topic Re: Git cards expiring in Community Chat

Gift cards expiring

drizzellla — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:08:40 GMT

I was reading about Synergy World going bankrupt. So it's gift cards are now worthless.

So I dug out my pile of gift cards.

And saw that my Visa gift cards were all expired. I should have paid attention. When I retired I was given several Visa gift cards as a bonus. I find cashing them can be a pain at times. So I just threw them in a desk drawer and forgot about them.

Please do not make my mistake. Check your gift cards.

Re: Git cards expiring

jlkz — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:04:26 GMT

@drizzellla

Sorry that you had learned an expensive lesson. Thanks for giving others a heads up !

I write the expiration date even on my coupons ! Either DH or I use them and of course at this age (80's) we need glasses which he forgets to carry with him. Then I put each coupon in a see through holder that was made for photos.

Re: Git cards expiring

FranandZoe — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:05:54 GMT

That's really a shame. I love gift cards lol - I always use them immediately.

Re: Git cards expiring

Meowingkitty — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:27:27 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
I was reading about Synergy World going bankrupt. So it's gift cards are now worthless.

So I dug out my pile of gift cards.

And saw that my Visa gift cards were all expired. I should have paid attention. When I retired I was given several Visa gift cards as a bonus. I find cashing them can be a pain at times. So I just threw them in a desk drawer and forgot about them.

Please do not make my mistake. Check your gift cards.

If you bought the Synergy cards at Costco you can get your money back. I took 22 cards in on Sunday and got my money.

Re: Git cards expiring

Lovestheshores — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:29:00 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
I was reading about Synergy World going bankrupt. So it's gift cards are now worthless.

So I dug out my pile of gift cards.

And saw that my Visa gift cards were all expired. I should have paid attention. When I retired I was given several Visa gift cards as a bonus. I find cashing them can be a pain at times. So I just threw them in a desk drawer and forgot about them.

Please do not make my mistake. Check your gift cards.

Expired Visa gift cards still hold their balance because the funds don't expire. Contact the issuer directly (phone number on the back) to request a replacement card for the remaining balance.

Re: Git cards expiring

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:32:36 GMT

I once gave gift cards to people until I realized some let them expire or lost them.

I never let my gifted gift cards expire. I was quick to use them.

Have never trusted gift cards.

Re: Git cards expiring

LavernLuvsShoes — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:24:40 GMT

@FranandZoe wrote:
... I love gift cards lol - I always use them immediately.

Me too!

I look at them like cash, and can always find something to buy with them.

...And if I can't use them, I'll regift them to someone who can.

Re: Git cards expiring

Group 5 minus 1 — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:07:03 GMT

If I receive a gift card I carry it in my wallet and use it immediately.

Re: Git cards expiring

Carmie — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:22:00 GMT

Yep, that's the reason I don't like gift cards. MILLIONS of dollars go unused because they are lost, forgotten about or they're used, but a small amount of money is still left on them. Who wants to use a gift card with 2.37 left on it?

I have had VISA gift cards expire, especially the ones with a larger original starting amount. Many of those cards will start issusing fees once you use it. The balances will start being reduced little by little every month until nothing is left on it. Checkout the small print.

By federal law, cards must be able to be used for up five years.

I personally had hundreds of dollars in resturant gift cards lost because in one case, the resturant burned down and others went out of business.

I never buy gift cards and ask people not to give any to me. I hate them! They are big money makers for those who issue them.

Re: Git cards expiring

LavernLuvsShoes — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 17:29:38 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
... Who wants to use a gift card with $2.37 left on it?

*Raises hand* - Me!

Guess I'm the Queen of Frugal, because I'll couple the remaining few dollars left with cash or a card, and use every dime that's left.

Re: Git cards expiring

shoptilyadropagain — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:06:45 GMT

@LavernLuvsShoes wrote:
@Carmie wrote:
... Who wants to use a gift card with $2.37 left on it?

*Raises hand* - Me!

Guess I'm the Queen of Frugal, because I'll couple the remaining few dollars left with cash or a card, and use every dime that's left.

Same for me @LavernLuvsShoes !!!!

Re: Git cards expiring

deeva — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:14:47 GMT

That's why I avoid buying gift card unless they're issued by Visa or American Express. And I buy them at my bank where they're stored in their vault.

On the rare occasion that someone gives me a gift card, I use it immediately.

Re: Git cards expiring

drizzellla — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 19:07:48 GMT

@Lovestheshores wrote:
@drizzellla wrote:
I was reading about Synergy World going bankrupt. So it's gift cards are now worthless.

So I dug out my pile of gift cards.

And saw that my Visa gift cards were all expired. I should have paid attention. When I retired I was given several Visa gift cards as a bonus. I find cashing them can be a pain at times. So I just threw them in a desk drawer and forgot about them.

Please do not make my mistake. Check your gift cards.

Expired Visa gift cards still hold their balance because the funds don't expire. Contact the issuer directly (phone number on the back) to request a replacement card for the remaining balance.

Thanks - I will give it a try. But I never heard of the Company that issued it. But noticed the amount of the gift card. So definitely and going to pursue it.

Re: Git cards expiring

drizzellla — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:59:20 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
Yep, that's the reason I don't like gift cards. MILLIONS of dollars go unused because they are lost, forgotten about or they're used, but a small amount of money is still left on them. Who wants to use a gift card with 2.37 left on it?

I have had VISA gift cards expire, especially the ones with a larger original starting amount. Many of those cards will start issusing fees once you use it. The balances will start being reduced little by little every month until nothing is left on it. Checkout the small print.

By federal law, cards must be able to be used for up five years.

I personally had hundreds of dollars in resturant gift cards lost because in one case, the resturant burned down and others went out of business.

I never buy gift cards and ask people not to give any to me. I hate them! They are big money makers for those who issue them.

Yes, Yes, Yes, that happened to me. That is why I first started hating gift cards.

Again it was the gift card from my bonus at work. I tried to pay my bill at Walt Disney World. They asked the amount of the gift card. I told them and it didn't go through. They tried, the manager tried, wouldn't go through. Finally called and found out that the bank started taking out a $.75 service charge. All that wasted time for $.75.

I started throwing all the gift cards in a desk drawer after that. I was never able to use the cards at gas stations or restaurants. And had to check the amount before I tried to use the card. It never seemed easy.

Re: Git cards expiring

millieshops — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 19:44:35 GMT

@FranandZoe Gift cars are like cash in that they earn no interest, so I also use any I get ASAP. Besides, I've seen so many businesses die in my decades of shopping life that I'm not confident they will be useful forever.

Re: Git cards expiring

Mom2Dogs — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 22:36:57 GMT

We have gottten a couple of gift cards lately....very hard to use. Seems as tho they are only allowed in certain places...it is irritating when you go to use one and it is declined, and not because of expiration but becuase that establishment does not take the card...MASTERCARD is the worst.

Re: Git cards expiring

VanSleepy — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:39:47 GMT

If you're an Amazon shopper, you can always load your unused balance (or obviously the whole thing) onto Amazon.

Re: Git cards expiring

Lovestheshores — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:43:10 GMT

@VanSleepy wrote:
If you're an Amazon shopper, you can always load your unused balance (or obviously the whole thing) onto Amazon.

I used to do that a lot with very small balances left on VISA gift cards. However, the last time I tried to load a few very small balances to my Amazon account, there was a $5.00 minimum required. Guess their policy changed.

Re: Git cards expiring

VanSleepy — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 23:58:32 GMT

@Lovestheshores wrote:
@VanSleepy wrote:
If you're an Amazon shopper, you can always load your unused balance (or obviously the whole thing) onto Amazon.
I used to do that a lot with very small balances left on VISA gift cards. However, the last time I tried to load a few very small balances to my Amazon account, there was a $5.00 minimum required. Guess their policy changed.

As soon as I wrote that, I realized I hadn't done it in a while and it could have changed. Thanks for the info.

Re: Git cards expiring

I am still oxox — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:10:45 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
Yep, that's the reason I don't like gift cards. MILLIONS of dollars go unused because they are lost, forgotten about or they're used, but a small amount of money is still left on them. Who wants to use a gift card with 2.37 left on it?

I have had VISA gift cards expire, especially the ones with a larger original starting amount. Many of those cards will start issusing fees once you use it. The balances will start being reduced little by little every month until nothing is left on it. Checkout the small print.

By federal law, cards must be able to be used for up five years.

I personally had hundreds of dollars in resturant gift cards lost because in one case, the resturant burned down and others went out of business.

I never buy gift cards and ask people not to give any to me. I hate them! They are big money makers for those who issue them.

@Carmie I agree with you I do like them either