Collection possible on a gift card....?

Anonymous · ‎09-27-2010

Not sure if this thread should be in "General credit topics", but what the heck..

I got a $50 Visa gift card from T-mobile a month ago. I have accidentally "overspent" on that card by $4.50, and have just found out that I cannot add money to it so to offset the amount owed. Now that I'm running out of options (customer service is just a machine), do you think that T-mobile will start collection proceedings on that account, and that my credit history will be ruined due to that bleepin' balance?

IOBA · ‎09-27-2010

Wow - good question!

I didn't even know you could go over on a cc gift card. Call regular customer service and say you have questions about purchasing and using gift cards from them. After you get the basic information, address your specific situation.

How'd you find out you overspent by $4.50?

Anonymous · ‎09-27-2010

@Anonymous wrote:
Not sure if this thread should be in "General credit topics", but what the heck..

I got a $50 Visa gift card from T-mobile a month ago. I have accidentally "overspent" on that card by $4.50, and have just found out that I cannot add money to it so to offset the amount owed. Now that I'm running out of options (customer service is just a machine), do you think that T-mobile will start collection proceedings on that account, and that my credit history will be ruined due to that bleepin' balance?

In theory it probably could.

Best to contact the card issuer and find a way to pay them the $4.50.

Anonymous · ‎09-27-2010

@IOBA wrote:
Wow - good question!

I didn't even know you could go over on a cc gift card. Call regular customer service and say you have questions about purchasing and using gift cards from them. After you get the basic information, address your specific situation.

How'd you find out you overspent by $4.50?

That lazy guy inside me finally decided to check the balance online

BTW: Becareful with gift cards, you can easily go over the limit if you use them at fast food chains (in my experience, fast food chains CAN make you go over the limit!).

@Anonymous wrote:
In theory it probably could.

Best to contact the card issuer and find a way to pay them the $4.50.

I'ma raid the nearest Citi branch tomorrow