Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Panicking... can a tesco gift card be traced?

44 replies

Sunsetblv · 06/12/2023 19:07

I am panicking as was given £100 tesco gift cards by MIL with instructions not to spend until after Christmas (they were my Christmas present). But I have used them today as we are so strapped, I used them to buy groceries and washing powder etc as we are struggling so much. Is there any way she can find out? Will she get a notification to say the gift cards have been used? I'm really panicking as I don't want to upset her and I'm worried she will get a notification which shows I've spent them before Christmas. Anyone know how tesco gift works and if they're tracable etc? Thanks v much!

OP posts:
AhBiscuits · 06/12/2023 19:08

She will never be able to find out.

TomatoSandwiches · 06/12/2023 19:09

No, nothing like that.

Nestnearlyempty · 06/12/2023 19:09

No, they won’t be traced. Don’t worry.

Gt86 · 06/12/2023 19:11

M

Fulshaw · 06/12/2023 19:12

No. You don’t give your details when you purchase a gift card so how would they be able to notify her?

Sorry to hear you are struggling

Summerhillsquare · 06/12/2023 19:12

No, but why hide it? Loved ones might want to know you are struggling so they can help.

meatbaseddessert · 06/12/2023 19:12

She's not going to get a notification as far as I can see. If she's got the card details then she could log on and see what the balance is.

Even if she did do that (which would be a bit weird) just style it out and say you went shopping and forgot your payment card but had these in your wallet so used them. Don't worry you bought new ones to use after Xmas.

Who buys tesco gift cards as an Xmas present anyway?

Ohmylovejune · 06/12/2023 19:14

No, they can't be traced.

Just be ready with an answer to "what did you treat yourself to" in the new year.

I'm.sorry you are struggling.

Theredfoxfliesatmidnight · 06/12/2023 19:14

No, she can't. It's not a card that's in any way linked to her account, she will never know I promise.

Unless she's an absolute witch I'm sure she'd want you to use it if you needed it anyway. Sorry to hear things are hard

Original poster
Sunsetblv · 06/12/2023 19:16

Thanks everyone! Not sure how to reply directly but I wondered if she bought them online then she may get notification to her email? I don't want to worry anyone with how much we are struggling and I know there is always others who are worse off. MIL is not mobile so does most shopping online and expect she thought you can buy everything at tesco! Or maybe she didn't buy them online, no idea! Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Theredfoxfliesatmidnight · 06/12/2023 19:17

Buying a retailer gift card (eg from tesco) is like buying a lottery ticket as a gift, the buyer can absolutely not see the balance / user code of the card. The system would be open to so much fraud if that was the case. She categorically cannot see it.

PinkFrogss · 06/12/2023 19:17

No of course they can’t be traced, I’m sure if she was that fussed about you only using it after Christmas she wouldn’t have given it so early.

If she asks after Christmas what you spent it on just make it up.

Original poster
Sunsetblv · 06/12/2023 19:18

Thanks for the reassurance, I just had a sudden panic as I paid that it would ping a notification to her and she'd be disappointed/ cross I'd spent it before Christmas against her wishes... stupid I know!

OP posts:
Theredfoxfliesatmidnight · 06/12/2023 19:19

Not stupid at all! But you can put your mind at rest.

AyCaray · 06/12/2023 19:19

Can't be traced but maybe you should be honest and tell her you had to use it as you are struggling. She may eventually ask you what you bought with it and you will just feel bad if you feel you need to lie.

ActDottie · 06/12/2023 19:44

No she won’t know. Also you’d hope if she did find out she would understand or is she that bad a person?

It was silly for her to give it to you before Christmas anyway if she was so adamant she didn’t want you to spend it yet.

Dwhat123 · 06/12/2023 19:59

Did you have a physical card as the gift card? If so, there is a PIN that needs to be scratched off. Without this, you cannot check the balance on the card.

tachycardigan · 06/12/2023 20:02

She can check the balance of the gift card but only if she noted the card number and the PIN number before she gave it to you. I assume the PIN number was hidden? If yes, she doesn’t know the PIN number so can’t track it.

https://www.tescogiftcards.com/balance-check

Gift Card Balance Check | Buy digital gift cards online from Tesco

https://www.tescogiftcards.com/balance-check

Fieldofbrokenpromises · 06/12/2023 20:08

Gt86 · 06/12/2023 19:11

M

Edited

?

Original poster
Sunsetblv · 06/12/2023 20:23

Thank you! I didn't notice any pin on them, I just scanned the bar code on it to pay. It did have a bit which said scratch here but I didn't scratch it as I scanned them.

OP posts:
LakeTiticaca · 06/12/2023 20:25

No it's not traceable. You're in the clear 😉

Headshoulderscheeseontoast · 06/12/2023 20:34

Gifts shouldn't have conditions attached to them. Once it's given to the recipient it's theirs to do whatever they want with!

tachycardigan · 06/12/2023 20:36

Sunsetblv · 06/12/2023 20:23

Thank you! I didn't notice any pin on them, I just scanned the bar code on it to pay. It did have a bit which said scratch here but I didn't scratch it as I scanned them.

If it was unscratched then she doesn’t have the PIN and can’t check the balance.

notacooldad · 06/12/2023 20:48

I’m sure if she was that fussed about you only using it after Christmas she wouldn’t have given it so early.
There's no need for that.
Why find a way of putting someone down. 🤷‍♀️

Changednayme · 06/12/2023 20:53

If she has the numbers on it she can search up on a website what the balance on the card is

Swipe left for the next trending thread