Gift card warning over hidden fees

GIFT card users are being slugged exorbitant fees for asking questions about their card, including balance checks.

Issuers are forcing customers who make phone inquiries about cards to pay up to $4.50 to speak to a call centre operator and an additional 50 cents to receive their balance.

The cost of these inquiries are then deducted from the card’s balance.

This can mean charges of up to $5 can apply before even making a purchase. The charout ges are on top of the purchase fee and activation charges some cards insist upon.

Consumer group Choice spokesman Tom Godfrey said consumers continued to be fleeced. “Gift cards are an epic retail rip-off,’’ he said.