eBay is the Gift Card Scammer

[57h712]

After discovering that eBay has frozen the $100 gift card I bought, claiming it was frozen due to potential fraud, I have spent nearly a month sending documents, copies (receipts, notes, images of the card) and still eBay has not activated my card.

eBay customer service sees the $100 balance and regardless what I send to prove that eBay is in the wrong, the card remains frozen and unusable.

bottom line… I bought the card in good faith that my money would be safe. It is eBay who made the invalid decision to freeze the card and withhold MY MONEY, and essentially steal from me and leaving me with no recourse short of launching an awareness campaign to warn others of EBAYS unscrupulous practices.

WARNING-AVOID PURCHASING EBAY GIFT CARDS 

[mtgraves7984]

You know, I used to keep eBay Gift Cards on my Christmas 'Wishlist'. I've stopped that. Can't say just why, though... 😐

[kensgiftshop]

Ebay doesn't activate the gift cards, the store you buy them from has to activate the card.

I avoid buying any gift cards.

[redmodelt]

Have you tried calling the number on back of card and asking them? As said above, the store you bought it from would be the ones to activated it, not eBay. If the store did not activate it, nothing eBay could do about it. 

[fab_finds4u]

eBay doesn't activate cards. The store you purchased it from does however it can take up to 4 hrs after purchasing them to become activated. If you try and use them too soon they won't  work. If you call eBay that might cause further delays. If you call eBay from a number you found on the Internet you could be speaking to a scam site who stole your card if you gave them the code.

[57h712]

The funds are on the card account, eBay confirmed that.  I was told by eBay that the card was frozen as suspected fraud.  Apparently people use the cards for malicious purposes?

regardless, after sending a copy of the receipt, along with a handwritten note as requested, and a photo of the card and even ID. eBay simply sends another automated reply denying the unfreeze of the card.

live agents have taken the info multiple times but nothing gets resolved. The bottom line is that I bought the card in good faith and for whatever erroneous reason eBay flagged it as potential fraud, as a consumer there seems to be no remedy or recourse.  

even the eBay terms and conditions make it clear that eBay can do this at their discretion and are not liable even if their mistake results in financial or material loss to the customer.

i don’t expect to even see the $100 I’ve now lost. But, most definitely I would advise anyone against buying any eBay branded gift card. Or, do so at your own risk

[ms.rodriguez*]

Why don't you try contacting Ebay on Facebook. The staff there is knowledgeable and speaks English.  Customer service reads from scripts and will tell a caller anything just to get them off the phone.  When you contact ebay via Facebook, you have to message Ebay through Messenger. The conversation will be private. None of your relatives or friends on Facebook will know that you have reached out to Ebay.  Goodluck.