Lost or Stolen Gift Card? Tips to Get It Back

It can be frustrating to find out that you have lost your gift card that still had value on it. Gift cards are a payment method that should be treated as cash and must be handled with care.

However, if you have lost your gift card or got scammed, then all is not lost. There are steps you can take to get your gift card back or possibly get it replaced. 

This article will explore: 

• What to do if you are in a lost gift card situation?  

• How to find or replace your lost gift card? 

• Tips to prevent such a situation in the future.  

Whether it is a physical or an e-gift card, this article will address everything you need to know to tackle the problem. 

Treat Gift Cards Like Cash 

It is important to treat gift cards like cash. When we receive a gift in terms of cash, we put it in our wallet, a bank, or a safe location.

Gift cards deserve the same level of care. Still, many people do not and end up losing gift cards that have monetary value left in them. 

For example, let’s say you have a $100 gift card. Now, if you lose the gift card, it is equivalent to losing $100 in cash.

When you adopt such a perspective you can ensure that you take every precaution that leads you to not losing a gift card again in future.  

How Can You Recover Your Lost Gift Card? 

One can never guarantee the recovery of a lost gift card. However, you may follow these steps to find your lost gift card. Below are the steps we would recommend you to find your gift card: 

1. Retrace Your Steps 

First, make sure to retrace your steps carefully. Think about the last time you had the gift card in your possession. Was it in your wallet, on a countertop, or in a drawer? Look in places where you usually keep important things.

If the card was recently used, check your pockets, bags, and any surfaces you might have set it down on. Retracing your steps may seem simple, but it’s often the quickest way to locate a misplaced item. 

2. Check for Documentation 

If tracing your steps doesn’t work, try checking any documentation that may be associated with the gift card. Key documents to check include: 

• Activation Receipts: These are usually given when one is making the purchase; they have important information, such as the card number and amount of purchase. 

• Email Receipts: If the card was an e-gift card or was purchased online, look through your email inbox for a confirmation email. This could have the card number, PIN, or even a digital version of the card. 

• Bank or Credit Card Statements: If you bought the gift card yourself, check your statements to locate the purchase. This can give you information to report to the issuer.  

The more information available at the time of contacting the issuer, the smoother the recovery process. 

3. Contact the Gift Card Issuer 

Once you’ve collected all available information, reach out to the gift card issuer. Look for the customer service contact details, which are typically found on the issuer’s website. Here’s what you’ll need to provide: 

• Card Number and PIN: These are often needed to verify the card’s balance and ownership. 

• Proof of Purchase: This may include an activation receipt or transaction details from your bank statement. 

• Purchase Details: Give the date and place from which the card was purchased. 

Clearly explain the situation and politely ask if the card could be canceled and reissued. Many issuers are eager to help, particularly if the card has not yet been used. 

4. Confirm Card Usage 

Call the issuer and request them to confirm if the card has been utilized. If the card hasn’t been redeemed, they might be able to cancel the original card and issue a replacement.

Note that this process is chargeable by a small fee. If the card has been partially or fully redeemed, ask for the transactions.

The issuer may ask for details about where and when the card was used, which can help in deducing if it was stolen or accidentally redeemed. 

5. Find Alternative Options 

If the issuer is unable to recover the card, follow these additional actions: 

• Reach Out to the Gift Sender: If a card was a present, request the sender to forward every receipt as well as all email confirmations. 

• File a Report: If a card was robbed, you would report the robbery to the local or postal system if lost at its station. There is a great deal of evidence that can happen so that if the thief, perhaps, never did it anywhere else before, it may see the need not to repeat elsewhere. eBay gift card scams are reported, so ensure all safety precautions.

What Methods Can You Use to Replace a Lost Gift Card? 

If you are unable to recover the gift card, then replacing it might be a good idea.

Here’s how you can get a replacement on your lost gift card: 

1. Register the Card  

Most issuers of gift cards permit you to register your card online. Registration provides additional security and facilitates recovery or replacement if the card is lost or stolen. If you haven’t registered your card, you should check the issuer’s website to see if it’s possible.

Registered cards usually come with account protection features such as freezing the account or linking it to your identity. That can make the replacement process go significantly smoother. 

2. Understand Issuer Policies 

Not all issuers have the same policy regarding replacement cards. Some might be easy to replace a lost gift card, while others would have strict requirements.

Be sure to understand the issuer’s terms and conditions. You may want to read through the FAQs or contact their customer service for clarification.

Being informed of the policies might also help you decide if seeking a replacement is worthwhile in your specific situation. 

3. Check Online Replacements 

If your physical gift card is lost, some issuers give you the option to get a digital e-gift card that happens to be faster and highly reliable.

You are free to send an email; some issuers can try digital replacement. You would wish to keep this as saved in an app or some type of digital wallet and therefore reduce events of misplacement. 

4. Provide All Necessary Details 

To increase your chances of a replacement card, provide all the details you can to the issuer like the date of purchase, amount, and previous transactions made through the card.

The more details you provide the easier it is for the issuer to verify your claim. Some issuers even permit you to upload a photograph of the card front and back if you have snapped a picture of them.

Documentation not only accelerates the process but also means that your request for a replacement is placed above the rest. 

5. Pay a Replacement Fee 

Some issuers provide replacement cards for a small fee. Such a fee covers the costs of cancelling the original card and issuing a new one. Find out about such an option when you contact the issuer.

This fee may seem very inconvenient to pay, but it usually is a price worth the value left on the card. Also, ask how long it will take to complete the replacement process so you can plan accordingly. 

How to Prevent Losing a Gift Card in the Future? 

The best way of handling a lost gift card is to avoid losing it to begin with.

Implement these strategies to keep your gift cards safe: 

1. Store Gift Cards in a Designated Location 

Decide on one place to hold all your gift cards, be it in a wallet, drawer, or app. Storing them all in one location reduces the chances of misplacing them.

Think about using a special pouch or card holder for the gift cards. All this extra organization can save cards from being mixed in with other stuff and thrown away. 

2. Utilize the Gift Card 

Don’t just sit on the gift cards for a long time as this will increase the possibility of losing them.

The card should be used soon after purchase so that you won’t experience any problem with regards to expiration dates or deduction fees on the balance that can lower the amount that the card can give you.  

3. Keep a Note of the Card Information 

Write down the gift card number and PIN in a safe place or take a clear picture of both sides of the card.

This will give you all the information, even if the card itself is lost. It makes the recovery or replacement process much easier and faster. 

4. Mobile Wallets and Gift Card Apps 

You can store and manage your gift cards digitally through mobile wallets or gift card apps. This reduces the chance of losing them and enables you to access your cards whenever you want.

Apps also remind you to use your cards before they expire or alert you to promotions that are connected to your card balance. 

5. Register the Card 

If the issuer provides an opportunity to register, sign up. Registered cards are far easier to track and retrieve if lost.

Registration commonly includes features such as freezing a card or the ability to review activity, providing an additional degree of security against theft and misuse. 

6. Collect Activation Receipts 

Activation receipts should be saved until the card is used completely. Usually, it keeps important information about the activation on the receipts which can help them recover or replace their items. These can be placed into a safe folder for use when required. 

The Case of the Lost Holiday Gift Card 

This happened to one of our customers during the holidays, a customer received a $100 gift card but misplaced it shortly thereafter. She was able to track down the activation receipt in her wallet.

The customer contacted the card issuer with this receipt and asked them to verify that no one had used the card. The issuer canceled the original card and issued a replacement for a small fee. 

A Digital Lifesaver 

One customer accidentally deleted an e-gift card email. Luckily, she had kept the confirmation number. Customer support allowed her to recover the e-gift card and redeem it using the confirmation.

So, there is a high probability of you getting your gift card back if you have some sort of confirmation as discussed before in the article. 

How Can Send Credit Help? 

Send Credit is a reliable way of purchasing and managing gift cards. The company offers features to increase security and convenience. This allows Send Credit to make it easier for users to: 

• Track their gift card balances. 

• Store digital copies of their gift cards. 

• Access customer support in the case of lost or stolen cards. 

• Ensure seamless delivery of e-gift cards to recipients worldwide. 

Using Send Credit can help you minimize the chances of losing a gift card and gives you peace of mind in knowing that your cards are secure.

Their intuitive platform makes it possible to manage multiple cards in one place, making them a go-to solution for gift card users. 

Wrapping It Up 

To wrap up, losing a gift card is frustrating, but it does not end here. In some cases, taking timely action, providing the relevant information, and getting hold of the card issuer will make it possible for you to recover or replace your lost card.

Better than all of that, by registering your cards, making use of gift card apps, and holding onto your activation receipts, you’ll be better placed to prevent the loss in the first instance. 

With platforms like Send Credit, managing and safeguarding your gift cards has never been easier. Whether purchasing a gift card for someone else or yourself, proper steps should be taken to safeguard its value.

After all, a little effort will go a long way in ensuring that your gift cards are safe and accessible at all times.