hindreds of otheres. I googled "problems with American express gift cards" and 32 pages of complaints flashed up on the consumer reports. Something has to be done.

I purchased a gift card that never arrived. It was sent "signature only" for delivery; this information about the delivery was not made available at the time of purchase. My sister could not be off work to sign for this at home, so it was returned. Now American Express tells me it has decided against my dispute, and intends to keep the $119 (including shipping fee) while keeping the gift card that I never received.

I received a gift card to the shoping mall and did not know there was a expiration on the back of the car. The value of the card was $75.00 and it is now worth $7.50. I do not think this is fair and as a long time user of the American express card I am very diappointed. I would like the value to be reinstated.

I purchased 5 $100.00 Amex gift cards and received activation confirmation on the receipts. Everyone who has attemtped to use these have been declined and the automated system says that they were purchased incorrectly. Customer service says the same thing as a previous post, they want a copy of the git card, receipt, driver's license, etc..... Why do I and many others have to jump through hoops to use the gift cards we have paid cash for and are giving them business!!! They need to step up and correct these issues, not make their customers pay for using their services. I personally will spend whatever it takes to recover this, if it means a lawsuit, class action, or whatever else. I will not stand for this kind of business practices.

I bought almost $5,000. worth of gift cards and the cards did not load. They are making me jump through unbelievable hoops, telling me I have to call them back over and over, promising they will be available when I call and they aren't, telling me it will take days to build a case file and activate the card BECAUSE I AM NOT THE FIRST CUSTOMER IN LINE, in other words, they have so many complaints they have a backlog of 10 to 14 days. I bought the cards with my American Express card and they can't verify the purchase from their own company. DO NOT BUY THESE CARDS, IT IS NOT WORTH THE HASSLE!!!!!

I recently purchased a $500 gift card from American Express / Simon, to do my online Christmas shopping. I was not instructed at the time of purchase that I needed to "register" or otherwise communicate with customer service prior to using the card online. I attempted to make a $128 purchase at Luggagepoint.com. The transaction was declined. I attempted to run the transaction again, which was henceforth declined.

At this time, I called American Express and told that even though the transactions didn't clear because of a clerical error on AMEX's end, I would not be able to use that $256 dollars for 7 business dayss.

This is when the horror began. I was told that there was nothing they could do to reverse the authorizations, for myriad reasons. One by one, American Express admitted that they COULD reverse them, but it was their policy not to. Some unnamed supervisor who would not get on the telephone made this decision. The merchant - Luggagepoint - CALLED American Express, told them that the transactions did not culminate in a sale, and told them to drop them. American Express declined to do so.

I spent three hours on the phone with American Express, and they would not reverse the authorizations allowing me to do my Christmas shopping. I never signed a card service agreement, this is tantamount to stealing. They have my hard earned cash, and will drop the authorization holds for 8 days. That's after Christmas. My family is getting screwed.

I have confirmed that it is POSSIBLE for them to reverse these auth's, however they are not willing to. I am furious, and unable to do my Christmas shopping. This is one of the worst purchase decisions I have ever made. I don't have the will to type all of the details in this complaint, but I would like to discuss this further with a member of the BBB team. Preferably today - when I might be able to still get my Christmas shopping done.

In March of 2009, my company gave out five $100 American Express Gift Cards for a weight loss incentive award. I kept the cards, unopened, until I was ready to use them to purchase Christmas gifts last weekend. To my surprise, when I opened the envenlopes, the expiration date on the card was 6/09 - - 3 months from the date they were issued!!! When I called American Express to see if I could get the cards reissued, they said they couldn't do so. They clearly were able to tell that the cards had never been used and that they cancelled them in their system. They have $500 that my company paid for these cards ... it should be illegal that they keep that money!!! I work for a large company and have communicated my dissatisfaction in the customer service at American Express. I will do everything in my power to ensure our company never uses American Express again for gift cards. It's a crime they can keep the $500! There needs to be a law against this theft.

I purchased a $50 American Express Gift Card on 11/21/09 at a Wal Mart to purchase something online. I tried to use the card that evening and it was declined. After using the "Check Balance" function on their website and making a telephone call, I was told that my card had not been purchased properly (in other words, "stolen") and the only way I could get it activated is to fax a photo copy (front and back, mind you) of my original receipt, the gift card, and my government-issued photo ID to American Express. I don't make copies of my ID for ANY REASON, so this will never happen. I plan on demanding a refund for the card at Wal Mart tomorrow.

Use $200 Gift certificate from Amex card to order a camera. They cancelled the order but refused to reactivate the certificate. They simply said coupon cannot be reactivated again since it is one time use although order was cancelled by them. No other means of credit can be issued. Took me the whole morning over 4 hours and talked to over 10 people from India call center. Every single one put me on hold and hang up later. When I ask for supervisor, they hang up.

American Express needs to own up to the mistake and expedite the handling of this case. They offered me the companion certificate and now I can't use it.

Received American Express Gift Card # 3790 142854 45106 in the amount of $25. Card "valid thru" date is 03/11. Was not aware that there was a $2/month fee for non-use. Went to use the card and there was only a $5 balance. Lost value of gift card.

AFTER opening the sealed envelope there was a large sheet with a "Gift Card Card Holder Agreement" inside with the card. In the very fine print on that document there was the information that beginning 12 months after the card was SOLD (not when I received or activated it) there would be a $2 per MONTH service fee deducted from the card. The card balance is not down to $18.

I called American Express customer service and talked to a "Kathy" who seemed very surprised and gave me another number to talk to someone about the gift card. I called that number, but there was no menu option for a human. However, by hitting Zero several times on the phone, I was able to reach a "Tina". I explained the situation to Tina and that I understood that American Express had now changed their policy about the service fees. Tina said that he card was issued before the policy was changed and that there was nothing she could do.

I asked to speak to a supervisor and Tina connected me to another telephone call queue. However, after only a few minutes in that queue the line began a "fast busy" signal indicating that the call had been disconnected. My real complaint is that although an expiration date was printed on the envelope containing the card, there was no indication that the card would loose any value before this date. Loss of $32 in value from the card.

My son rec'd American Express gift card and failed to read the small print which states that a $2 fee is levied each month after 12 months. This card was given to a 10 year old boy and he forgot about it. He wanted to purchase a DVD and he card was left with a zero balance -- from a $50 card. This is a rip-off and sham for both the buyer and recipient.

This is a rip-of.

I recently bought an American Expres gift card worth $100.00 to give to my friend as a gift. The following day he told me that the card was declined. So I tried returning it to Ralphs supermarket but they just ended up replacing it. I gave the new card to my friend telling him that the problem should be resolved. He tried using the card online but it was then again declined. So i went back to the supermarket for teh 3rd time to have it replaced. They replaced it for me. I tried using the card myself and again it was declined. Called American Express and they cant tell me what happened. The customer service individual was outsourced from another country and it sounded like he was reading a script while explainign to me what happened.

I called AE the next day and spoke with Desiree of gift card resolutions who was helpful in having a new card sent to me, but was very loyal and protective of the company and not the consumer. I told her there should be a better way of keeping the consumer from being embarrassed and she said there was nothing that AE can do to improve on this service. The good thing is the card is being replaced in a few days. I would never purchase one of these cards ever.

I bought twos $200 american express gift cards on june 25 at an office depot. On july 16, i opened the packets trying to use them online. One of them was declined and I called to find out that someone used it on July 8. The dispute/investigation department was closed. I called the next day. I was told that I would be reached within 3-5 business days. I got no calls. And I finally called them again. They said someone used it on orbitz.com and something like siberoboform (the representative had a very thick accent and I could hardly hear him spell). They said they couldn't do anything that I had to call the merchants. After an hour of frustration on the phone. I still lost about $200. it costs me $206.95 to get the card. And I am left with 6 dollars and some cents left. AMERICAN EXPRESS GIFT CARDS ARE DEFINITELY RIPPING PEOPLE OFF!

Even with the receipt, Walmart refused to do anything about it execpt supply a fax # where I'd have to send a copy of the front/back of gift card, receipt, address, Drivers license and then wait 10 business days for a letter regarding the situation. I've done that and now just have to wait and see if I'll be screwed over like the rest of the people on this forum.

On 07/21/2009 I purchased an Amex Gift card with a face value of $100. Later that day I've tried to place an order with yourelectronicwarehouse.com The transaction was denied because the shipping address didn't match the information on the card (a gift card is not nominal and nowhere on the terms and conditions say that a name and adress can be assigned by calling Customer Service). The order was placed via Google checkout. Soon after the order was placed I received an e-mail from Google saying that the transaction was declined for the reason mentioned above.

At your request, your order from Your Electronic Warehouse has been cancelled. [] Order cancelled Your card was not charged.

A balance inquiry on aeprepaid.com revealed a charge from Paypal in the amount of $89.98 and another charge from Google for $1. Later, another charge of $1 from Paypal was shown. I called Amex Customer Service and they told me that it takes 7 to 10 days for these amount to be credited to my account, which I find illegal since no purchases were made and no charges were applied. CS representatives and supervisors were rude and unhelpful.

On the same date I used the remaining balance to purchase $4 worth of merchandise from a local ACME store. At the register I was prompted for the zip code. I entered the local zip code and the transaction was declined. I tried again, this time using my home zip code and the transaction went through. While checking the balance I was surprised to find out the card was charged twice. Called Amex again and they told me to go back to the store, which i did (today). They reversed the transaction. A new balance inquiry came up with no changes. I called Amex again and they told me it takes 7 to 10 days to process. The CSR also told me that I was informed about that the night before, he wished me a nice day and he hung up on me.

Since no purchases were made, there is no reason Paypal should put a hold on the $89.98 and there is no reason I should be charged $1.00. Please contact AMEX and fix this problem.

The sight of their logo or mention of their name sends me into orbit.

On May 23, I spoke to someone who issued replacement cards.

My family reports that the replacement cards do not work.

On Friday July 10, my nephew and I tried to get answers from American Express. There was a series of calls where we were put on hold and hung up upon.

Finally, we reached a representative in Salt Lake City who told us that American Express had sent out a small number of faulty cards and these had been inactivated. She mentioned a check for $100.00 had been sent to someone, but she did not know who. No check was received by me or my family. We were told no information would be available until Monday.

So over a period of several months, my family and I have experienced frustration with the call centers, rude behavior, hang ups and problems with gift cards. In prior years, when I ordered America Express gift cards, I did not experience these issues.
My conclusions are that the gift card service must be outsourced to an incompetent service provider and American Express does not have access to the provider records to see the mistakes they are making.
Further, even though I wrote American Express through the online system, many times about my frustrations, no appropriate solution was reached.
For example, I received a letter last week, saying the gift card issue had been resolved, replacement cards sent, and my account charged $215.85. Instead, my account was credited with $215.85.

I faxed the corporate office of American Express to make them aware of travesties and frustration associated with a simple transaction. I asked for a confirmation that my fax was received, but no confirmation was received.

In May of 2009, I purchased two American Express gift cards from the website. I was notified by email on May 14, 2009 that the cards had been sent to the two recipients and should be received in 7 to 10 business days. These were graduation gifts, and after more than enough time had passed for them to be received, I found that one had definitely not been received. I called customer service, was put on hold for 20 minutes, and was finally connected with customer service in India. I asked that the card which had definitely not been received be replaced and was told it would be sent by UPS with signature required on delivery.

I contacted the recipient, gave them the window of time to expect it and asked to be notified of its receipt. The card was never delivered even though the family checked with the local UPS office. I also was able to confirm that the other recipient had never received the gift card either. Once again, I called customer service, spent an hour with someone from India who kept asking me exactly what I meant. I was told they would reissue the cards but would not give me a tracking number for "security purposes." I finally insisted on a cancellation and refund which I was told would take about 20 days. I used to use these gift cards often but I will NEVER purchase one again.

My husband and I were given 2 American Express gift cards as a wedding gift, on June 24, 2006. In June of 2009, we discovered the unused cards, that had been misplaced. Upon trying to redeem them, I learned that the balance was reduced nearly 50% on the one with $100 original value, and nearly 100% on the other of $50 original value.

Upon contacting American Express, I was told that a fee was being deducted, at a rate of $2 per month, for each of them - as a matter of policy - while the cards are inactive. I have been trying to get my cards restored to original value. But, each time I call, I am asked to call back at a later time when their new system is operational.

My company regularly rewards it's employees and business partners with American Express Gift Cards, however we have found that the last batch we ordered had never been activated in American Express's system prior to their being shipped to us. Thus, the cards I received are worthless for what may be a few days or may be a few weeks? I attempted to use one of the cards to buy fuel on 6/26/09 and the card was not found in the merchant system system, luckily I had cash to cover the purchase. I tried to check the status of each card online on the AMEX website that evening and the site directed me to call the customer service team because the cards could not be verified. I called the customer service team in India to find that this was a known issue!

I was advised by a supervisor, that I will have to wait 3 to 5 days for the cards to be loaded and activated into their system which is being "upgraded", before they will be usable. Upon pressing the supervisor for a reason or cause, I was told that they had old gift cards stored in warehouses which were never activated in the system before being shipped, but they were working on this software update now... he took my card numbers and will put me on some sort of list to the tech support team to have activation completed. All anyone could do was apologize to me and tell me that I have to wait for a few days for activation. I asked why can't they overnight working replacement cards and list these as deactivated? Nope... not an option.

I asked if there would be any compensation for my inconvenience of having to wait on something we paid for two to three weeks ago, and the answer was no.

So, the net of it is that we paid for these gift cards over two weeks ago and paid an additional fee to have them shipped to us, to find that they were never activated to begin with by American Express. After these calls, I phoned the customer service line.. spoke for 10-15 minutes, and then the rep told me that she couldn't assist with gift cards and needed to transfer me to--- you guessed... gift card support in India to have my name added to an expedite activation list! That was really helpful. Step 3... day 2... I phoned the office of the CEO at American Express and filed a formal complaint. I have an agent basically calling India to ... check status and expedite my requests and call me back in... you guessed it 3 days. Wow. How insulting this horrible service is... and no he has no plan to compensate for my time or my company's purchase that has been delayed.

Everyone tells me the cards are good when in fact they are totally useless until their activated. I feel that they sold my company garbage and yet now I have to wait to use my reward... and apparently work 2x as hard for it. My company now plans to move their business elsewhere for gifting employees and partners.

We waited a week and a half and the security codes still did not work. After several hours of holds and disconnects (again) we were told the SAME THING and to try again in 3-5 business days. The people answering the phones are obviously not-native english speakers and are quite unhelpful.

Suggestions to others with the same problem.... Write your congressperson and inform them of this problem with a link to this website. American Express has been approved to repay the 3.39 billion they received in TARP funds. the question is, is stealing from US one of the ways they've used to raise those funds they're using to repay TARP?

Also, go to the store (if purchased from a store) and ask to speak with the manager and inform them of the problem with the card you purchased at their store and of the explanation you were given by American Express. I'm in the process of working with management at the store I purchased mine from to get these cards removed for sale. Most store's really don't want to put themselves in the position to create unhappy customers. $50.00, which may not seem like alot (it is to ME). I might as well have flushed down the toilet.

i bought a $200.00 gift card from american express, on their web site. I never received the card, they do not answer my emails and i've spent hours on hold, without speaking to anyone at American Express.

I was at the store and had attempted to make a purchase using this card. It was quite embarrassing having the clerk tell me the card is no good with a long line behind me. I happened to have my bank card and used that instead to make my purchase. So basically, thanks to American Express, I paid for my own birthday gift from my employ

I recently purchased 2 new $200.00 american express gift cards both were unopened on friday 22 may at about 4 pm. i went to use them on the following morning saturday 23 may at 9:30. when i went to register and verify the amounts on the card at American express both were with a balance of $0.00 showing charges done at or about 4:00 to 4:30 am

i imediately called the 800 number and spoke to Peter whom could not understand me to well but did speak english. he said that they were used at macys.com. i said that was not possible as i had not even opened them till just before calling him. he informed me there was nothing i can do untill macys kicks back the charges. i am now out of $400.00 because they allow their cards to be stolen so easily.

in december 2008 i bought 4 american express gift cards from a display that said buy two and get a free gift card for the same price,which was $25.00 & $50.00. isent in all the information that was ask for on the form supplied and the proof of purchase receipt. to this day i have not heard from them even thought i wrote a letter to amerian express gift cards and complain to the cvs manager.

Do not buy AMEX gift cards, they are nothing but trouble. Balanaces that are available are not available. Call centers in India and Philipeins do not speak or understand English enough to help.

"AMERICAN" Express should be ashamed of themself, call centers in countrys who can not even speak or understand English. Sham on you.

got a amex card for my birthday for 100$. go to use it was no good. call amex and said it had 0 balance. what a rip off. have been on hold for two days

I ordered an american express gift card in the amount of $250 online. After completing the transaction, the website indicated that the transaction did not go through and encouraged me to try again. I did, and found out later that they both went through. Both were for $250. I called immediately to have one cancelled and was told to call back in a few days. I did that only to be told that American Express will take aboaut 20 days to refund my $250. I find this totally unacceptable and need it to pay monthly bills.

My wife misplaced a $100.00 American Express Gift card, but she found it last week and gave it to me... I tried to use it today and the person at the register told me the card was "no good", the date on the card was expired I was told?

To my understanding, gift card do not expire in California. So I went online and found the phone number to American Express/Gift card department, of course the person I spoke to was from India.

I gave them the number on the card and they looked it up and said the balance was "ZERO?" Then I asked, when was the card used? They told me it was used on August 18, 2007 at a Casa Laguna? So, I said I would talk to my wife to see what the deal was...

I informed my wife that American Express said she used at Casa Laguna? Well, to her suprise she never heard or went to Casa Laguna?... We do not even know what type of business Casa Laguna is?

In any case, I too believe that American Express is up to some funny business! My wife never used the card and American Express will not honor what was issued to use, because "they(American Express)" say we used it? Which is a straight out lie!

Well, here's my story, apparently it's typical of Amex.

I very recently rec'd a $25 gift card that does not expire until 02-11. However, when I checked the balance, it was only $3. Upon further investigation, I am positive the person that gave it to me as a thank you gift did not know this card had fees!!!

Since Amex so very inconveniently does not post a contact email address online, I asked Amex via USPS that the fees be reversed so I can use the gift in the way it was intended. I know, probably a complete waste of a stamp.

I also tried calling the customer service line but got transferred to someone in India!!! who could neither speak nor understand English.

I am in a position to purchase and influence others' purchases for my company....especially for promotions, thank you's and other incentive-type gifts. We're not a small company, either. YOU CAN REST ASSURED AMEX, THAT I WILL NEVER EVER PURCHASE NOR RECOMMEND THE PURCHASE OF ANY TYPE OF AMEX PRODUCT FROM THIS DAY FORWARD...for both my workplace and in my personal life.

What a complete fraud!!!

I was given an American Express Gift Card in the amount of $25. I tried twice to use it at two different grocery stores and both times it was declined. I called the 877 number to check the balance and the recording said it had a $0.00 balance. These gift cards are worthless junk!

My husband was given American Express giftcards as a bonus this month. Our house was robbed and the gift cards along with some other items were taken. I called Amex without the card numbers to get some assistance but was told that without the card numbers I would not be assisted. So I contacted the person that gave me the cards and received the card numbers. I called again with all of the information needed to assist me and was told that I was responsible for the cards and that the cards would not be replaced. That if they had a balance on them then they could replace any of the remaining balance on the card. THEY WERE GIFT CARDS NO ONES NAME WAS PRINTED ON THEM ANYONE COULD USE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I called their corporate offices and they enturned called back the Customer Service line and said that they could not over ride their decision....

I might not be a card holder but I would have expected to get a little assistance from them... Nothing I got nothing.....

Now not am I only out a thousand dollars my insurance company says that since they are like cash they can not replace them..

I was given a $50 American Express Gift card. I checked my balance only to find out that a scam occured in November 2008 and December 2008. Reservationrewards Norwalk Ct charged my card $12 in Nov and $12 in Dec. I never dealt with Reservationrewards. I would like to have these two debit removed from my gift card which I have not used all of the balance. My balance should be $44.95. Please help me regain those $24. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Was give a $50.00 gift card in 2007 Sept. It got mixed in with family bills and paperwork and was accidently filed away. Today 3/7/9 I found it reconciling the paperwork. Tied to use this new unsed card to buy groceries at Walmart only to have them say that $50.00 U.S. that they accepted and charged $5.00 processing fee have expired. And that since Sept 2008 the have been dinging the card $2.00 a month. Thats $5.00 or 10% when purchased then $2.00 a month after 1 year = 4% a month on top of the daily float that they are making holding the cash.

They are more profitable than the MAFIA!. I , my family, my coworkers that I have contacted and the members of my Church(LDS) are planning a grass roots effort to cause everyone we know to avoid American Express and any other vendor who behaves like this. Like CLARK HOWARD on HLN and WSB Atlanta says VOTE WITH YOUR MONEY and dont give these crooks any more!!!!

My $50.00 gift has been deducted to $0.00 as of today but they are will to reissue the card for $34.00. Highway robbery! If they had a store front I could go buy they could have a brick out of my back yard as a parting gift! THEY ARE CROOKS supported by our Congress and Senate who are in their pocket... They are all crooks!

More corporate greed! They charge you $2.00 per month to keep a balance on a gift card after the initial 12 month period. Shame! they are earning interest on the balance!

About 3 years ago I received 2 AmEx Gift Cards as a reward for voluntarily participating in a medical study on exercise and health that was conducted by a Philadelphia medical college. The cards were only good at malls owned by Preit and it was recommended that I use the cards at the Preit Mall that was located only a few blocks from the medical college where presumably they were purchased. One card supposedly had a value of $20 and the other had a value of $60.

At the time I did attempt to use the card for a small sale (January 2006), I was told that there was no balance on the one card (the one that supposedly was $60) and the clerk processed my $5.35 purchase on the $20 card. I was told at the Mall Service Desk that the $60 card had expired and that there was nothing I could do about the lost balance because the card had been purchased many months before and a $2 service charge had been deducted each month I had no idea when the card the card was purchased in relation to when it was gifted. Clearly printed (in fine print) on the back of each of two AmEx Cards was an expiration date of January 2009.

In May 2006, I asked for a balance on the two cards and was given a print-out that there was $14.65 remaining on the $20 card and a balance of zero on the $60 card. I decided to spend the remaining balance at the food court, but alas, NONE of the food court merchants where I wanted to eat accepted the card. Frustrated, I took the cards home and forgot about them until today.

So, who got the $74.65 in unspent funds? American Express? Preit Malls? Certainly both businesses are responsible for selling? this rip-off product. A Mall Gift Card? should be accepted in ALL businesses in a mall. I understand that there are different state laws which govern the issuance of gift cards and some states actually limit or prohibit monthly fee deductions and some states require unused card balances to be turned over to the state as unclaimed property.? So, which laws govern these cards issued by a mall chain that has malls in 13 states and a banking company that operates internationally? Since the federal government is now getting involved in banking policies, there should be uniform, strictly enforced laws prohibiting the charging of monthly fees on gift cards.

Today, I visited a Preit Mall and took the cards to the Mall Service Desk to have them checked and as I suspected, both had expired and I was informed that the monthly fee had been increased to $2.50. Then, I researched the matter on the Internet and found this site, so I am reporting my experiences. I am resolved not to give any of my business to any merchant in any mall that uses this AmEx product for its gift card.

I am out $74.65. Preit wont give me credit. American Express wont give me credit. Therefore, as a taxpayer, I dont think either business should be given any favors, loans, or bailouts by my government.

The ORIGINAL AMOUNT of the American Express gift card was $50.00. The first time I attempted to use the card, I was told the card did not exist. That is what prompted my telephone call to American Express, as follows: On 12/28/2008 at 11:43am, I telephoned the number for American Express - 877 297 4438, and spoke with a MARIA. Even though I NEVER used the gift card, Maria told me my balance at the time of the telephone call was $22.00. Maria told me, the reduction in the card amount was because 12 months had passed from the purchase date (a gift, how would I know the date!). Therefore, American Express charged a $2.00 monthly service fee. After I read the card insert, I read the service fee would be waived for the first 12 months after purchase (purchase date?).

When I spoke with Maria, she informed me that I would receive a new card and the amount would be $22.00 (minus the service fees), AND she told me I should use that new card before 1/28/2009. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A NEW CARD. In addition, nowhere on the little card insert, nor their web site, can be found, an address to contact them - I already did the telephone call!! So, in the end, American Express made a nice little profit of $50.00. Perhaps my daughter, who gave me the gift, will be happy to hear she is helping American Express remain solvent.

In my view, this appears to be a LEGAL THEFT, AND the U.S. government is a partner in crime, by allowing something like this to happen. The business and government reality appears to be, JUST KEEP SQUEEZING MONEY FROM PEOPLE, AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY! Thank you. I believe, American Express legally stole $50.00 from me (& my daughter).

On 12/28/2008 at 11:43am, I telephoned the number for American Express and spoke with a MARIA. Even though I NEVER used the gift card, Maria told me my balance at the time of the telephone call was $22.00. Maria told me, the reduction in the card amount was because 12 months had passed from the purchase date (a gift, how would I know the date!). Therefore, American Express charged a $2.00 monthly service fee. After I read the card insert, I read the service fee would be waived for the first 12 months after purchase (purchase date????).

When I spoke with Maria, she informed me that I would receive a new card and the amount would be $22.00 (minus the service fees), AND she told me I should use that new card before 1/28/2009. TO DATE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A NEW CARD. In addition, nowhere on the little card insert, nor their web site, can be found, an address to contact them - I already did the telephone call!! So, in the end, American Express made a nice little profit of $50.00. Perhaps my daughter, who gave me the gift, will be happy to hear she is helping American Express remain solvent.

On 1/31/09 I purchased an AMEX gift card from Walmart for a gift upon giving it I checked the balance and the automatic voice told me 0.00 was available. I called AMEX gift cards dept and talked to several people before anyone can give me s straight forward answer, I faxed a copy of the card, receipt and my photo id. i called several times after faxing the information they requested and Finally on 2/13/09 I was told by the AMEX rep that they mailed a replacement card but it will take additional 10 business days to receive it.

AMEX totally does not take of their customers, I asked why not send it 1 or 2 day air mail being that the customer is already being inconvenience. I still have not received the card and cannot seem to find a resolution and mot important I am out $100.00. I purchased gift cards from VISA all the time for gifts and never had this problem. I spoke to Walmart and their manager said they receive allot of problems from the AMEX giftcards. Thank you.

Out $100.00 and had to buy another gift worth $100.00 because this was a present. The stress of talking over and over again to people that don't understand the consumers frustration and not able to handled the problem in a timely manner.

My family members and myself each purchased gift cards as Christmas gifts. They were all purchased in each persons name as gifts ($330.00 each). When purchased with the understanding that each person would receive a $15.00 gas card even though each party lived at one address. We then received (2) letters from Am Exp that because of the same address they would not honor the $15 gas card rebate.

To me this is a method of taking advantage of the consumer. I suggest to everyone to stay away from any dealings with the American Express Company in any form. If someone does go through with the any type of class action lawsuit please ensure that I am included.

The American Express Gift Card is nothing but a hassle. I received a $100 gift card and then made a split payment purchase at Best Buy and paid the balance with a credit card. I returned the purchase and Best Buy said that American Express would give me the $100 credit back. After 2 months, I saw no credit or card in the mail, so I called American Express. They needed the gift card number which I do not have. I can see the last 4 digits on the Best Buy receipt, but not the complete number. So I went to Best Buy and they looked up the number. I call American Expres again and they say it is an invalid number.

I am out $100 that American Express has and I don't.

On the AMEX website it says: 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.

My gift card was past the 08/08 Valid Thru date. I called Amex and they said it is expired and they won't issue me a replacement. So, what they say is that it doesn't expire is FALSE.

Lost $100 value of card and several hours trying to get through to AMex to talk to someone other than an recording.

American Express gift cards imply that you will get your money back if stolen, but you do not. My daughter (12) is a cancer patient and got 2 $100 ones from Radiation Oncology at her hospital, where they took up a collection. They were stolen with my purse. I managed to call in the number for one card (partially used), but was told the balance was used and they would send me a replacement card - without any money on it!!!!! The thieves used them immediately, of course.

I got no help from 2 different people who could not speak english well. I asked both what's the point of reporting them stolen if you don't get your money back? No answer. It's a joke - you might as well send cash!!! My daughter is really ****** at having her Christmas gift ripped off. She's been battling cancer for 5 years and doesn't deserve this.

$148.99 and was very disappointed little girl who has been fighting cancer for 5 years.

Purchased AE Gift card today and went to use it and it says no balance and that it's not activated. Called AE they want me to fax my whole info. Hellllooo... why should I? It's not my fault and it should be resolved asap not in 10-21 days. BTW... They are so rude

I was given three $100 gift cards for Christmas along with the receipt of purchase. I went to use them and one had a balance of zero. In contacting American Express they said it had already been used in July of that year even though it had only been purchased in December. Sent in all requested paperwork to the Gift Card Resolution Team. Called again two weeks later and was told that the money would be refunded on the card. The money was not refunded on the card. Called again (3rd time) they did not have my paperwork and did not have a record of my second call. Poor customer service.

The cost of calling/faxing/ and frusteration for a gift was unbelievable.

My husband wanted to purchase something online, and he wanted to pay that day-so instead of waiting a couple of days for a deposit to go into the bank he bought an American Express giftcard-Automatically $4.00 disappeared as a pre-approval charge, but will be put back on if I wait up to 7 days they tell me. Then I was getting a partial refund on the origianl purchase (not American Express' fault) of course that would take up to 7 days- well, the money showed back up when I checked it online before I went out-it said I had a little over $22 left-I was trying to get a few things at a store $8 worth-card was denied-when I got home and called the phone number it said my balance was zero.

Basically this card has been a lot of hassle, and not at all worth it- I am embarassed to say we purchased this one after having some trouble with one before, but we had forgotten until we used this one-my first experience was trying to buy a birthday gift for someone, and the online merchant wouldn't approve it because it wasn't in my name-so again the money was nowhere for at least a week.

Well, the first time it caused the birthday present to be late-this time have been nickeled and dimed out of money I could use for ANYTHING else I wanted-I will not buy anymore of these cards

I can't use my AMEX gift card to pay for anything online because it keeps getting denied when on there website it says I have $120.00 still left on it. It is a big waste of money!

I lost a lot of money and was really angry!

I have been given 2 gift cards that amount to $125 or, as they are now worth, $119. I have tried in 2 well known restaurants and 2 popular national department stores and none will take the card as they say that their machines can process it. What good is the card if you can't use it? I would like to be able to cash in the cards, but cannot find a way to do so.

Received 10 $25 dollar prepaid Amex Cards gift cards from work as a bonus. Guess what, activated the cards and no balance on any of the cards. The company must have bought a bunch of cards not knowing of the $2 dollar monthly service charge when they purchased but how would they know as terms and conditions are not written clearly on the outside of the package they come in? Only after opening and studying the Terms and Conditions do you realize this.

I received a card at work ever month from September-November 2008 and as I went to activate in Jan 2009 all cards were zero balance. If they are purchased but not activated, should there be a monthly charge??? Also noticed they were purchased in February 2007 but I started being charged a fee in January 2008, in the terms and conditions it states a fee will be assesed after the 13th month. Clearly this is not the case. This is a scam and will advise others/company of what happened to me . Hopefully someone will contact me about a class action, this scam needs to end!!

Hours wasted on the phone with horrible customer service.

I purchased online a $100 gift card for my grandmother on 12/30/08. I chose to have it sent through standard USPS mail. I confirmed with her twice that she had not received it by 1/19/09. I checked to make sure the purchase went through, which it had as I was charged on 1/2/09. AmEx, after transferring me to a nonworking number and keeping me on hold told me that the card I purchased was used on 1/9/09 in the Boston area. I purchased the card to be sent to TEXAS. I was told they would not reimburse me and to take it up with my bank.

Total loss of $109.90 and a missed Christmas gift to my 76 y/o grandma.

I used the American Express website to check the balance on two $100 gift cards. Using a calculator I added up my purchases including the remaining balances and found it added up to $98 on each card instead of $100 (service fees were counted in my total though I will dispute them with the company). I'm wondering if others have done the math and if the company might be skimming.

I tried it again for a purchase of about $12 and there was no problem. The third time I tried to use the remaining balance of about $13 for a $16 purchase, it declined it. I think that if there isn't enough on the card to cover the whole purchase, it will be declined. I think some merchants don't have a way to determine how much is left on a card or handle two forms of payment for one purchase. I think Am Ex needs to do something about this. Class Action sounds good to me.

for my apt number and not a 1 and said I needed to tell her the numbers again that were on the back of the gift cards all I have is the the reciept which turns out is no good. Wondering how many others were mailed this same letter for they dont have to send the $15.00 gas card. And after reading all the complaints on this site I now know better NOT to deal with American Express again

i purchased total $125 in AmEX gift cards for daughter for christmas.. well we sent off same day and now 3 weeks later theyhave never arrived and post office is saying they were probably stolen..so i called amex and was told because i didnt write down all the #'s they couldn't help ne or refund my money..excuse me.. theysaid well its in the ccard holder agreement.. what card holder agreement.. i think its time for legal action against a company that loves ripping off people, doens't mind that folks are defrauding others and screwing folks over. i have receipts but they onlyn show last 4 digits of each card for my protection..geez.. i doubt the store i pruchased from will do anything.

My uncle purchased a $100 AMEX gift card at the local Walgreens and gave me the card for Christmas. On January 1,2009 I tried to used the gift card and it reads declined. I called AMEX and found out that there is a $0 balance on the card. They tell me to fax over my receipt, I.D. and the picture of the card and they will get back to me within 10 business days. They offer no apologies or anything they just told me to fax over the items has if it was the norm.

And after faxing the items I had to call back after a few days later to make sure they received my information. They don't even have a system that faxes back or e-mail backs the customer, assuring them that they received there information to work on the investigation. You would think the investigation would be common sense. All these big stores like walgreens, walmart, etc. have cameras at all the registers. AMEX can easily request the stores security cameras and verfy the person buying the gift card with the date on the receipt. That's just common sense. If someone does go through with the class action lawsuit. Sign me up!

In May 2008 I received a $500.00 American Express gift card as a very special thank you gift. I used it once on August 27, 2008 for a $50.00 direct purchase and tried again on November 16, 2008 only to discover that there was only $1.10 left on the card. The card has never been out of my possession. In contacting American Express we discovered that three other purchases not by me had been made on the card - one on August 5, 2008 (before I had even used the card for the first time) and two on September 4, 2008.

The person we talked to at American Express basically blew us off but after some pressure from us did talk to his manager who said they would get back to us in 7-10 days. It has now been 50 days and we have heard nothing. In reporting this to the police I discovered that American Express does nothing to protect the purchasers of their gift cards. Apparently anyone can lift a stack of American Express gift cards off the rack in a store, get the necessary information and then put the cards back. The police also said that it would be a simple procedure for American Express to fix this but that they have continually neglected to do so. People buy these gift cards in good faith so it is really upsetting that the company does not care.

$448.00

My card says expired, but the packaging says it never expires. I tried to use it at a grocery store and it just came up expired

I had to write a check and was embarrassed

Someone bought my son an AMEX gift card for $100. After trying unsuccessfully to use it twice, I looked up the balance online. It said there were 2 $1 purchases (the 2x I tried to use it unsuccessfully). I called Amex and was told that in order to use the card online, I needed to register it first. This is NOT written anywhere on the card or sticker. I am told that the $2 will be refunded in 7 days, but my son needs the $100 now. It looks like I am stuck with a card worth $2 which is ridiculous!

Count me in as a RIPPED OFF consumer! Received $25 AmEx gift card in Aug 2008 as BDay gift. Tried to use in Dec 2008 unsuccessfully. I opened the package, handed to cashier who told me it wouldn't work (3 swipes) and to call the number on the card. Called to find out I only have $15 left! In five months since I rec'd I lost $10 on an unopened, unactivated card. Let's see if I can find a cashier who can make it work.

Apparently, if you try to purchase something larger than the gift card amount, you have to pay the overage, then swipe the gift card. Who knew?! THESE SCAMS HAVE TO STOP. My sister lost $50 on three gift cards she had this month.

$10 thus far for me.

I purchased three $50.00 American Express Gift Cards as Christmas Gifts. My nephew went to use one last night and it was declined. I called American Express and after waiting 30 MINUTES on hold (I TIMED IT) the person was unable to help in any way. I had all of the numbers but the person from American Express told me the numbers were not adequate.

I told him I would like to see if other individuals who experienced embarrassment would be interested in joining a class action suit against American Express. I do not know what category of complaint it would be but I would imagine it would fall under some type of legal complaint category for a suit. A great deal of embarrassment and then time spent attempting to figure out how to correct the situation.

I purchased online(10/18/08) $375 in American Express Gift Cards and paid $23.75 fees.Total was $398.75. I never received the gift cards even tough my personal Visa card was charged with $398.75 by Amex. I called Customer Service and after talking to several supervisors I was told that the gift cards were lost by UPS during the delivery process and the gift cards were used by the person who found them. I called UPS and they assumed their responsibility and told me that according to its policy in this cases they had compensated Amex for the lost. In other words, they reimbursed Amex $398.75.

I called back to Amex Customer Service to request my money back and I was told that according to its procedures I had to talk to Visa in order they initiate a dispute for this case. I did but I was informed by Visa that they did not have to initiate any dispute because according to its records the transaction was right completed by Amex: I purchased a product and my Visa was charged accordingly. Visa do not have any evidence that I not recieved the product. If I did not recive the product Amex had to reverse the transaction in order Visa credit back the amount in my account.

Again, I called Amex and made a teleconference with the participation of Amex Supervisor, Visa Supervisor and I. Visa explained the same to Amex supervisor who did not have valid arguments to insist Visa to initiate a dispute. After that, Amex Supervisor told me that she was going to consult my case to higher level in Amex. Several days after and due to my insistence I was informed by the same supervisor that my case will not proceed unless Visa initiate a dispute!!!!. I am in the middle of Visa and Amex. I can not aim with a gun to Visa President to initiate a dispute. I am agree with Visa. This is not its responsibility, its Amex responsibility. Amex must talk directly to Visa to clarify the situation and reverse the transaction.

I bought a product to Amex paying with my Visa card. Amex never delivered the product to me. My complaint is to Amex not to Visa. As simple as that. At this time, after two months I feel feel frustated, heated, stolen. Amex was reimbursed with $398.75 by UPS but there has not had way to get my money back.

I lost $398.75.

I bought 2 $100.00 gift cards for my daughter for Christmas. When she went to use them the next day, they were invalid with 0 balance, even though they had been activated at Walmart. I have called American Express 5-6 times and other than to tell me to fax receipt,copy of cards, etc they do not seem too interested in refunding my money. Time will tell. If they don't I will report this to our local papers and TV stations. It is disgusting!

This was an embarressment to my daughter in the check out line-it makes you feel like the cashier thinks you're a crook! It has taken a lot of time to try to deal with this (on my day off!)

Don't buy one of these gift cards they are a pain in the X@!. I was given 3 of them for Christmas. One for 100.00 and 2 for 50.00. Each time I used one of them there was a hold on them until the merchant cleared the amount which usually took up to 8 days. So moral to the story do not use it as you would a credit card but buy an entire purchase with the card. I was turned down in 3 different stores, what a waste of my time. Do not buy one of these cards. American express service said there was nothing that could be done.

I received two $100 gift cards for Christmas. When I checked the balances online, one of the cards read as a zero balance. I called the AMEX gift card customer service center and was told to take copies of the card, packaging, my ID and receipt, then fax it to AMEX Gift Card Resolution Team. I was told I would have a response in writing within 21 days. While making my copies, I noticed that the gift card had a different expiration than what was noted on the packaging. The packaging did not appear to have been tampered with. I'm now worried that the card and packaging do not go together and I will have no recourse but to eat the $100. In 21 days, I will update this complaint.

I recently purchased a $50 American Express gift card as a Christmas present for my sister. When I went to the American Express website to make sure the card was active it told me the card was invalid. On my third attempt (despite entering the information correctly all 3 times) the website informed me that the card was locked for security reasons and I could not check the balance or even find out if the card was active.

My first call to customer service had me on hold 4 separate times for 10-20 minutes each. I was then informed that the card would NOT work and I would have to mail the card, a valid government photo ID, my purchase receipt and other personal information to Utah then wait ten days for a response though they never told me if they would return the card activated or send me a new one. When I pressed the CSR for an answer I was put on hold for the fifth time and then transferred to speak with a manager. After repeating the card information along with some personal information I was told the card was active. It wasn't.

Three more calls later I'm getting nowhere and it certainly doesn't help that I have to ask them to repeat every third word because their English is heavily accented and hard to understand. It seems I've paid $50 for the privilege of wasting 4 hours of my life trying to get AMEX to provide the service I'd already paid for.

I recently purchased 2 $50 American Express giftcards from Wal-Mart. One for myself for online shopping and one as a Christmas present for my sister. When I tried to use my card to make an online purchase it told me the card was invalid. I then went to the AE website, which also told me the card was invalid.

Afterwards I called customer service, was routed to another department, put on hold 4 times for nearly an hour altogether and then told that I had to mail the card, my receipt, some personal information and a valid government picture ID to Utah, then wait ten days after they receive the letter for them to check all this information. Then they would mail me their response (though when I asked if I would receive a new card or they would return the old one activated the CSR didn't seem to know the answer).

It wouldn't have been so frustrating except it seems the gift card I intended for my sisters Christmas Gift is apparently invalid too. So I can't use either card, get a refund from the retailer or get any kind of straight answer from Customer Service on when I would be able to use them (assuming that will ever happen). Not to mention needing the CSR (I think she was Indian, but her accent made her difficult to understand) to repeat every third word (which in hindsight was pointless anyway considering how useless all the information was; unless I was willing to wait a month for any sort of reply with no guarantees as to whether or not they would actually fix any of this)

So now I'm broke (I intended to use the card to purchase gas to drive home for Christmas), I have no Christmas present for my sister and despite 4 calls to their company American Express has done nothing but transfer me between departments and keep me on hold for 10-20 minute intervals.

I bought a $50 American Express gift card from CVS in Diamond Bar for my brother-in-laws birthday. Three days later he tried using the card and it was declined at three places. Turns out although the receipt claimed the card was activated it was not and contained a balance of $0 not $50 that was charged as well as a fee of $4.95. I called customer service they told me to fax over copies of the receipt of purchase, front and back of card, it's packaging and my state issued ID.

I had this problem happen months ago and CVS called AMEX and resolved the problem within minutes and CVS issued me a new card in store. Now CVS has a new policy with AMEX and customers MUST go through AMEX exclusively. I think I'm getting the run around as I've read has happened to MANY other unsuspecting customers. I think a class action lawsuit may be in order! As well, if I don't get satisfaction from AMEX I will see if the local Los Angeles TV news stations want to hear the story of the big card company AGAIN ripping off the hard working consumers!

I purchased $750 in amer.exp gift cards and then had to pay a fee anywhere from 3.95-5.95 depending on the denomination. this to me isn't good customer relations after you've spend so much for the cards and then get to the register and have to shell our of $23 more for fees. I won't happen again believe me.

I purchased a $100 American Express Gift Card from Smith's, 175 Lemon Drive, Reno , Nevada at 9:22am. I tried to use the card for an internet purchase at 9:50am but I was denied twice. I check the card's amount and found that the card has no money on it. I called American Express number on their web site and they said the card was used in June at Walgreens.

I went back to Smith's and waited for 20 mins for the Customer Service Supervisor to show up and she gave me three numbers for American Express. at the first number, the gal at American Expresss said I had the wrong department. The second number was discontinued and the third would only let me check the balance of the card. I called American Express number on their web site again and they had me fax over to them copies of my smith's receipt, gift card, cardboard package, and my driver 's license. They said they will review it in 10 days and let me know. This card came in the cardboard package all sealed. I have NEVER shop at walgreen's.

I am out of $100 plus $6.95 fee for the card and have to scrap to replace this money for Christmas.

I received an offer from American Express launching their AMEX wish list with products at extraordinary prices. On December 2nd, I was standing in front of my computer at 2:55 pm for the sell to start. The sell started at 3:00 pm. I wanted the 42 Sharp Aquos LCD-TV. On the up left corner AMEX had a roll back time displayed and on the right side they had the TV displayed. When the time showed 1 minute and 18 seconds for the sell to start a message in red pops up under the TV SOLD OUT, I couldnt believe my eyes. Before even the sell started the item was sold?

Immediately I printed the screen and called amex wish list. They asked me to fax them the prove. I did fax them the copy. I continued to call them, and they just kept trying to get rid of me. Today I got a phone call from AMEX wish list saying they fill sorry for me. I told them that this is a scam and that I had google-d the wish list and found similar complaints from other customers during the previous years. They answer was this is not a scam. I still have the copy of that screen if anyone needs it.

I felt AMEX played dirty and I felt cheated. I had promised to my kids that item for Christmas. Shame on a company like AMEX

I received a $100 gift card for Christmas 2007, I used to make a purchase of $56.01 total which left a total of $43.99 Balance. This was on 6/22/08. I checked the balance on the card on 12/4/08 and it said that I have $3.99 balance. Even they took $2.00 per month for a service charge that would be only $12.00. Where did $31.99 Go. The card has an Expiration date of 12/12.

I have never had an Amex cc and now I never will if this the is the way they do business. I have used other gift cards and they have no expiration dates and the dont take service charges. I intend to spread the word about the shoddy business tactics of American Express,

my 50 dollar gift card that i purchased was activated at the reasors grocery store in ba oklahoma, went to use it and it was declined. amex said it was never activated, i have been scammed as have the rest of the people making complaints.

I received 2 American Express gift cards ($25 & $50. After several attempts to spend the gift cards and being told by merchants that they were unable to process them toward my purchases, I gave up and set them aside. Today I checked the toll free number and website for their value and was told they are worth zero balance. As a resident of California I understand that it is illegal for purchased gift cards to expire, how is this legal?

We have been unable to redeem the $75 combined value of the American Express gift cards purchased for us.

i have a newborn baby and a toddler also a single parent my lights was going to get turned off just so happened my mom mailed me a amex gift card for $100 i called the card in the computer said balence was $100 dollars i called the lights place they said yes we accept amex cards i gave them the card it said declind i ask them to call in the card for me they called it in it said balence $100 so they tried the card again it wont go through. my power got turned off and i had to travel 60 miles to my mom house back and forth for three days until i got paid at my job. gas was $2.98

I have balance due on my Gift Card and they have had monthly surcharges added which leaves a Zero balance. This is a disgrace.

I received two $100 Amex Gift Cards, and wanted to purchase a watch for 44.98 at a web site. I used my mailing address (as apposed to my billing address) and got a web page that said 'Sorry we could not process your order. The address provided does not match billing address'. So I went back and changed the address on the order to my billing address and submitted again. Again the same decline message. I went to the American Express web site to see if I could change the address associated with the cards. I didn't but it did bring up my balance showing the TWO $44.98 charges.

I emailed the website 3 times (once every business day) telling them the story and that they needed to post a refund to my amex gift card. I never heard back from them. Frustrated I called American Express to see if I could dispute the charge. I went through automated phone tree hell, but finally spoke to a real human. She pulled up the card information, asked me if ...were the charges in question, which they were, and told me what was going to happen.

The charges are pending, if saleaday does not submitted them withing 7 days they will drop off and the two charges will no longer be on the gift card. She also took all my information, Name, Address, etc... and input them to the Gift Cards, telling me that I can now use them to make purchases online. I have a few more days to go to see if the charges reverse, but I feel much better about the whole situation now. SO if you receive these cards call AMEX and ask them to input your name, address, etc. on the card.

I purchased 2 $100 gift cards 11/14/08 at a Fifth Third Bank in Newport, KY, wanting to use them for online purchases and bill payment. THEY DO NOT WORK ANYWHERE! I tried them at several retail locations, online payments, pizza places--no one will accept these STUPID cards. And the AMEX CUSTOMER SERVICE? The worst. No help at all. Made 3 separate calls to resolve this, and they want to blame the merchant. DO NOT ORDER THESE CARDS!

My son and daughter-in-law recently received a gift from one of my cousins. It was a $150 American Express Gift Card. When they tried to pay their restaurant bill with the card, they were told it would not go through. Luckily, they had other $$ with them or they would still be washing dishes! I'm not sure if this is American Express dishonesty or whether the store owners who sell the cards are pocketing the full price of the gift card? When my son called American Express, he was told that the card was never activated and that this could not be done by him. The card was not purchased locally.

Just major embarrassment for my kids.

Unfortunately I read several complaints about American Express Gift Cards AFTER I purchased $300 worth of them only to find them a hassle and a rip off. I bought the cards so that I could purchase Christmas presents online. When I made the order everything seemed fine. I received an email stating the order was processed and another notification would be sent when it was shipped.

Instead I received an email from customer care stating that the order was held since there was no match on a billing address. When I tried to explain that it was a gift card so no billing address would be attached to it, they said I had to call AMEX and have them list my name and address on the card in order for me to use it to purchase from their website. But as far as AMEX was concerned the purchases did go through. The one card was debited for approximately $97 and the other for $96. So I paid for my cards and got nothing from the vendor I tried to order from. Now, AMEX says they can't do anything about it and the vendor said they didn't take funds from the card so they can't do anything about it.

So I am essentially left with three gift cards...one with $3 on it and one with $4 on it which means I am out $193 on those. And the last card I didn't use (the email alert came before I placed the third and final order) for $100 which I am scared to use. After having read the other posts I am also scared to give it as a gift. One thing is for sure I will never deal with AMEX again, and I always believed them to be reputiable.

Not wanting to wait that long, I went back to Von's to see if they could re-activate or refund the card. They claimed that their responsibility ended with the card purchase & activation and that I had to talk to AMEX.

So I faxed AMEX the information and called their phone number to verify that they received my fax, which they confirmed. I now have to wait up to 10 days to see what happens.

So for the moment, I am out $100 cash plus the $5 card fee, and won't be able to use the card until AMEX investigates up to 10 days from now. In the meantime, I spent at least an hour on phone calls to AMEX, 30 minutes dealing with Von's, and an hour scanning all the necessary receipts, writing up my complaint, and faxing it.

I find it hard to believe that I have had to jump through so many hoops just to use a card THAT I PAID FOR, and will have to wait up to 10 days for the privilege. I have no doubt that this is a deliberate AMEX tactic to frustrate their consumers - especially low-income ones - into not using the card at all.

I will never use an AMEX - or any other gift card - ever again.

I was given a $50.00 gift card from AMEX last Christmas. I have tried on numerous occassions to use it and have been told it was not authorized. I went to the AMEX website on several occassions and tried to check on the card. Each time I registered the card for a status report, I was told that it didn't exist.

I can't find any remedy for this situation and it is the second time i have received one of these bogus cards, both times coming from my mother who is a 30 year AMEX card-holder. She is on a fixed income and has, in effect, thrown $100.00 away trying to give me these cards.

Gift Card Expired before I was able to use it. Each time I called to authorize card, they said card was not good. on 9/30/08, last day of card I was told that card was used in Oct 12, 2008 at the Avenue for $19.00 and the remainder of the card was used in some kind of fee at $2.00 per month. Never used the card at all. It was a $25.00 gift card. Please advise me.

When I first tried to use the card in Virginia, Fairfax County, the clerk put the incorrect number in which was supposed to cancel the card, so I would be able to use the card after correction. Never happened. Will never give American Express Gift cards. I am also an american express credit card holder. I always pay on time if card used. Given information to commplain. There is no such address for complaints. Thank you for your time.

I received a 50 dollar AMEX gift card for my birthday and went to spend it and was told there was a 0 balance on the card. The card was never used and I went back to Wal-greens to tell them and was told since the buyer paid cash for it without the receipt they could do nothing. Again who got the money? and what a total rip-off this is I will never buy a AMEX card again I called them and was told they could do nothing without the receipt.

It was a birthday gift I had to go and ask my family if they really brought it how embrassing.They are working class people and they don't have 50 to just give away

Before buying the card ,I called their service number and they assured me I could use it in the internet,Paypal, everywhere.nobody accepts it.not even two banks. I called again to complain they can cancel it keeping 20% plus at least 20 working days.THis is a scam,BEWARE

amex gift cards biggest ripoff

lost money

Given two american express gift cards from my department 8/29/08 100.00 dollar value each for retirement. Opened it called phone number on card to activate, and was told you used your balence. I asked how if I just opened it. Have not opened the other one yet. I told the operator [their] company has agood scam going on stealing from the public with impunity.

200.00 dollars has been stolen from average working class people who gave a gift to their retiring boss. This money was collected to honor a fellow worker. Approx 10 people donated this money and all are of average means.

I recently received an American Express Gift Card, could not find anywhere on their website or on the web at all that shows what businesses accept their card. Their website won't even allow you to send them an e-mail unless you register your card first

No damages, just irritated beyond belief that they don't make it easier for consumers to use their card or even to answer questions that were not answered on their FAQs!

I received an American express gift card for $25.00. My husband has been a 40 year American Express Card user. We hve always be very satified with all services. However, this American Express card was lost for over a year. When it was found, I found out it was only worth $ 7.00. Why ? Some one already paid $ 25.00 for it. Why is it not still worth $ 25.00?

The reputation of integraty of the American Express Company is at question for such poor treatment of the givers and receivers of AmericanExpress gift cards. For shame!

I bought a 25 dollar gift card tried to activate it the said I hard to go to the store I got it from that they need to activate it so i did they said that they did I ask well try it again they decined do help me the store was circle k so i called amex to get a refund no help at all. so to make it simple I lost 25 bucks and nobody cared, I will nver ever deal with amex ever and I hope others won't neither.

I bought a $25 american express gift card and i realized i cant use it for paypal so then i decide to go to 7-11 and use it to buy a different card it then gets denied so i go home and call them. then they tell me 7-11 needs to run it through as a credit card so i go back to 7-11 and ask them to try running it through as a credit card.

the clerk tries 10 more times and it still is declined. then i call back and they say they must have swiped it wrong

My husband and I travel frequently on business (at least 7 months out of the year) and we purchase gift cards as a backup to our credit cards. We do not like to travel with cash. After purchasing several last month (July 2008) and having at least 3 of them not fund correctly, I can sympathize with all the complaints I read here. I was frustrated, furious and very short tempered after the 9th call to resolve the problem.

And then, on the 10th phone call, I spoke to a young girl by the name of Iris. The first thing she did was explain that the receipt packaging and cards had to be copied front and back and faxed to support services at AMEX. A royal pain, but rules are rules. Then she went on to say that if I had thrown it away or lost it, I could return to the store and get a copy as well as a copy of the packaging as the outside packaging was all the same and as long as I had the card, they could do something. Then she told me it would be reviewed and I would get a result in 7 to 10 days.

I was not happy. But at that point I wanted my money one way or another. So I kept my temper and said ok. She then went one step farther and explained that most people did not understand that the first thing they needed to do was to call the phone number on the back and register the card to your name and home address. This would enable any online purchase to verify the name and address of the person ordering to be the same name and address of the person who had the card. She explained that online charges are transmitted by matching that information.If it matches and there is money on the card, the charge goes through. If the card is not registered, there is nothing for the computer to match so the charge is denied whether the funds are available on the card or not. Also if the card is registered right away and something goes wrong, they will send a new card or credit your AMEX creit card or regular account because they have the customer's history of the original purchase due to the immediate registration of the card. This young girl had more sense and patience than most adults I know.

To think something as simple as a phone call to register a gift card would ultimately save me time and money! We were on the phone for over 1 1/2 hours but she answered all my questions and when she was unsure of the answer, she gave me three different numbers to call and get an answer that same night. I registered the 3 cards with her, she transferred the couple of dollars balance on several cards to one card for me, and told me someone would call when the credit issue was resolved after I faxed the info.

I never did receive that call, so after 4 days I called again to check on the card balances. I was told the cards were activated by AMEX and I could use them whenever I wanted to. Yes, I had to call them back to get an answer, but I DID get an answer and a resolution to this whole mess. Now, whenever I purchase a gift card, I call AMEX and register it first, then give it in a card, or use it. It pays to followup and stay aware. A computer system is only as good as its programmer, and nothing is infallible. I would buy from them again and do often, as well as kept my regular account. Everyone doesn't have all the answers but sometimes you get lucky and some ONE does.

I also purchased a gift card. I had $19 left, which a food store said 'transaction declined.' Why????

My son purchased several AX gift cards for our use. There are virtually no instructions with the card. When I went to the grocery store, which was busy, the clerk couldn't get it to work. Luckily I had my cell phone, so I called AX, got a recording that said that if the amount I was purchasing was over the gift card amount, I had to pay cash first for the overage, THEN use the gift card for the exact amount. GEE, why didn't I think of that?

Today my husband took a 2nd card to pick up his car at the shop. He stopped to put 5.00 in gas into the loaner, and guess what. You automatically get a 75.00 on the card, and they refund the amount if you're lucky a week or so later. Since this is all a big secret, and he wasn't aware of this secret plan. At the Land Rover Dealership where his car was being serviced they tried to the the card twice, and it wouldn't work. The total amount needed was 75.00, so after finally reaching AX on the phone, he was told that he only had 25.00 available, but no explanations.

When he got home fuming, I got on the phone and reached an AX agent, she explained the 75.00 debit at the Citgo for a 5.00 purchase, after she put me on hold for quite a while. When I said that I wan't to file a complaint, she gave me a website, but it didn't seem to exist. So I insisted to speak to a supervisor. AFter listening to music for a very long time, you won't be surprised. I was disconnected. My advice is to never buy a gift card, you are better off using cash. These companies must reap millions from cards that can't be used since they are so complicated. We will never buy gift cards again.

I purchased a $50 AMEX gift card from my local branch Bank of America and ten days after the purchase I gave it as a wedding gift. The gift card was in a envelope with the wedding card and it was placed on the gift table at the reception. The day after the wedding I found out that the couple never received the envelope so I immediately called AMEX to report it lost or stolen. AMEX said that I need the card # so I should contact the merchant that sold me the card. I did so but according to the merchant, they only have the # AMEX provided on the receipt. For security purposes NOBODY has access to the actual card # except the purchaser.

I have the purchasers receipt, which clearly states Keep your Purchaser's Receipt to facilitate a Card replacement if one becomes necessary. The same statement is made on the outermost envelope of the gift card. In good faith, one would expect AMEX to back up this statement. Well, to my dismay, after numerous phone conversations and many hours with AMEX in the states and then India and the Phillipines, just having the purchasers receipt does NO GOOD AT ALL.

AMEX says the # on the receipt is only for the merchant's tracking and it does not provide AMEX with any information. You must have the actual card # in order to report it lost or stolen. I had to fax over a copy of the receipt and my driver's license so that the processing team could review the matter. I don't know why, because when the supervisor (in India) called me back after the processing team's review, nothing had changed. Never in a million years would I have thought to write down the actual card # before giving it as a gift, when the receipt stated that all I needed if it was lost or stolen was the receipt.

According to the supervisor, the terms and conditions are subject to change without prior notice. Prior notice? This happended ten days after the purchase! The supervisor said that I can file a complaint with AMEX headquarters but that's just a way to voice my frustration. There's no way to get any further without the actual card #.

$50 plus fees spent and no gift received by the happy couple. Plus of course all the time and frustration on the phone.

This is my story about a gift card that was a Christmas gift for a 4yo boy who had a 50.00 limit. The card was used twice and I had no problem using until yesterday I called and got a balance and I was in the good 20.00 so I went to use it and it got declined.

I called spoke with a gentleman whom I could not understand so I asked to speak with a supervisor when she got on the phone she advised me that that card was not purchased properly and the account is frozen. I asked her how this could something like this happened how you properly purchase a card that is sold everywhere? She advised me that I had to provide a proof of purchase, and location of purchase. Amex told me if I had receipts and were able to fax them to the board it would be reviewed and they would decide if the money can be freed from the account.

Well from what I gather from all these complaints is that large companies can lie, cheat, and steel from hard working Americans and not even think twice. my son lost his twenty dollars. TO AMEX: I DID NOT ONLY CANCEL MY CREDIT CARD BUT MY WIFE, MOTHER AND SISTER CUT THERE CARDS AS WELL.

AMEX should read these complaints and do good by them.

I purchased an American Express gift card which never activated properly. Luckily I have all my receipts. However, I need to fax everything to them and wait ten business days for them to decide on what happened. They have my $100's but I don't want their card anymore. I want a total refund. I payed for a service I never received.

I had purchased several gift cards for employee incentive. Throughout the year I had three remaining, but I had noticed they were expired. I called to have new cards issued and sent. Only one arrived. The second card never did and Amex was supposed to give me a credit to my American Express credit card, they never did. The third card ended up in the hands of a stranger. AMEX tried to blame the fraudulant charges on me! They sent the card to the wrong address and they tried to stick me with the charges!

They suggested I take it up with the vendors - are they serious? How was I supposed to dispute a charge made with a gift card I don't have (I didn't even have the CC#). After 8 phone calls I have still had no luck getting my credit or my third card. Everytime a supervisor said they'd call me back, they didn't! I will NEVER purchase an AMEX gift card again...next time Visa...or better yet, Cash!

Lost $100.

I was given an American Express gift card for $100.00 for my college graduation. I used the card a couple of times for small purchases at fast food restaurants, but then it was declined with a remaining balance of $77.84 on the card. I called customer service on 07/02/08 to report the problem. I was told that the card had been properly funded (meaning they received payment for it), but that something wrong in the activation process. They needed to report this to their processing team and I should call back for a resolution in 2-3 business days. I called back on 07/08/08... no resolution yet... Call tomorrow.

I called on 07/09/08 and was told that I needed to send them the receipt for their processing team to complete their investigation. I was livid. I didn't want to have to call the folks who gave me the gift and ask for a receipt, so they would know what a pain in the behind their gift was. I asked for a supervisor, explained the situation, including the fact that the card had worked a couple of times, so I had even thrown the packaging out that it came in because all appeared good with the card until now. She apologized (they REALLY apologize for everything, but they're not great on correcting anything) and promised that she would call me with a resolution the next day. She asked for my address, name, and phone number.

I did not receive a call back. I called on 07/12/08 to check, since the supervisor Eunic never returned my call. The next agent told me again that the case was being handled by the processing team and I should call back again in 2-3 business days. Again, I asked for a supervisor. This time the supervisor wanted to know information about the person who bought the gift card. I gave, since I was so frustrated, but I asked why they should even be involved, since they did show that the card had been fully funded. They couldn't explain, and I was so frustrated that I just hung up.

The only consequence was my wasted hours on hold for them and talking to them with no resolution, coupled with the inability to use the remaining gift card balance.

KEEP YOUR RECEIPT! I got a $100 American Express gift card in August 2007 for my daughter's birthday. It was given by a priest who came from Taiwan to visit us. He purchased it from Vons with cash plus the fee for purchasing it. After a week of receiving the card, I tried using it at a local retailer and the card was declined. I called in and a rep told me that the card hasn't been activated yet and it will be by the next day. She thought it was odd because I've had the card for 1 week already as it was supposed to get activated the day it was purchase. I tried using it 2 weeks later and the card was still declined. So, I called customer service and talked to a supervisor and was told that the card was invalid and has a balance of $0.

She put in a request to get a new card issued. She even asked for my address and phone, but I've never received it. So, I called back 2 months later and got the same response and was told to call back, which I did several times. Now it's July 2, 2008, my ninth time calling, and after talking to several reps and supervisors, they finally told me that I need a copy of the gift card purchase receipt as it's the only way they can issue a replacement card. It's been almost a year and the priest no longer has the receipt. Most people don't keep the receipt, and for American Express to keep telling me to call back 2-3 business days to check the status, they are delaying the months that I could have asked the priest for it. I told them that this is a way for them to make money from people, and found it ridiculous for them to tell me to ask a priest all the way from Taiwan for the original receipt after almost a year!

I also told them that I will report them to BBB, the news, and their main website. I might have a chance to get a receipt if only they had told me since the beginning to get one. My advice, try to keep or get a hold of the receipt early on and don't listen to the reps and supervisors if they tell you that they will take matter personally and call you back, they don't. This is very upsetting because Ive wasted so much time arguing with customer service and to find out that the priest is out of $100, my daughter didnt get her gift, and American Express gained it. I would NEVER buy nor want American Express gift cards and am telling everyone I know not to buy them either.

We called the 877 number which was hard to make out as it was pressed in on the exact line of the card imprints making it almost impossible to read. We eventually got a hold of someone who verified one of the cards and responded with this card has no value as we had to take back $2 per month since you had not used the card that was activated in May of 2006. Oh by the way you got a year free of this charge. This was obviously news to us since the card had clearly indicated an expiration date of 08/08. I feel that any person(s) looking at the packaging of this gift card would have no idea that there is a penalty of any amount for not using the card, the deception occurs due to the misleading expiration date written in large clearly visible lettering on the package and not the small print cleverly minimized to deceive. As an example if a $25 card loses total value due to this fee prior to the expiration date as occurred in our case, why have this false expiration date imprinted at all, did they not know of their own math. I think American Express is deserving of the exposure and proper inquiry and full application of the law in order to stop this sort of practice, I hope someone in congress or place of proper authority has them under a magnifying glass and will hold their feet to the fire.

Loss of $78 of the $150 value in gift cards that were used to purchase household goods.

Upon purchasing an American Express gift card I was charged and additional $4.95 fee to activate it. I am appalled that I would have to pay to purchse a gift card. No other businesses charge to purchase their gift cards. American Express is making an unfair profit.

I was given a couple of American Express gift cards a few months ago and had never gotten around to using them until last week-end. The merchant to whom I submitted the cards said both were declined. I looked at the card to see if there was a customer service number. There was no phone number so I went onto the American Express gift card website. I found a page that would supposedly tell me the balance and history of use on the card. After I typed in the card number the site told me my time on the site had expired and I was kicked off the page. I went through the same routine several times with the same result.

Then I found this card rating site with dozens of complaints from people having major problems with their American Express gift cards. After reading through some of the experiences people have had one question immediately came to mind: Why hasn't some enterprising attorney filed a class action lawsuit agains American Express? It looks like it would be a slam dunk.

It looks like I have probably suffered the loss of the value of the gift cards. What was the amount on the gift cards? I have no way of knowing, but the least expensive American Express gift card is $25.

I married on June 14th and received two gift cards in the amount of $100 each from separate family members. While using one card for on online transaction, card was returned as declined. Reattempted orignal card as well as second $100 card and both continued to be declined. Went online to amercicanexpress.com/giftcard and was horrified to discover that both cards were showing a balance of $0. You could see that the cards were used in fact on June 9th at an Enterprise Rent-a-car. Both cards, which came from 2 different families, each unopened until by meself until just earlier that day.

No one at American Express could provide a reasonable explation. I in fact stated to them that this can't possibly be the first type of this situation and why had their Customer Service Department Managers not provided them with better response. I then was asked to fax in basically my life; ID card, mailing address, phone number, copies of cards, copies of packaging, copies of receipits which I didn't have - they were gifts! to a dead zone. Waiting to see if anything pans out - my family, rightfully embarressed and horified that their generous gift has turned out to be a hideous honeymoon.

The worst part though, has to be American Express's gain in all of this. Upon discovering sites such as this one that recount similar events that are happening way too frequently, after being repeatedly questioned and convinced that this situation was unique to me, disgusts me to a level of human discontent that is purely unimaginable. How could a company knowingly take someone's money for a product and turn around and provide them with absolutley nothing in return amazes me.

I purchased a gift card about 3 months ago as a gift for one of my customers. She reported to me that the crd was not valid. After calling AMEX I was told to issue a fax, copy of the card, etc. About 2 weeks later I got a call from AMEX wanting to re-issue the card. The phone number given to me was bogus. I still have not got my money back. I stopped buying AMEX gift cards and do not recommend that anybody buy them

I purchased a gift about months ago as a gift for one of my customers. She reported to me that the crd was not valid. After calling AMEX I was told to issue a fax, copy of the card, etc. About 2 weeks later I got a call from AMEX wanting to re-issue the card. The phone number given to me was bogus. I still have not got my money back.

I stopped buying AMEX gift cards and do not recommend that anybody buy them

I received an AMerican Express Gift Card for my birthday on April 19, 2008. When I attempted to use it on the 27th of April, the card was declined. I called AE and was told that I would have to fax a copy of the card, receipt, and information about myself for them to review. The said this review would take 10 business days.

I received a letter saying that I would be receiving the gift card in 5-10 business days. I am still waiting. 9 phone calls later it seems that AE doesn't really are about customer service because nothing is being done. I have spoken to at least 7 different people all telling me conflicting stories. Finally I was connected to a manager by the name of Sean who's assured me that she'd express mail my check on Monday. I'm not holding my breath.

I received an AMerican Express Gift Card for my birthday on April 19, 2008. When I attempted to use it on the 27th of April, the card was declined. I called AE and was told that I would have to fax a copy of the card, receipt, and information about myself for them to review. The said this review would take 10 business days. I received a letter saying that I would be receiving the gift card in 5-10 business days. I am still waiting.

9 phone calls later it seems that AE doesn't really are about customer service because nothing is being done. I have spoken to at least 7 different people all telling me conflicting stories. Finally I was connected to a manager by the name of Sean who's assured me that she'd express mail my check on Monday. I'm not holding my breath.

Like on May 3rd I ordered AMEX gift cards for my grown daughters for their birthdays totaling $750. On May 8th I got an email confirming they'd been personalized and shipped. I still haven't seen them, but have been given the runaround from South Asia, the Philippines, British Columbia and Salt Lake City call centers all extending the date I should wait for it. Today was to be the last day I should expect them. And there's no contact information I trust to get my VISA credited back with the money I spent.

I missed both daughters' birthdays and I'm very worried about my money. I can't afford to have $750 out there somewhere, for nothing!

Last Fall I received an $200 American Express gift card from a lady whose mother was dying. I used it once. I could not see the number to call to get the balance because it was imprinted over with other information. I have tried unsuccessfully to use the card many times. I don't really have the time to play around with this. I just want to know what balance I have on it and where they will accept it. The card is valid until 09/08 supposedly.

About 2 months ago, we started receiveing Travel and Leisure Magazine, which we have never ordered. On this month's statement there is a fraudulent charge for $41.34 for this subscription. I tried to report the fraud at the Amex website, where I pay my bill. After I provided some details, and clicked submit I received a message box saying that I would have to call about this problem.

The accumulated damages to people who fail to report the fraudulent charge could run into the millions. We had assumed that this magazine, which arrived out of the blue, was being sent gratis. Had we not scrutinized our bill (which takes an extra step online) we would never have know we were being charged for the subscription. This is very sleezy, and, I suspect, just plain illegal -- it is clearly fraud, plain and simple.

I received a $25 gift card for baby shower. When I went to use it, it was declined. I checked my balance online, and it said $0. I was unable to get an email address for customer service because I do not have an Amex credit card. When I called customer service, they said that I needed the receipt from when it was purchased. It was a gift! Why would I have the receipt?

They said they were unable to help me, so I have a gift card worth nothing instead of the $25 stated on the card.

I received a $50 Amex gift card two weeks ago. I tried to use this card at a local sporting goods store that was going out of business. I tried to make a purchase of $49.35 . The card was declined at the register. When I got home I checked the balance on the card: it showed .35 left. When I FINALLY reached a real person at Amex , they explained that the funds were on hold until the store approved the transaction, and that in 3 to 7 days the money would be credited back to the card. Great. Problem solved, right? WRONG! After 6 days, the money wasn't returned , so I called Amex again. The guy was nice and told me that the money would be back on the card by Saturday midnight. I explained to the guy that if it wasn't credited by then, I would have a big problem because the business was closing their doors Saturday for good. He told me to call the store, and that I'd get a refund back later, that they would not charge the gift card. I did so.

Sunday morning I checked the balance: 65 cents still. I called Amex and I get the same run around. Finally I get a supervisor by the name of Christian on the phone, and he tells me that the transaction WAS approved by the store 4 days ago! Why this wasn't mentioned by the other two Amex reps I have NO CLUE! Christian says that I need to go to the store and get a refund. I explained for the 20th time that the store is closed, never to open again! He then gets snippy and says that it was no longer a problem between me and Amex, but a problem between me and the (closed) store, and that if I was really worried about it, I should have done something BEFORE the store went out of business! He also suggested that I find the owner of the business by calling the B.B.B. and contact him with my info and see if the owner of the closed store would give me the money out of his own pocket!

I feel that AMex is responsible because Amex ASSURED me that within 7 days the money would be credited to my card on 3 occasions-- and it wasn't credited. THEN they explain to me that the transaction was magically approved, and that I was barking up the wrong tree! I did EVERYTHING AMEX TOLD ME TO DO, but when it didn't work, they told me that I should quit blaming AMEX and start trying to contact the owner of the closed business!

I purchased a $100 gift card in Florida at a CVS in November to send my brother who lives in Nevada, as a birthday gift. He called me to tell me the card had no funds when he tried to use it. After calling the American Express Company and getting no help, he mailed it back to me in Florida so I could resolve the matter. I went to CVS, and they said they could not refund me the money. Then I called American Express, and they told me that I could fax in the copy of my driver's license, receipt of purchase and copies on the front and back of card and packaging. I did that and still have not been refunded. When I called the company again in January, I was told that a new replacement card had been mailed to me on January 8th. I never got the card in the mail. I have yet to receive the card or be reimbursed.

When I called American Express today, I was told to dispute the issue with Walmart where they said the replacement card had been used. I have never used an American Express card in Walmart, nor have I even stepped in a Wal-Mart in more than five months. I don't know why American Express did not send this replacement card certified mail, but again I have been a victim of fraud and have not seen my original $100 replaced. This is not what I believed American Express advertised in their commercials and what they say the company stands for. Needless to say I am upset because this is a very big problem that is happening in this company, and Amex should be more understanding with their customers.

I am still without my $100 card. I am still waiting to get reimbursed.

I bought my son a $100 Amex Gift Card gift card; he used it to by gas and food at a gas station. He spent $23.00, and when he went back into gas station to use it to by a soft drink, the card was declined saying it had a $0. balance. When he called American Express their response was, "That has been happening to people who bought their cards around Christmas"--and their was nothing that could be done. I bought the card February 8, 2008, at a Rite Aid. I know this isn't Rite Aid's fault, and American Express isn't accepting the fault.

Unless your recipient will use the card immediately and in one shot, give cash instead! There is a $2/mo. service fee, a $5.95 replacement fee for lost/stolen card, and you must know exactly the value you have left in the card to use it. I got a $50 gift card after my baby was born. I used it for a $19.99 + tax purchase right away. Then, I tried to use it again a few months later. I was drilled about the EXACT amount left in the card (and many stores could not even process the card). After about a year of trying to use the gift card at various stores, I finally got a store clerk to call Amex, and guess what? I have $1.22 left after all of the monthly fees.

I went online to buy an Amex gift card and send it out as a belated birthday gift. I was given several choices of cards (all cost different amounts) and there was no indication that there was a difference between them besides their physical appearance. When I tried to complete my order I was unable to enter the shipping address. I then found that my order had been irrevocably placed and that I was unable to review it or its details. So I called customer service. After being transfered I was told that the type of card I chose had to be sent to me. They would allow me to order a second card and send it where ever I wanted, but the first card couldn't be refunded until I received it in the mail.

So in the end I paid 10 extra dollars for an item that doesn't do what I want and is intentionally hard to return when I could have just gotten one at a store and sent it out myself. I was angry so I decided to write a complaint about the clarity of information on the website. I then find that I am only allowed to email Amex if I have an Amex credit card number I can enter. Well I don't have an Amex card...but I AM an Amex customer. I am frustrated and appalled at their quality control and virtual customer service...but they obviously don't want to hear it.

I now have to wait up to 9 days to send out a gift that is already late. Financially, I can only get my intended services if I spend twice the money now with promises of receiving a refund of my original purchase later, if it comes and if I call again to try to get the refund.

I used a $50 gift card then threw it away thinking I was done with it. Turns out I had to return product and the $50 was put back on the card. When I called AMX to have a new card issued with my $50 on it, I was told they couldn't retrieve the card# even though I had the last four digits of the card. I know this isn't correct because every gift card/credit card can be traced through those last four #s.

Amx customer service dept stinks. I am in customer service and would never leave a customer unsatisfied. But according to all the complaints I've read on the website, it's common practice at Amx. Never again!

I bought a $25 American Express card from Staples in Frederick, Maryland before Christmas. I didn't give it to anyone and tried to use it. The card was rejected. The instructions say if activation is needed, it will say so on the front of the card. It said nothing about activation. I called American Express and they said since I don't have the receipt they won't investigate. They blame Staples for never notifying them, but of course they had not investigated it. I called back to Staples and they said the got a corporate communication from headquarters nationwide that many stores were reporting unactivated cards. If you don't have the receipt, Staples or AmEx gets to keep the money.

On November 28, 2007 I requested AMEX to exchange balance of $100 gift card for cash value since I held on to the card longer than 12 mos. which is when you start getting hit with monthly fees. Balance was $50 and was getting lower due to non-activity. By mid December, I had still not received my check. I called 4 times between December,2007 and January, 2008. 1/10/08 Customer rep states stop payment was processed on 1/8/08 and AMEX had 14 days to deliver. 1/23/08 Customer rep states AMEX has 27-30 days not 14 days to deliver. Asked to speak with a manager, got no where.

I've tried to use my $100 American Express gift card at 2 different websites and have been turned down because the billing address is not mine. It seems the American Express Gift card is too difficult to use.

I was given a $25 gift card for Christmas. On 01/06/08 I purchased something which cost $12.84. I went a few days later to use the same gift card at the food store and was told there was no money on the card. I went back to the first store and was told by their supervisor that after checking their receipts the problem did not lie with them but with AmEx.

I called AmEx and was told that the double charge of $12.84 would be refunded to my card within 48 to 72 hours. When I did mention that the 48-72 hours was already past she then said it could take up to 7 days. Well, it is either 48 to 72 hours or 7 days (big difference to me).

Today is day 7 and still the $12.84 has not been refunded so I called again. I was told this time it could take 8 days.

$12.84 might not seem like a lot to others but to me, at this time in my life, it is a lot.

I got a $100 gift card for Christmas. I have tried two times to use it and it keeps being declined. I had to use my money, which I was supposed to use for something else. I would not have gone the store if I did not have the gift card.

It is really frustrating.

Received a $100 gift card, activated per the instructions. I tried to use it a Circuit City, but their checkout computer showed the gift card number to be invalid, so I had to pay with my credit card. The clerk at Circuit City peeled the label off while trying to get the card to work so I no longer have the customer service number. A check on the web site indicates the card still has a balance of $100.

I think this must be how they make their money, sell you a card to give to someone, and then not honor the card. Do you tell your friend the gift they gave you was a worthless aggravation or do you just throw it in the trash and move on knowing it was the thought that counted?

I received a $25 card as a gift from my daughter. Every time I tried to use it it wasn't accepted. I then found out I had to activate the card so I called, punched in the 15 digit number and the recording said thank you. I called to check the balance and was told I had $0 balance. I called the number again to activate the card. This time the recording told me my card was now activated. I waited until the next day to call for my balance and to check if the card was finally activated. The recording again told me that I had $0 balance.

I see no place on the pamphlet where I can talk to a HUMAN BEING. I feel as if my daughter has been swindled out of $25.00 by American Express.

I purchased an American Express Gift Card on 12-16-07. The cashier had difficulty activating the card. A supervisor came alone and over-rode the transaction and said that the card was activated. I live a distance from the store. When I arrived home I tried several times to check the balance on the card. I was unable to do so, receiving the message that the card was not activated. This was on the Internet and by telephone. I could never reach a real person to talk with. I returned the card to the store on 1-5-08, and they stated that they could not refund the card.

I told them that they were going to do something about it as I was out $54.95 and was unable to give it as a gift because it was not activated. The clerk who was dealing with this was very nice. Her name was Marcy. Her supervisor was nasty. Marcy stuck with the problem until she was able to activate the card. I was denied a refund. Now I have spent $4.95 for a card that I will probably be using myself. Other people should know that these cards are a problem. Thank you.

Previous paragraph

I received a $100 AMEX gift card as a gift in December, 2006. I went to use it on Saturday only to find out that 25% of the card had already been taken as service fees from AMEX. I find this to be ridiculous. At this point in time, I plan to cancel my AMEX credit card immediately.

I recieved an American Express $25 gift card for Christmas (it is now Jan. 04)and looked online to find out how to check the balance. I found this website first and read some of the complaints. I proceeded to call the 800 number immediately to see if my balance had suffered. And yes apparently due to unuse, my card now held a balance of $23. How ridiculous! I never even touched it and it lost money!

I received an American Express gift card. I used the card once and had a balance left on it. I attempted to use it several times but it was declined. I could not call them because the phone number on the back is not readable because Gift Card Recipient is stamped over it, how convenient. I finally went on line, called them and found out that I have to keep track of my balance on the card after each use. Then I can only use the card for the exact amount left on the card. This is a scam!

I believe they do this because people will get frustrated and throw the card out. There should be a law against this.

I received a $50 AmEx gift card from a business vendor. I tried make a large purchase by using the card up to the $50 amount and paying the balance with cash or another credit card, but the stores (Macy's, Target) refused to combine types of payment. I had to fritter away the $50 on purchases less than the ever decreasing amount on the card. I tried to use the balance yesterday and was told that it expired. I was under the impression that California law prohibited the $2 monthly processing fee, but apparently my balance was used up on processing fees.

I'm certain my business associate spent hundreds, if not thousands, on client holiday gifts. Although the gift card did not cost me anything, it is frustrating to know that my associate and others are wasting money on gifts of cash that are worthless.

I too bought several AMEX gift Cards to give to my wife for Christmas. She went to use them a few days after Christmas, and they were declined. The Longs drugstore in Livermore California where I bought them would not refund our money and were not interested in helping us. We called AMEX, and we were told to photocopy everything including driver's license and send in for investigation. I asked the service rep, "What about all these trace numbers and reference ID's on the activation receipt? Can't you use these numbers to track the activation?"

"I can't help you, sir, I'm sorry," was the answer. What use is the activation receipt anyway if they won't accept that as proof? This is what I think: I think that the magnetic stripe on the outer packaging does not match up with the magnetic stripe on the card inside. American Express should accept responsibility and issue a public statement admitting to errors in their packaging process. But they would rather deflect all blame and make you feel like you're trying to scam them instead.

I made a $46.35 purchase on a $50.00 gift card. When I went to use the $3.65, card came up with no funds. Looked up my available funds, came up as negative $5.62. Called AMEX; they said the restaurant automatically takes a gratuity. Called the restaurant, they said they did NOT. Called Amex; they said, "OH, Amex does that automatically, and it should re-appear on your balance in 48 hours." I mentioned this is not written or posted ANYPLACE. It was embarrassing going to the second location and telling them the balance, asking them to split a payment and then having nothing on the card. AMEX is just hoping people will not notice, and they keep making a few dollars off each card. This is horrendous business for such a large company.

This is the second time I receive an American express gift card. The first card I had trouble activating never got used. The second I received as a gift from one of my customer's in the U.S.

The card is for $50.00. I called the 1 800 number to ask if I can use this in Canada. The customer service rep told me that it cannot be used outside of the U.S. I found that very strange because I also, received American Express cheques and I had no problem depositing them in my Canadian bank account. I want to know if this info the man on the other line gave me is true. Why can't these cards not be used in Canada? I feel sorry, for the person who sent this to me he had to pay for the card.. thinking that it was okay to use in Canada.

I purchased 5 American Express gift cards at Circle K. Each gift card was for the amount of $50.00 + $4.95 activation fee. Two of them are not working. American Express customer service person contacted by telephone stated that the merchant did not scan the cards properly. I have receipts from Circle K stating that they were activated. I used my credit card to make this purchase.

I bought the cards out of convenience for my adult children & grandchildren for Christmas. So far we have visited/called the Circle K 5+ times without any success. The employees on duty are clueless, the store manager is not responding at this time to my complaint. Circle K said that it could take up to 48 hours to activate the cards, and American Express Customer Service says it takes an hour. The first 3 cards were used the next day.

I bought a $100 American Express Gift Card one year ago for a friend. When she tried to use the card almost a year later, the card had never been activated. I called the number on the back of the card and talked to 3 different representatives at different times. They told me that I had to have the receipt, which I do not. They told me that I could fax a complaint to American Express; however, the number they gave me was to a voicemail not a fax.

I called American Express again, and they gave me another number which was similar to the last number. I asked her to repeat the number twice. I tried to fax again, and it was still not a fax number. I am growing tired of the run-around.

The ability for consumers to utilize American Express Gift Cards is quite limited. Many businesses are unable to accept the gift cards even if they generally accept AmEx credit cards, like gas stations, Pay pal, online retail outlets, ATM's and ebay.

In addition to these difficulties, AmEx charges a monthly fee and deducts this fee from the card's balance for unused funds. Consequently, while an individual is searching for an acceptable merchant or business whom accepts the gift cards, American Express continues siphoning off the balance with its monthly fee.

Consumers must be aware of the terms and conditions which these cards necessitate. American Express gift cards can be wonderful gifts for some individuals, however the cards are not for everyone and have substantial setbacks for individuals actively seeking to make online purchases.

My father-in-law purchased us three $50 gift cards for Christmas. We were able to use the first one and half of the second one at another store. When I went to use the last half of the second card but it was declined. I checked the balance, and there is still money on it, I just can't use it anywhere.

My husband tried to use his, and it was declined. He still has the whole $50 on his, but it's declined everywhere.

I called the 1-800 number. If your purchase is over the balance on your card, then you have to pay the balance off first, then use the card for the rest. This is the most inconvienent gift card EVER! I have also yet to find anywhere online to try using these cards.

I just read opinions on the American Express Gift Card.... Sadly, I am not alone. I agree these are extremely tricky to use. I hadn't realized that I needed to calculate to the penny what I spend on the card in order to use the remaining balance. If you are a cent over, the card will be declined. The number on back for customer service is distorted by the raised card numbers. I have found that most merchants don't even except these cards. Apparently too much trouble. I have been given these cards from a friend who was helping me out in a time of need. I wouldn't dare complain to her. I have one I intend to use for food shopping tomorrow. I cross my fingers all goes well at the supermarket or Christmas dinner will be a mess.

I believe when the card reaches single dollar values, Amex is hoping you would throw the card out before you come on line to find that you have $1.23 left. Because you would have to know that exact amount, pay the merchant the difference first then have them charge the card for the exact amount remaining. American Express, multi-million dollar company, can't come up with a better system?

I got an American Express gift card for $100, and in many shops it was not accepted. Finally a shop accepted it, and it was 0 balance. It took awhile to find out who to call, telephone number hidden in the instructions. I called, and they told me that someone will get back to me in 48 hours; but we need to do our Christmas shopping. They finally let me speak to another person; she told me that I need to get the receipt since their records show that this card was never sold. We did not get the receipt with the gift (was from a business partner). It is very embarrassing to ask for the receipt. At AME they were not very helpful and blamed it all on us, no responsibility on their side. They sell these cards for significant fees and ongoing service charges, and then they give no service--in fact, steal our money. I basically lost $100.

I have 3 gift cards that I was awarded from my employer. I have yet to be able to use one of them. The only phone # listed is an automated phone with canned info. I checked online; the card for $25.00 has zero funds in it, no history of usage and it does not expire until 03/08. No way to find out why there is zero balance. Another one for $50.00 has a balance of $40.00; it expires in 03/08 and I have never used it.

I needed to use these for Christmas presents and cannot get them to work anywhere. I have informed my company that I will not accept a gift card from American Express again. I have informed anyone that will listen, relatives, people at check out counters (although most of them say they have experienced the same thing and will no longer use them) and am going to post on internet to beware and not purchase from American Express. All I want is a phone # to call to find out how to use these cards and what happened to the one that shows -0- balance; I want to talk to a live person. I think this is a scam by American Express to make money. I bought gift cards for 10 people this year, all from other companies; never will I use American Express.

I was given a $500 personalized American Express Gift Card as a holiday bonus. After trying to make a purchase online from levis.com one late evening, the card was declined. I checked my AMEX gift card balance the next morning to find the balance was reduced. I called levis.com and they stated the AMEX policy only allows you to place funds back onto the card the SAME DAY. Since it's the next morning, I'll have to wait 7-8 business days!

Before trying to use the card again at macys.com, I called Macys to inquire if they accept the gift card, and they DO NOT. I called AMEX to see if they had a list of online merchants that accepts this card. They don't. I'm extremely frustrated!

I have to wait 7-8 business days (after Christmas) to receive the funds back on the card. I still do not know where I can use the card. Neither Bloomingdales nor Macys accept it online. I will NEVER buy an AMEX gift card for anyone and strongly suggest NOT purchasing this product.

Wow, after reading a small fraction of these complaints I will NOT being purchasing AMex gift cards for our employees this Christmas. Thanks to all who took the time to enter your experiences.

American Express should put an issue date not just an expiration date on Gift Cards so you know when the card fees will begin - ie. 12 months after issued. I saw a valid thru date of 12/2007 on gift card when I went to use it before Dec 2007 the card was used up by the $2/month fee. I thought the Valid thru date was when the fee started since the cards supposedly never expire but fees actually started 12 months after issue date (again not disclosed to consumer on card). AMEX leaves that info off the card and makes it hard to tell when thet start taking money back.

I received (and lost) $500 worth of American Express Persona gift cards, (5) x $100. When I went to use them they had expired. There is absolutely no way to get them reinstated. I was under the impression that California law prevented any gift certificate from having an expiration date? I guess not if you are a big enough company like AMEX. Guess they just keep the $500 and pay a big bonus to someone for dreaming up the expiration scam. Warning to anyone looking for a way to issue rewards to employees or customers: Stay far away from this product!

My daughter sent me a $50 Amerocan Express gift card for my birthday, and I phoned Amex to make a payment with this card. They told me that is not an option available to me. If it is their card, still sealed, and the monies go right back to them, I cannot understand why it is not accepted. It is still $50 and supposed to be fluid.

My temperature was elevated to dangerous levels because this kind of cheapness makes me so angry. Just wanted to vent. Thanks.

Send cash. It's safer than an AmEx gift card.

Lost $100. I also wasted my time. Even though I told customer service up front that I had neither the packaging or receipt, they still required me to give them my personal information both via phone and by fax.

I signed up for Telus High Speed Internet on June 18/07 and was offered $300 American express gift card as easy as 1,2,3. I was to expect them in two weeks. I waited as days went by as it sliped my mind by the second week of july. I called telus and informed them of their offer to me. Telus gave me the number to American express.I then called.

The consequences of calling was a nightmare of the representives i had to deal with as i called them for answers. None of course could barely speak english or understand. Till this day September 27/07 i have not received my cards. I quote this is what they keep telling me. Their mailed out you will recieve in 5 to 7 days.Ha Ha!

I had to pay for purchase of a used leather couch. Since my checking account had issues, based on the request of the seller I decided to purchase 3 AMEX gift cards of 100$ each and give it to him. I gave him the 3 cards, only to know after a week from him that the cards did not have any funds on them. When I call up the AMEX customer care, they told me that the cards that were purchased was already used by someone else. Now the seller came back to me asking for money instead of the non-working cards.

The customer care has asked me to fax photocopies of all the cards and my id, not sure what stops them from responding even giving all information over the phone. Im faxing all information tomorrow and hoping for the best.

I am with almost every one on this site that expresses despair over the acts of the american express gift cards, except for the one person that had the audacity to claim it is our fault as the consumer that this well known company is ripping us off. Hello!!!?! Of course none of these ridiculous restrictions are stated on the outer envelope, and you cannot open the envelope before purchase...so, you tell me, pal, how is this the consumers fault? I am livid!

I stood in walgreens for 30 minutes reading restrictions on various prepaid cards. I finally decided that AMEX was a well known company and the intended use for me wasn't listed on the package, so I purchased (2) $100. cards. I tried to use them to pay for my ebay purchases. Of course, you know the routine, DECLINED! So, when I call the number included with the packaging, I get told verbatum....You CANNOT use the American Express gift card to pay your bills HELLO! Since when is buying a product on EBAY considered paying a bill?

This first of all is very embarrassing! I am out $100 which I work very hard for.

I got a $100 gift card that I used many times. When it got down to $10 nobody would accept it. Apparently American Express charges the stores some kind of extra fee when these cards are used.

I have lost two gift cards of 100 $ from American express which were purchased at CVS Pharmacy in Larchmont. Wth the receipt numbers, I called many times American Express which absolutly did not care of the situation, Cvs was kind enought to try to help me but it seems that once the card issold, there is no way to retrace the card information. What a way to make business!!

I bought a $50 American Express gift card to be used as a card to subscribe to a online game called EVE-ONLINE only to find out that i cant register it under my name and it wont work for online recurring subscribtions.

Received two gift cards, with value $100 each. Tried using them at a restaurant-- both were denied. After using an alternative credit card, called AMEX at 1877AXPGIFT. After ~10 minutes on hold, learned the following:

For the first card, a charge was registered for $120 even though the (diligent) restaurant was asked to charge $100. I have no reason to believe they went over. This charge was not accepted by the restaurant, and AMEX says the money will return back to the card in 7 days, and this was probably the result of a timeout.

For the other card, they had no record of it, saying it must not have been properly funded. Given that both cards were purchased together at the same place by the same person, you would think this wouldn't happen.

Ah, but I learned MORE: she explained that if the point of sale terminal produces a satisfactory receipt when purchasing one of these cards, it STILL DOES NOT MEAN ITS BEEN FUNDED PROPERLY. The consequence? Well, the card is worthless until it is funded properly. Meanwhile, of course, AMEX holds on to your money.

good money that my sister spent on buying this card for me is not lost to American Express Co! This must be illegal!

I had recently lost my amex giftcard.I had called amex several of times they could'nt and did'nt help me,they gave me a hard time.I even called the place of purchase they did not help either.I am really upset,knowing I still had some balance left.

We received a $25 American Express gift card from our daughter. When we tried to use it at a major home-improvement/hardware chain store, they could not read the amount on the card. If there is a phone number in the fine print on the back of the card, it has been obliterated by the embossed lettering punched through to show on the front.

After reading all the complaints, it appears that American Express has a real rip-off scheme going here. We will notify our daughter not to purchase any more of these cards.

I got a 50 dollar american express gift card for my birthday, only to find out that it cannot be used in canada, which is stupid because i should be able to use it wherever amex cards are accepted, but i also found out that i cant use it online.

The gift card I was given still has money on it to be spent but when I enter it into your system it will not accept the numbers on the card. They are as follows: 379017293272933 with secutiry code 816. I also tried to use it in the store and it would not go through their system.

I would never buy these cards as gifts because they are too limited as to where they can be used.

I don't want the person who purchased this card for me to have to pay a $2 fee each month that there is still money on the card. The time will be up this month, May which will be 12 months.

I received American Express Gift Cards, which were paid for by the giver and included a fee. I used the card initially within the first 12 months, but did not get a chance to use it thereafter. When I went to check my balance I discovered my balance eaten up by fees, although the card does not expire for another year.

Lost remaining balance on cards. Purchaser paid the face value $200 X 2 = $400, plus a $4.95 fee each to have cards activated. Amex retained funds, plus interest, and basically claimed the remaining funds for themselves.

My wife purchased 2 gift cards for our daughter to take with her on a school trip. 2 days later while shopping with friends, her purse, with the cards in it, was stolen. None of the personnel at american express have shown any willingness to help. We have basically been told, too bad, we are sorry, but we cannot help you. We were told to go to where my wife purchased the cards, in order to get the card numbers. The Kroger's, where the cards were bought does not have that info.

The most inept, incompetent customer service I have ever encountered. They don't seem to care much what the public thinks of them. We rcvd a $500 gift card the last week of Feb. We used it on the 28th abd then went to use it again on 3/1. It had expired on 2-28 (that is the only part that is not the customer service centers fault). I immediately called to see if we could get a replacement card for the remaining 451.90. I was assured that I would have the card in 10 business days.

I called on the 16th just to check, the operator apologized profusely and said another would be sent. I would have it in 4-6 biz days. I called again on the 24th and spoke to Lori who said she thought it would be there on the 25th and I agreed to give it one more day. Got my mail on the 27th and no card. Called again this time I got Kim who told me I would have to wait til the end of the day! I explained that I had gotten my mail and it wasn't there so I saw no point in waiting any longer, I then had to explain to her that USPS stands for United States Postal Service and since I had gotten my mail there was no longer a need to wait. She gave me a supervisor as my patience was thin.

David the supervisor told me that he was ordering a new card and that it would go out by UPS Express on the 28th. He said normally this would take 4-6 biz days but since there was no embossing on the card it could go right away and I would have it in my hands on the 30th. I called them today to get a tracking #. Jess the voice on the phone told me that it wasn't available and wouldn't be available til Monday. I told her that I had been told by a supv that I would have the card in my hands today the 30th. She told me that the supervisor had been mistaken and probably meant to tell me that it would be 4-6 biz days. I immediately asked for another supv and Jess told me that the supv would tell me the same thing. I then got pretty angry and Jess decided to get me that supervisor after all.

Jessica supervisor wasn't all that pleasant. She told me that the card was on a UPS truck but that they cannot give me the tracking # (I do not believe that for one instant! I worked for a mortgage company for years and if you have sent something you can get a tracking #) So I am not holding out much hope that I will get my card today.

Nothing was purchased, My sons' phones are still out of time, I'm out 21 bucks for a week, and AMX was no help at all- pretty much of a Sorry, Pal attitude from them.

Bought two Amex gift cards valued at $25 and $50 respectively, thinking they'd be much better than actually owning a CC. Big mistake! No one, and I really mean NO ONE will accept these cards anywhere, whether it'd be online or at any store. They're useless. But here's the best part of it all: when I called AMEX to get a refund and/or ask for advice on what to do, STACY told me I had a balance left of get this: $4.60 on the one card and a $1 on the other one!!!! How so was my question, when I hadn't used neither nor! She said that I could get a refund AFTER both card's expiration date, that being October of '08 and here I am calling on March of '07!!!

LOSS of MONEY!!!

I bought an $100 AMEX gift card recently just so I could make some purchases online. Only to find out that Paypal wouldn't accept AMEX and many other sites that don't accept it as well. The day before I made a purchase online from a website and right after I submitted my payment my order status showed failed. I had no idea why but $70 was already deducted from my card. I don't know what's going on with these but I'm having a hard time using them. Another annoying this is that I couldn't add in my personal cardholder info so the only way is to call AMEX. All I know is that AMEX can be very frustrating sometimes because many websites don't accept or if they do the first is that your $ gets deducted before your order is complete, which is very inconvenient because then you would have to contact the merchant to resolve problems which take even longer.

Last year, I purchased an AmEx gift card for my parents to use in Florida. My mom used the card for a purchase of $29.93 on Jan. 24, 2007. The sales clerk retained her card with NO explanation The clerk refused to tell her how much was left on the card. I haven't received any money from AmEx as a remaining balance. Mom thinks the clerk kept her card to use the remaining balance herself. Is there any way to check?

It's March 2007, but I, too, failed to read the fine print, written in tiny italics at the bottom of the envelope in which the card came. An American Express gift card could be reduced by $2.00 each month if the giftee hasn't used the card within 12 months of purchase.

I was given a $50 American Express Gift Card for Christmas and tried to use it at JCPenney's yesterday.The saleslady was very nice, but couldn't figure out how to use the card in the transaction because it kept rejecting it. Another sales person came along to help her, and I was there 2 hours. They had to void the transaction twice and try again. They tried to call AmerExp several times, but each time a recording said they had an unusually high volume of calls (isn't that what they all say?) and to call back in an hour.

They called in the store manager, and the 3 of them kept trying. They finally figured out that AmerExp won't let you use the card the normal way if the purchase is more than the amount on the card. The customer has to pay for the purchase with a different card first, then you apply the gift card. So they voided it again and next time the gift card showed only $4.50 left! The manager said it would take overnight for the original amount to show up back on the card. So I left my purchase at the store and this morning called AmerExp - it still showed $4.50. I was told it would take 7 days for the $50 to be put back on the card.

It did no good to speak to a supervisor, who said it will take 7 days for the $50 to be put back on the card, because the store didn't call during the transaction!! I told her they tried to call for 2 hours, but only got a recording - she said she can't do anything about it.

In the meantime, my checking account (I used my debit card for the balance of the transaction) probably has been debited 3 or 4 times for the same transaction because of all the voids, and I've lost out on a huge Today Only discount at the store.

I am telling everyone I know never to give AmerExp gift cards.

I purchased a $100.00 AMEX gift card from a CVS in Florida for my sister in NY which I then mailed to her for her birthday. My sister tried to use the card for the first time and it apparently was not activated by AMEX. Called AMEX they told me to take the sleeve and receipt showing the card had been activated back to CVS, went to CVS they told me there was nothing they could do the receipt said activated and to call AMEX.

Called AMEX again the first person told me to go to CVS again, at that point I asked for a supervisor. The supervisor told me to FAX everything to them and it would take at least 10 days to investigate and took all of my info but couldn't provide a claim number.

My sister made the trip from Brooklyn to Manhattan via subway to use this card at Target tonight, only to find out that it had a zero funds, she was totally embarrassed & upset by the experience. I have spent 3 hours tonight on the phone, with AMEX and my sister, driving to the CVS store, only to find out that nothing can be done.

American Express gift cards are a waste of money. Do not give them as gifts. Many times I have tried to use the balance on my card only to have it declined. Now when I look at the balance, if has been used up for monthly service fees. The only reason there was a balance on the card was because every time I tried to use it, it was declined.

We received the American Express Gift Card with a $100 balance. Activating it via the toll-free number was painless, and I was not charged an activation fee.

There are two ways to find your balance:

1) Call 877-297-4438 (877-AXP-GIFT), then enter your card number and then enter the 4 digit security code on the front, top-right corner of the card.

2) Go to their web site:

Enter the card number and the 4 digit security code. On the web site, you can even see the history of transactions of the card.

The worse thing about the gift card are the limitations on where you can use it. On the sticker that comes with the card, it says: Do not use your Card at ATMs, airline, hotel, car rental, telecom or gasoline merchants. Other usage restrictions apply.

There were more restrictions listed on the cardboard holder the card came in, but we through it away. The terms and conditions, which include pertinent advice on usage, are available online.

In case the URLs above for inquiring about your transaction & the terms and conditions do not work, you can navigate to them from:

http://www.americanexpress.com/giftcard

Though I haven't had any problem with this card, I can see why it wouldn't be the most optimal gift.

We received 2 American Express gift cards as gifts. We do not know and cannot determine the value of the cards. Virtually every vendor that this card has been presented to for payment has refused to accept the card. The card and American Express present no direct mailing information, no phone contact information, and no way to pursue anything regarding the card online. These gift cards are a painful, tortuous experience for consumers.

All we want at this point is to determine how much is on these cards, and to somehow get the cash from American Express so I can purchase something.

The law firm I work at recently started giving AMEX gift cards as birthday presents for the employees, in lieu of a cake. I was thrilled to receive a $25 gift card for my birthday. When I called the 800 number to activate the card, it stated that the card was already activated and nothing more needed to be done. However when I tried to use the card at Chili's restaurant, it was declined. I again tried to use the card at Bed, Bath & Beyond and it was declined there as well.

I informed my office manager of the trouble I was having with the card and she said she would exchange it for me. I was hesitant to use the new card because of the problems I had in the past. At long last, I was able to use the card at JC Penney. AMEX gift cards definitely do not take the cake!

I purchased an $100 AMEX gift card only to find out after opening the envelope that it is not good for car rentals, hotels or airlines. I went back into CVS upon purchasing the card and wanted a refund due to the limitations. They told me that they could not give me a refund that I would have to contact AMEX. I called AMEX yesterday and was told that a supervisor would contact me within 24-48 hours. I just got off the phone with the Supervisor Krystal #9358 and she told me that AMEX will not refund my money. SHe said TOO BAD!! This is unbelievable terrible customer service and I am shocked that AMEX does not care that there customers are very unhappy. I guess they don't care based on the number of unhappy customers that I read about on the internet.

I received $50.00 gift card. When I use it, it got rejected. I called the 1-877 number at the back of the card, they openned a claim number for me. Each time I call, I was told that the claim was in process, and I should call back next week. When I called back the following week, I was told to call back next day. When I called back the following day, I need to call back after 15 days...When I called back, I was told that it took longer than 15 business days...I should call back at daytime, in the morning, in the afternoon, after 1:30pm, at night when they are less busy.

After 15+ calls, 50 days passed, I was told that they would have to give me a new claim number, the old one ws not good anymore. The new one would start with a new date. now, I was back on square one again. the whole process started again. next day, nest week, 10-15 days, longer than that...When I want to speak to a supervisor, I was told that no supervisors would be available. When I want to talk to customer complain dept, the reps who answered the call cannot transfer me. They can file a complain for me, but nothing i can use to track the complain. next time i called, the new rep never saw the complaint...Now they deduct $2.00 every month, but I cannot use it.

I feel better knowing now that I am not the only one that was disgusted and frustrated by using the American Express gift card.

As I started making purchases I got very confused very fast. Cashiers wanted to know my balance and if I didn't know, they would not ring me through. One place, where I got my nails done, did not even accept American Express. The machine that checks the balance for you in the mall was broken. I just wasn't aware that I needed to bring a pad of paper, my pencil, and a calculator with me!

I also experienced the joy of returning something that was paid with the gift card. I made a purchase at Target and used the remaining balance on my gift card and then put the rest on my Visa. When I went to return a few things, they wanted to put half back on the gift card and half on my visa. I don't think many people keep the gift cards after they are spent? Not to mention, I didn't want the money put back on that card because I didn't want to deal with it anymore.

I received a $25 American Express Gift Card as a gift. The card was purchased the previous year and given to me a few months ago.

I checked the card two weeks ago, went to use it and it was rejected. It seems that Amex has been deducting $2 a month from the card for the last several months. I called and complained and they put $8 back on the card, but the following week they deducted $2 more.

It is almost impossible to use the card, because you have to know how much you have on the card and then pay the balance first and then swipe the card. Amex is hoping that you will just get so frustrated that you will throw away the card and they keep all the money.

¨

I received a $100 AMEX gift card for christmas 06, and am having difficulty using it. It's obvious that AMEX is banking on folks just giving up and letting the unused balance go, because its just inconvenient.

The vendor has no way of telling you what the balance is on your card. You have to guess what the balance is, then the vendor tries it for you. If it doesn't go through, you try another one. You can see the cashier's faces drop when you hand them the card...they're so tired of the extra work involved.

no customer complain channel

Have an American Express Gift Card that is a total pain in the behind! If your total is over the amount you have left - it rejects it. You have to know exactly how much you have left on the card - subtract it from your total bill pay the difference and then scan the card. All I want to do is use it up and then TRASH IT! Was going to buy my daughter and her friend one each for Christmas - I gave good old cash instead. Will NEVER use this type of gift for giving.

I purchased an AMEX gift card, and after I found I was unable to use it online and I confirmed this with a call to American Express, so I went back to safeway, the same exact store I bought the card from. I go back to this Safeway and I try to purchase to Visa giftcards with it, but the Safeway would not even accept this card!

I purchased a pair of pants w/american express gift card. I used the card totally and got rid of the card. Well the pants were too big so I returned them. The money for the gift card was returned to the gift card that I know longer had. I still have the receipt for the pants but the gift card acct no. is not on the receipt so both the clothing store and american express gift card have explained that I just lose my 17.oo dollars I think that this is totally crazy. P.S. I was returning the pants for a smaller size but the sales girl exchanged my receipt to re-ring the right size and I didn't have the card. So the money is currently on the card and I quess I lose.

It was only 17.00 dollars but a gift to me.

I originally purchased an American Express gift card on line in September of 2006 for $200 to be sent to my cousin in Florida. Well, he never got it. I had to get the number from American Express which is different from the cardholder number). When I called the correct number, I had to sit on the phone for over 50 minutes with someone in the Philippines and placed on hold at least 5-6 times -- I'm not exaggerating. I kept asking for someone to call me back after they figured it out, but the rep didn't advise it. So, this time I had the card sent to me so I can send it out to my cousin.

Guess what??? It's been almost 3 weeks and no card. I just called the customer service number back and another bewildered rep. was on the phone. I asked to speak to the supervisor and was placed on hold twice for a total of 10 minutes. That was it. I'm trying to find a customer service e-mail at American Express' site and there's no such thing. You just get caught in a loop of misleading information. This is my first and last experience with American Express.

I will write a letter to American Express if I can even figure out where to write to. I just hope to recover the $200.

I had a National City Bank gift card and the American Express Gift Card. We had a bill of $32.00. Olive Garden took the NCB gift card, and American Express declined the rest of the bill. I told the server that there was $20.00 left on the card to put that thru and then I would pay the difference. He tried to put it thru again and it would not take it. I paid the rest of the bill with my personal credit card.

I called American Express and they confirmed I had $20.00 on the card. I asked why they did not take the card and the representative said, they should have put 1st gift card thru, then MY CREDIT CARD, then American Express. This made no sense.

I called the Olive Garden back and they said they took the Amer Express Gift Card but the employee may have put it thru wrong, and if I would like to drive back to Olive Garden, the manager would put the bill thru again. Gee only 8 miles back to the restaurant to correct the error. As I have read other complaints, everyone is having the same problem.

My son who gave me the first card, said he had never had any problem with the card.

I again received 2 more of these cards for Christmas and am afraid to use them.

I can't send it back to him for fear of causing problems between him and me.

My husband and I both recieved American Express Gift Cards as Christmas gifts from my parents on 12/24/06. Each card has a value of $100. We have activated these according to the terms of American Express Gift card envelope that they were in. Surprise! I tried to use mine at a local store, it was declined. When I have called the help number that is listed in the terms and agreements, I have gotten absolutely no answers to why the card is on hold.

My husband has gotten the same song and dance from Amex as well as my mother who purchased these gift cards. We have gone to the Winn Dixie store that she purchased the cards from, they in turn have called Amex and have benn told that they could not give them any information. I have been told by Amex customer service (what a joke)that they will activate my card in 24 hours and they do not. I have been told on numerous occasions that a customer service rep would return my call, that has not happened. Every time I call them, I have to repeatedly give my name, address, telephone number, as well as my date of birth. I have been pursuing this for several days and have gotten absolutely no help or information from Amex.

I am very angry with the fact that they have basically, taken my mother's money ($200)and in return, have provided no product or service. This seems to be a frequent consumer complaint with these gift cards. I am not going to let this robbery by amex go. I plan on writing my story for the local news as well as national news, somebody may eventually listen and stop this company from fraudulent business practices. My goal is to alert others about this and hopefully prevent other people from being taken advantage of by American Express!

Received two $50 American Express gift cards, in 2005. We misplaced the cards, and subsequently, unfortunately forget about them. Recently we found them and were delighted! Today, however, when we activated the card, we were informed that each card was only valued at $26 each!! No wonder American Express is so wealthy. Not only did they collect $100.00 from somone, along with whatever initial fees that person paid (I am sure these gift cards were not free!), but now, they do not even have to honor that investment! They get to pocket $48.00, with no cost to them whatsoever! And this is legal???!!!!! How can that be??!!

I received a gift card from a relative. I don't understand why I have to sign for a purchase when checking out with my GIFT CARD. It makes me think they are opening an American Express card. What if the purchase went over the allowed amount? Then what? It scares me to get a gift card with a long terms and conditions sheet enclosed. I can't find those long terms and conditions, and there is no address. Thye 800 # that is on the back of the card is illegible because the GIFT CARD RECIPIENT embossed part is covering the 800 tollfree #. After I activated the card before going out I did not save the sticker that contained the 800 #. Now I want to phone them and there is no phone # available. I very much dislike this American Express card.

You will never see or hear from me again.

Well add me to the list of unhappy consumers who have been angered and frustrated trying to use the American Express GIFT Card. I received a $100 card as a Christmas gift last year. Note, that I did not purchase the card. It was a gift from my sister-in-law, who no doubt believed that it could be used practically anywhere to buy anything and would make the perfect gift. At least that's what American Express wants us all to believe!

Realizing that AMEX would start charging a $2.00 monthly service fee soon, I wanted to use the card several times lately. However, I discovered that the cardholder must call an 800 number to ACTIVATE the card prior to use. Since I was already in line waiting to check out merchandise when I realized this and my cell phone was in the car, activation was not an option. So I used another form of payment.

I finally ACTIVATED the card last week so that I'd be free to use it anytime anywhere (HA!) I just placed an online order with a well-known nationwide retailer. Most retailers typically have a field where you enter the form of payment, i.e. credit, debit, etc. There was no option for a gift card. In order to complete my order, I entered the AMEX card info in the credit card field, since that was the closest choice. The total balance of my order exceeded the value of the card by @ $15, so I submitted my order and immediately called the merchant to confirm everything and arrange for another form of payment for the difference. I was informed that AMEX had rejected payment. It appears that AMEX will only pay either the exact amount or a lesser portion thereof.

Since many merchants do not accept multiple forms of payment, this card is useless for purchase amounts exceeding the balance on the card. The only way I can use this card is to purchase something for exactly $100 with a merchant that is willing to accept the card. Or, I could purchase something for say $90, and leave a $10 balance on the card, than hope that I can make another purchase for exactly $10 and be done. But that's not what American Express expects will happen. In addition to the initial $5.95 card fee, they have fees for everything imaginable.

According to applicable law, the following fees are automatically deducted from your GIFT card: A $2.00 monthly service fee (starting on the 13th month after purchase), a $5.95 replacement card fee (if your card is lost or stolen and you have documented the original card number), and a check issuance fee of $10.00 if you request a refund of any remaining funds on the card, but only after the "valid thru" date on the front of the card (not sooner). Since the "valid thru" date is usually three and one-half years from the date of purchase, you can easily see that by that date, the $2.00 monthly service fees will absorb $30 of your card balance.

It's very easy to see that American Express is a profitable business because they can legally rip-off consumers by expertly using applicable law to their financial advantage. As for clueless Melissa of Phoenix, AZ who posted here on 3/25/06, she must either work for Amex or has been duped into believing that these cards provide some protection from fraud.

THIS CARD DOES NOT PROTECT CONSUMERS. Instead, it legally sabotages and extorts funds from unwitting consumers by American Express. I for one prefer to give any excess cash to a good charitable cause than line the golden pockets of already filthy rich and greedy corporations. THE MORAL OF THIS STORY: Do Not Purchase any "gift card" that comes with an arms-length (literally and figuratively) list of instructions and restrictions.

They have prepaid gift cards you purchase from the store to use online for making purchases and in store if you want,but you pay the activation fee and it come in only 3 amounts of $25, $50, $100.They each have a different price for the activation fee and I purchased one for $100 recently, went to use it and the whole amount isn't there.They have stolen my money and aren't giving it back and saying if I keep calling they'll call the police.

We activated the card and tried to use the $50 at a dinner out, only to find we could use only $35 and service charges had used up the rest. What a rip-off.

For my birthday, I received three American Express gift cards. The gift givers advised that I would be able to use them anywhere to purchase anything that I wanted. At this point I have tried Banana Republic, JCrew, Gap, Bloomingdales and even the American Express store AND no one will accept these gift cards. Does anyone know where you can use these?

I was given an American Express Gift card and was told you can use it anywhere. No matter where I go, they do not accept it. I have had this since December, 2005 and have tried to use it over and over. No luck. I would never recommend anyone purchase these gift certificates. They are too limited.

I am complaining as a sales clerk and a recipient of an AX gift card. As a sales clerk when we have a customer use one with a balance, if they do not know the balance, we must stop, call a special 800 number to get balance, then continue This is a nightmare when we are busy. I recieved one last Christmas. I used part of it for a small purchase. Since then, every merchant I go to does not know how to find the balance so this card with approximately $80 is worthless to me. I now encourage customer and friends not to purchase them

My daughter sent me an AMEX gift card for Christmas. I was able to use it a couple of times and should have money left on it but I am unable to use the ramining balance. It has been rejected several times. When I check availability of funds on the card, it just tells me I have entered invalid information. I have told my daughter the thought was nice but I never want another one of these cards.

This has caused a lot of embarrassment and aggravation.

This is a response to the information posted on this site concerning American Express. While I understand peoples level of frustration for mis-understanding the use of certain products offered not only by american express, but also those products offerred by other banks or companies, it doesn't excuse misleading facts that accuse a company, specifically, American Express of doing anything wrong. If any of the complainers about American Express gift cards actually did a little bit of research on what they were buying before the did so, they probably would not be complaining, or would not be justified in complaining.

Note: It is YOUR job to understand what you are buying and what you will be paying for BEFORE you agree with payment. Some of the complaints specifically state they are upset by being charged a service charge or shipping fees for something ordered on the internet? My response: have you ever ordered anything from the internet? helllooo.....companies don't ship things for free usually and if they do it's because you are ordering during a specific promotional opportunity or a good customer.

One more thing....perhaps they should all read the additional articles relative to credit cards on this site. If they do, they might start thinking that the fees and some otherwise nuisance issues due to their own ignorance are better than the alternative of other large banks who deliver services for visa/mastercard that compromise consumer data by security breaches, loss of company equipment with cardmember data on it and have less than adequate security in place on the whole.

Ya, I would really rather do business with American Express and pay a few extra bucks knowing that I will never be the victim of identity theft because American Express is acutally looking out for my safety. Get a grip people! Read the facts before you buy......and don't complain when you are unaware and just plain ignorant.

Thinking it was a simple and safe way to give money to my kids, I purchased a number of American Express Gift Cards at a local Safeway Store in $50. and $100. amounts as Christmas presents. When I got home an opened one I discovered they would not work for the purpose I had intended for my kids who would be traveling to Eourpe and the Camans in the near future or as I was lead to believe via the American Express representive I had recently talked to. Now when I tried to take back to the store the next morning I was told by a store manager that they could not take them back because once they were activated they belonged to American Express and there was nothing they could do.

Later when I talked to American Express Customer Service repersentive they told me there was nothing the could do because I had purchased at a store and should take back to that store. There was nothing they could do. The lady with AMX was very convencing that I could still use them my self or sell them to another person on my own but they were not able to redeem my money, turn into Gift Checks or help in any way. What a racket.

So now I'm out $600.00 and have these gift cards that are useless for the purpose I purchased them for. Nowhere on the outside packageing does it say they can not be used at Airlines, Hotels, Rental Cars, Gas Stations nor can they be used outside the U.S. Another hitch is you have to use for the exact amount of the card, and can not make up the difference, example: if you purchase something for $101. then it will be rejected and you will be billed $2.00 by AMX for going over the card limit.

Equally if you had $1.25 left on the card it would be almost impossible to ever use that remaining balance. Just think if they hook 25 million people like me and every card is left with a balance how much they pocket. I'm frustrated, feel cheated and can't believe what a scam, what I thought was a top notch company is running. They have lost me as a customer forever.

I recently purchased 2 American Express gift cards to take my kids shopping out of town. When i went to activate the cards while in PA school shopping I was informed that the cards could not be activated and to call back the next day. When i called back sunday morning they told me that the cards still could not be activated. Days have gone by and no one has called me back from american express as i was informed that someone would contact me. i still have these 2 unactivated gift cards that I am stuck with and they don't care.

I was given a $50.00 American Express Gift Card. I took it to Red Lobster in Douglasville, Ga. I asked the server prior to placing my order if they accpted the American Express Gift Card. I had the card in my hand showing it to her. She took the card at the end of the meal. She came back and told me I could not use the card. I asked for management. I was told those card are too much of a problem, with fraud and could not be used.

I called American Express and asked for my money to be refunded that I was embarrassed by the incident and the gentleman at the restaurant told me that he knew of no place that would accept such a card. American Express told me that if they refunded a $50.00 gift card, I would have to PAY a $10.00 fee. They sold a card that is not valid where American Express is accepted and now they want to keep 20% of the value because I can't use the card.

I think they took the money for the card under false pretense that the card is as respected as their traveler's checks and their credit card and this is not true.

Ordered 2 gift cards from American Express. Decided 10 minutes later I could get Visa cards in person without waiting for mail, and cancelled order. Order was placed on 11/15/04 and cancelled no more than 10 minutes later. I was assured credit card would be credited for full amount. After NUMEROUS phone calls to the "escalations" dept, I still don't have my $200+ back on my credit card and have incurred finance charges as a result.

Each time I speak with a "manager" I am told it will be resolved, it however NEVER is. Here we are on 12/21/04 and still no credit. Boy they can take money very quickly..try to get them to give it back...Good luck.