American Express Gift Card

[atad6]

I guess this might be a bit of an unusual question but I haven't been able to find much information on the subject. I recently received an American Express Gift Card. Towards the end of using it I had a few dollars left and decided to buy a few apps on itunes. I went past the available balance on the card thinking it would get declined but apparently itunes doesn't pre-authorize transactions. When I went to check on the balance of the card it came up as negative. I know it's an American Express card but I didn't realize gift cards could have a negative balance.

Doing some searching I couldn't find similar results but I did find the terms of service for gift cards listing on their site and they have a department where apparently you have to mail a check to pay for overdrawn gift cards?

My name isn't on/associated with the card. Are they really going to send me a bill for a gift card. My information associated with my itunes account is tied to the purchase but the card isn't mine in the sense that it's just a gift card.

I'm confused

 

[aristobrat]

Wonder if they'd revoke the license for your purchased music if you didn't square up with them? (i.e. make your music non-playable) Anything like that in the ToS?

 

[Rapmastac1]

This happens with my re-fillable VISA card (very similar to the card you have, as is labeled as re-fillable gift card). You will not receive a notice from them saying you have a negative balance, you will still be able to play all of your music and videos bought from iTunes. But you will not be able to buy new music or videos through the iTunes store. It is a negative balance on the iTunes Store, not the card.

So just buy a gift card for the iTunes Store and when you buy something again, a message will come up saying you have a neg balance and to choose a way to pay it up.

 

[g4cubed]

You just have a negative balance due on your account. It will need to be paid before being allowed to purchase anymore.

 

[devilot]

Call AmEx.

There should be a 1-800 number associated with that gift card. Use it.


Similar thing happened to me when I used an AmEx GC and I called in. They must be used to this sort of thing. The CS rep had me cancel that first transaction (or maybe it never went through properly) and then added an extra dollar or two to cover the pre-authorization fees and I tried the purchase again.

I'm not sure what else you can do, but see if AmEx will work some magic for you.

 

[tyrocks00]

omg i hate those gift cards...because you can ONLY spend the exact amount on the card...like lets say you want something that costs $55 and your gift is only for $50 you cant use another credit card or cash for the difference..i hate them

 

[Rapmastac1]

About the "not being able to pay the difference" comment above. Maybe the cashier doesn't know what he/she is doing but you can pay the balance off easy. You just pay with the card (you have to know the amount) and then pay cash for the rest. I have had a few of those come by where I work and it is an easy transaction.

If they are telling you they can't either they don't know how, or they cannot spread payments out through different methods. In that case, take your business to another store that will allow you to do so.