Gift vouchers treated like cash

I PURCHASED a gift card from the local Spur ranch on December 16 with the intention of giving it to an unemployed homeless guy so that he could have a festive meal for Christmas.

I paid in R350. I had an appointment to meet at the Spur to hand over the gift card. He never pitched and his cellphone kept going to voicemail.

I gave up on this guy and decided to use it myself. I decided to use it in the new year, when I was off. When I wanted to use the card, I could not find it anywhere.

I went to the Spur and asked if I could redeem the amount on the card (from the two receipts I had). I was told that this would have to be authorised from some office first, but being night time, I would have pay for that night and they would get someone to phone me and sort the card thing out. When I went back to check yesterday, they told me that if I had lost the card, it is just as if I had lost R350 in cash.

They cannot help me. That card has a specific card number and if it had been used already, I am sure that specific number would have been scanned into the system to nullify the credit validity so that it could not be redeemed again.

Now, if it has not been scanned into their system, then surely that credit of R350 is still valid and I can use the receipt as payment for my next dinner?

I am not impressed with the very disinterested way this matter has been dealt with and I expect my R350 to be honoured.

Tim Ronaldson

Georgie: I’m afraid they’re right – gift vouchers are considered to be the equivalent of cash. If you’d entered personal details attached to that purchase they should be able to pick it up on their system, but you’ll probably find their terms and conditions stipulate you must present the card.