iCount Youth Account





The Gift of Plastic

Here’s what you may run into with certain gift cards, so make sure to research the details before you give them as gifts!

Be very clear about the value of the card. Write it on the card itself or prominently on the cardboard sleeve.  Some stores have archaic systems and if you want to use a gift card for part of a purchase and pay the rest with another method, you have to give them the specific value being paid by card!  This also applies significantly to prepaid credit cards or credit card gift cards, as they have to “authorize” a certain value to be paid on the card.  If the recipient uses the card for something and has a remaining balance, advise them to write down the new balance for next time.

If giving the gift of a card for an entire shopping mall, be careful to find out where it can and cannot be used within the mall.  Many malls offer gift cards but exclude certain stores or service kiosks. You cannot use a shopping mall card at a wireless booth, for instance, or at many fast food centres in the food court.  If you want to make sure you’re giving a gift that will be valued, ensure the stores your gift receiver likes are included.

Are there any fees? There are no expiries for gift cards in Ontario, but some sneaky credit card companies have gotten around this on their cards with a ridiculous amount of fees.  For instance, if you dial the phone number on the back of the card to check your balance, you will incur a fee.  If you do not use the card at all after 90 days, they will begin to charge a monthly maintenance fee that slowly reduces the balance available. The more reputable card issuers do not do this, so just be aware that these things can happen, and check the details before purchasing a credit card gift card for anyone.

Are there purchase restrictions on the card? If the card receiver wishes to shop online and use their gift card, would this be permitted?  Or order from a catalogue or by phone?  Some gift cards unfortunately only allow in-person shopping at a retail location, so be sure to check before you buy the card.

Keep your purchase receipts for the cards. It does sometimes happen that a card gets misplaced or lost, or when the recipient goes to use it there is some issue with a defective swipe or something. It is always a good idea to keep the receipts for gift card purchases. In this way, you could help resolve any problems with the cards, as the receipts contain item numbers or control codes for the cards.