One-for-all b*starding gift cards!

[PMcGintysGoat]

Am I the only one who hates these?

Unless I'm missing something you're basically committed to using them in a shop because they're useless online. And at the moment it's not possible to go to the sort of shops you'd want to spend it in.

You can only spend the exact amount or less - you can't use it as part payment. So if you have a £15 card you need to spend not more than £15 in one transaction. Which is fine unless there's a minimum order for free delivery and you want to order more things from that supplier anyway.

If you have a higher value one you end up losing some of it because if you want to buy something for £45 and the voucher is for £50 that leaves you with £5 that must be used in a single transaction I.e. useless. But if there was something you liked for £6 that's no use either because that takes you over the total amount and you can't use in part payment.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I've been trying to spend the bloody things for an hour now without success. If you don't use within 18 months they start charging you every month.

Are there any tricks to using these? I tried to buy an M&S voucher with it but that didn't work either.

lubaluca

That's where most of mine have come from too.

And it looks like you can print off the M&S voucher for use in store. Game-changer!

I hate them. I get them all the time. I use them all the time. Unless the rules have changed I use them to buy something for Less value and keep a note on the back of how much is left. I’ve used 3 cards to pay for one item. Granted it took a while as staff are not trained to use them but with perseverance it’s doable- I always ask for a supervisor or manager unless till person can confirm they know how to use the cards.

laurendelight

You can use for part payment in shops, though it's a pain. You can't use for part payment online which with everything else going on is my preferred way of shopping.

I have just ordered an M&S e-gift card with one I have had hanging about for a year - thank you OP !!

I think there is another on the way, but delayed by Royal Mail so will do the same with that one.

You can check your balance by texting My balance and the long number to 57887 (instructions are on the cardboard sleeve it comes with) i

@PMcGintysGoat thank you, very helpful