John Lawton
Prevention
Photocopy the gift certificate or merchandise credit, or on the
day you receive it, write down in your calendar the serial number,
the issue date, and the amount.
Make a point to use the certificate or credit soon. Schedule
that into your calendar or give yourself a visual reminder by
keeping the certificate or credit on a bulletin board or in a
frequently used file. Some have expiration dates. (When giving a
gift certificate, try to avoid such use-by dates.)
How to Get Your Money Back
If you have documentation, the store might be able to void and
reissue a certificate. Many stores treat gift certificates like
cash, but some stores, such as Barnes & Noble, have switched to a
chain-wide gift-card system, which makes the credit easier to
track.
Avoid store counters, where busy salespeople have little
investment in your purchase. Ask to speak to a manager instead, so
you can explain your situation. Bigger operations, like department
stores, tend to have set policies, while the corner candle store
might offer to come up with a creative solution.
The Last-Ditchen Effort
In the case of a gift certificate that's gone missing, come
clean to the person who gave it to you. If that person can give
you the original receipt or if she can get documentation of the
transaction via her credit-card company, you'll probably have
better luck getting the certificate reissued.
