First, I would like to thank the scum of the earth that took the gift card, meant for a 4 year old child, and used it to purchase gas. May you be inflicted with boils and all sorts of nasty little critters for the rest of your life.

So I sent a gift card to a child for Christmas, from Walmart.com. Diligently, I tracked the item, as I wanted to make sure they received the card on time for Christmas. But as the deadline passed, and an unexpected snow storm moved in the area, I gave it a few days just to be sure.

So I decided that since as of today, the gift card did not arrive to the intended recipient, I would contact customer service to find out what happened.

Here is what I was told, On December 21, the gift card was used to purchase gas (yes, you can purchase gas using a walmart gift card). There was only a $14.00 balance left on the card. Since I am certain the 4 year-old did not recieve the card, and does not drive a vehicle, I asked if they would cancel the remaining balance.

But here's the thing, regardless if they did not receive the card, I cannot receive a refund for the entire balance and must dispute the charge with my credit card company or in this case, my credit union since I used my bank card to make the purchase.

So, armed with that information, I try to contact my credit union, only to get the endless ring on the other end without the benefit of being told that either a) the office is closed, or b) please hang up and don't ever try to call again.

So what is the moral of the story?

1) Do not wait, regardless of the circumstance, if on the day the person does not receive the card, contact customer service right away.

2) Do not assume that Christmas brings out the best in people. We live in a world with some very bad, selfish, and disgusting people.

3) Chuck it off to experience.

Your giving a gift card to "a child". Hummm......
Personly I like cold hard ca$h, gift cards have to many strings.
That sucks it happend, maybe you should send coal next time and they will get that instead!
OK now lets see you smile, there you go.....!

Sucks for u, but mail gets mixed up all the time.
Better luck next year
Btw i need funds for my new video card.....

well thats just wrong,they will get whats coming 2 them for that 1.

sad world

Thanks guys. I was really angry about this. I tried to budget very carefully for gifts and I figured, Christmas is for kids, so I would take care of the kids before anyone first. For someone to do this, is very disturbing. But I know it happens. I really don't wish harm on the person that did it - well at first I wanted them to suffer miserably, but you wonder sometimes what possesses a person to stoop so low.

Yes Luke, I think kids like it when they can go pick out something, so I decided a gift card was a great idea. I hate to pick out a gift for a child and them not like it. Even though my toy of preference is some sort of Hot Wheels or Action figure, but you never know if they have it already.

Skinman, it is possible it was delivered to wrong address. Unfortunately for the recipient, that person decided to be scrooge and not be honest and deliver it to where it needed to go.

But, I'm a true believer that what goes around comes around.