Simon Gift Card ripoff outrageous HIDDEN FEES - LEGAL CORPORATE THEFT INTERNET
I received a Simon Gift Card last X'Mas which can be used supposedly wherever Visa is accepted. Firstly, you must know the amount of the card before you can use it. So I called their toll free number to verify that my card (which I have not used yet) was for the $50 which was the amount purchased.
To my surprise, the balance on the card was $35.00! When I mentioned I had not used the card yet, they rudely told me that after 6 months, they charge a fee of $2.50 per month - this apparently is for ME to have the priviledge of holding this piece of plastic. I think this is outrageous - I wont even tell my mother that her hard earned $50 is now down to $35.
I WILL tell my mother and everyone else out there - NEVER BUY ANYONE A SIMON GIFT CARD. Oh yes, and one more thing - IF you dont use it within a year (like there might be some $$ left after they siphon it) it will cost you $7.50 to get a new card! THIS IS WHAT IS KNOWN AS LEGAL CORPORATE THEFT! SIMON GIFT CARDS ARE HIGHWAY ROBBERY!
Jan
Worcester, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
9 Updates & Rebuttals
Ed
Madison,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
Welcome to reality
#10UPDATE Employee
Thu, March 16, 2006
I'm not an employee of this spicific company, but I am a customer service rep. at another similar company. I just wanted to say that almost every prepaid debit card has inactivity fees or account maintenence fees. My suggestion is to not wait a year to spend $50. I know that when I get money, I like to spend it.
Shannon
Union,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
What a load of garbage!
#10Consumer Comment
Sat, December 10, 2005
For those who say shame on you to the consumer because of a horrible policy of a company to rip off it's consumers, shame on you! This is plain and simple....if I buy a gift card for someone, the amount that I paid should be the amount that the person has to spend. The consumer should not have to worry about reading fine print to make sure they are not getting ripped off. The fact that there is fine print at all is a clear indication that this IS a rip off. There is no excuse for a company to have to charge a monthly surcharge because the money is not spent right away. Isn't it enough that the company is earning interest off of that money until it is spent? This is a blatant attempt by Simon to take extra money when no additional services have been provided. It is a rip off and I will never buy a gift card from this company having found out about this scam.
Shannon
Union,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
What a load of garbage!
#10Consumer Comment
Sat, December 10, 2005
For those who say shame on you to the consumer because of a horrible policy of a company to rip off it's consumers, shame on you! This is plain and simple....if I buy a gift card for someone, the amount that I paid should be the amount that the person has to spend. The consumer should not have to worry about reading fine print to make sure they are not getting ripped off. The fact that there is fine print at all is a clear indication that this IS a rip off. There is no excuse for a company to have to charge a monthly surcharge because the money is not spent right away. Isn't it enough that the company is earning interest off of that money until it is spent? This is a blatant attempt by Simon to take extra money when no additional services have been provided. It is a rip off and I will never buy a gift card from this company having found out about this scam.
Shannon
Union,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
What a load of garbage!
#10Consumer Comment
Sat, December 10, 2005
For those who say shame on you to the consumer because of a horrible policy of a company to rip off it's consumers, shame on you! This is plain and simple....if I buy a gift card for someone, the amount that I paid should be the amount that the person has to spend. The consumer should not have to worry about reading fine print to make sure they are not getting ripped off. The fact that there is fine print at all is a clear indication that this IS a rip off. There is no excuse for a company to have to charge a monthly surcharge because the money is not spent right away. Isn't it enough that the company is earning interest off of that money until it is spent? This is a blatant attempt by Simon to take extra money when no additional services have been provided. It is a rip off and I will never buy a gift card from this company having found out about this scam.
Shannon
Union,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
What a load of garbage!
#10Consumer Comment
Sat, December 10, 2005
For those who say shame on you to the consumer because of a horrible policy of a company to rip off it's consumers, shame on you! This is plain and simple....if I buy a gift card for someone, the amount that I paid should be the amount that the person has to spend. The consumer should not have to worry about reading fine print to make sure they are not getting ripped off. The fact that there is fine print at all is a clear indication that this IS a rip off. There is no excuse for a company to have to charge a monthly surcharge because the money is not spent right away. Isn't it enough that the company is earning interest off of that money until it is spent? This is a blatant attempt by Simon to take extra money when no additional services have been provided. It is a rip off and I will never buy a gift card from this company having found out about this scam.
Serena
Hollywood,Florida,
U.S.A.
Simon Gift Cards only a ripoff if you don't read the information you're given!!
#10UPDATE Employee
Mon, February 07, 2005
As an employee for Simon GiftCard customer service, I'd like to say to anybody who thinks this is a rip-off: SHAME ON YOU. The information regarding all fees is presented in the terms and conditions both BEFORE you can complete the card order (whether online or in the mall), but is also given to you ON THE BACK OF THE CARDBOARD PAPER YOUR CARD COMES ATTACHED TO!
If you purchased the card on the website or in the mall yourself and are trying to claim Simon ripped you off, shame on you. You didn't read the info given to you before you bought it, so the only person you should be blaming is yourself.
On the other hand, if somebody gave you the card personally or sent it to you in the mail without all the info that comes with it, blame that person. They were given all the information that they - and YOU - need to make sure you can enjoy the card to the fullest. Shame on THEM.
Serena
Hollywood,Florida,
U.S.A.
Simon Gift Cards only a ripoff if you don't read the information you're given!!
#10UPDATE Employee
Mon, February 07, 2005
As an employee for Simon GiftCard customer service, I'd like to say to anybody who thinks this is a rip-off: SHAME ON YOU. The information regarding all fees is presented in the terms and conditions both BEFORE you can complete the card order (whether online or in the mall), but is also given to you ON THE BACK OF THE CARDBOARD PAPER YOUR CARD COMES ATTACHED TO!
If you purchased the card on the website or in the mall yourself and are trying to claim Simon ripped you off, shame on you. You didn't read the info given to you before you bought it, so the only person you should be blaming is yourself.
On the other hand, if somebody gave you the card personally or sent it to you in the mail without all the info that comes with it, blame that person. They were given all the information that they - and YOU - need to make sure you can enjoy the card to the fullest. Shame on THEM.
Bob
Moline,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Your Own Fault
#10Consumer Comment
Sat, January 15, 2005
I like the Simon Gift Cards. They allow you so many options as to where you want to spend them. I think it is your own fault that you didn't use it within 6 months, especially since it can be used ANYWHERE that takes a VISA. You didn't need gas for your car? Or groceries? No excuses.
Joy
Collierville,Tennessee,
U.S.A.
I feel ripped off too!!!
#10Consumer Comment
Mon, December 13, 2004
I had no idea of the hidden charges for this card and gave it to my 14 year old daughter to buy gifts with to my surprise I tolod her it was $50.00 which my gift card said but it only ended up with $25 I had no idea what happened until I opened the web page and say the rip off scam. I was going to give them to all my nieces and nephews for Christmas but will tell them to definately use ASAP so no one can make money off them. Its sad we have to live in a world like this because a lot of children get these cards so they don't have to carry cash. I don't understand why they have to charge for this, does it cost them to hold our cash?