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Original poster

One4all giftcards are a nightmare

214 replies

MsEmmeline · 27/12/2021 15:55

You can only use them online to pay for something of their value or less.

They're such a PITA - I always end up buying DS's from him and just giving him the £ instead.

OP posts:
Namechangedforspooky · 27/12/2021 15:56

TK maxx are the only place I’ve found to accept them in store with no drama.
I agree they are awful!

falalalalalalalallama · 27/12/2021 16:00

Oh no! We always get them for the teachers at school.

So, do you mean you can't use them towards something more expensive? That's rubbish!

And @Namechangedforspooky are you saying they're hard to use in store?

We get them as they claim to be easy to use everywhere!

Maybe we should just go for M&S vouchers instead next time?

MajesticElephant · 27/12/2021 16:01

I got loads when DS was born and don’t recall any nightmare in using them? I was grateful not to be stuck to one retailer!

Gardeningtipsneeded · 27/12/2021 16:02

Agree! My SIL gives these and I have just have them piling up now. Impossible to use.

HoardingSamphireSaurus · 27/12/2021 16:02

Whoever told you that is lying. First page of their website mentions split payments. DH gets them at work and we always use them towards something. Never had a problem.

LetHimHaveIt · 27/12/2021 16:03

They're utter bullshit. You have to know and thereafter keep track of the precise balance, as shops can't tell you. And if you're wrong - e.g you think there's £25 quid but there's actually £24.79 - it'll decline the whole transaction. I think you can use them for part payment but you have to use them before a debit card. Or after. I forget. Hate 'em. I bet there's thousands in drawers up and down the land, with several quid left on them because people just lost the will.

Fieldings15 · 27/12/2021 16:04

Yes they are so annoying, after something like a year/18 months they start taking 20p off each month. Bad enough, but even more annoying unless you know exactly how much is on the card they won't let you spend it in any shop as they have to key in the exact amount for it to work... Agree that tkmaxx is the best place to spend them!

tectonicplates · 27/12/2021 16:05

Absolute waste of money. I was given one once as a present and there was a whole list of shops you could use it at, but the shop I went to said they'd never heard of it and couldn't accept it. I ended up throwing it away (it was £10) as I just couldn't find a way of spending it. I don't use this word lightly, but I really do think it's bordering on a scam. They must surely know how many people try and fail to use the cards.

tiredanddangerous · 27/12/2021 16:05

We've never had any issues using them in shops. Never used them online though.

Original poster
MsEmmeline · 27/12/2021 16:05

The main problem is that you can't use them as part payment online - I think it's because you enter the details into the credit card bit instead of into the gift card bit, and most retailers aren't set up to accept partial payments using the credit card bit.

I imagine they should be easier to use in person, although one of the posts above suggest otherwise.

/ sticks One4all giftcard in wallet for the rest of time

OP posts:
B1rdinthebush · 27/12/2021 16:06

I got given one through work and converted it online to a gift card for another store (I chose John Lewis). Was able to buy something more than the value of the gift card too.

ProudThrilledHappy · 27/12/2021 16:07

@B1rdinthebush

I got given one through work and converted it online to a gift card for another store (I chose John Lewis). Was able to buy something more than the value of the gift card too.
Thanks for the tip, I have one but couldn’t find anything I wanted to use it for at that value
Original poster
MsEmmeline · 27/12/2021 16:11

I tried to use it as part payment online and the whole thing just hung for ages, then forgot everything that was in my basket.

I hate that their business model involves being so rubbish and difficult to use so that people don't actually use them.

OP posts:
Allthesefolks · 27/12/2021 16:11

You’ve reminded me I still have one from last year, I gave up trying to use it as it was such a flipping nightmare!

stingofthebutterfly · 27/12/2021 16:16

Yep, I've been given a couple that kept hold of for while. When I went to spent them, I found that the balance had decreased due to their 'admin fees', then couldn't find anything less than the value that I actually wanted to buy. As you can't use them for a part purchase, they got wasted. Absolutely scammy imo.

PigeonPigPie · 27/12/2021 16:20

They are the worst!! But DH discovered this year that you can convert them online for a regular gift card at a specified store, he converted to JL card which can then be used online as part payment x

Gardeningtipsneeded · 27/12/2021 16:23

@PigeonPigPie do you have the details for where you can do this?

SilverRingahBells · 27/12/2021 16:24

DS has been given one which says it's "gaming" but not the specific sort of games he wants. Can it be used for other things so I could buy it off him and spend it at John Lewis?

stopringingme · 27/12/2021 16:26

When I have been given one I have bought an M&S gift voucher with it - it is straightforward to do on their website.
There is a number on the card that comes with it that you text and you get a text back with the amount on the card.
I have used one in Boots before.

PigeonPigPie · 27/12/2021 16:29

[quote Gardeningtipsneeded]@PigeonPigPie do you have the details for where you can do this?[/quote]
I think on this section of the website www.one4all.com/egifts

SerendipitySunshine · 27/12/2021 16:29

They are the absolute worst! Lost over £100 on them after DC were born. Got them as gifts, mostly £10 or £20 cards, and kept them to buy bigger sizes and thought that as long as we spent before expiry they'd be ok. All trickled away by 'inactivity fees'.
These monthly charges eat into unspent balances when a card goes unused for a long time – until the balance reaches zero. They were still within expiry but worth nothing. Never again!

Original poster
MsEmmeline · 27/12/2021 16:30

I just looked at their FB page (One4all Gift Card UK) - lots of angry emojis and complaints.

I'm going to try to convert it to a decent giftcard, I'll post if I manage it.

OP posts:
MutheroGod · 27/12/2021 16:30

Couldn't agree more! I was given one last year and hadn't got around to spending it. I was determined to spend it before they started charging me fees. I tried it in lots of big name shops that I thought would accept, Smyths, Matalan, Next, etc and they all said no, they don't take them. As I live in NI there are even less places that take them here. I have often bought them for others before, not realising how hard they are to use, but will never buy one again. I eventually was able to spend online with H Samuel, but as you said, it has to be below or equal to the amount you have to spend and has to be entered as a prepaid credit card. Far too much like hard work for a present!

Longdistance · 27/12/2021 16:34

They are a pain in the bum. I’ve added mine to the app so I know what’s on which card. You can see the balance of each.

HoliHormonalTigerlilly · 27/12/2021 16:38

@B1rdinthebush

I got given one through work and converted it online to a gift card for another store (I chose John Lewis). Was able to buy something more than the value of the gift card too.
Ooo good idea!