The merchant said that the gift cert has been declined, and they'd like me to give them MY credit card number. I contacted the gift certificate company and told them the merchant had not been paid. Gift certificate company said merchant JUST sent in the voucher number and they pay on the 15th or the 30th to the merchant. So the merchant says that I should pay it until the gift certificate company pays them. Would you pay them? The gift cert was from a collegue of mine; who I have informed of the difficulty of this gift certificate. If the gift certificate company doesn't pay the merchant, should I ask her to pay for it since it was supposed to be a gift from her?
Am I at all liable to pay for this "gift"?
2006-12-02 01:01:49 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
telling the merchant to "take a running jump" did make me chuckle, however, it really doesn't answer the question...hhaha!
2006-12-02 01:13:26 · update #1
I explored that idea of "double dipping" later, but the whole idea of paying for something that was a gift threw me off kilter. If indeed they are trying to double dip, they may have just shot themselves in the foot because a full investigation could now take place and they might even get audited!
2006-12-02 01:42:53 · update #2
You didn't tell us how much money we are talking about here, not that it matters a great deal. You took a legitimate gift card to a merchant and tendered it in good faith.. The merchant accepted the gift card as payment.. The problem now, and I really doubt there is a problem, is between the merchant, and the gift card company. Not between you and the merchant..
If the amount of money is substantial, and you have the card number, get a letter from the card company stating that the card is legit, the amount, and the time frame for payment to the merchant. (The merchant know the time frame, he's just trying to double dip.) Also request that they notify you upon payment to the merchant. Keep these documents for YOUR records.
Contact the merchant, in writing, and provide him with the address and phone number for the card company. Do Not provide the merchant with your credit card or other credit info. Tell him you will be glad to testify in court, for him, if he has to file suit against the card company and that you will also provide the card buyers infor to help his suit.. Be firm, advise him that the card is legitimate and you are NOT responsible for collecting on the card. That's his job.
If the amount of money is a small amount, and you don't wish to go through the hassle, then do nothing for now.. The issue will resolve itself in a month or two.
2006-12-02 02:38:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you shouldn't be. If the merchant calls you again, let them know that you spoke with the gift cert company, and you were informed that they (the merchant) had only JUST sent in the voucher for payment, and therefore, it is THEIR problem that they haven't been paid yet. If the gift cert company does not pay the merchant, then the problem is between the gift cert company and the merchant--NOT you. Let them know that if you hear from them again about this issue, then you are going to file a complaint with consumer protection.
2006-12-02 01:14:15 · answer #2 · answered by Jess H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would wait and see if the gift certificate company pays. By accepting the gift certificate, the merchant agreed to abide by whatever terms and conditions might have applied to receive payment. If you had paid by check, that would like saying "i forgot to deposit the check, so come pay me again until the check clears and i will refund your overpayment."
If the gift certificate company is tell you the truth, the merchant will have the money in about two weeks. Problem solved.
2006-12-02 02:16:22 · answer #3 · answered by Carl 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
GET WHAT THE GIFT CARD COMPANY TOLD YOU IN WRITING AND FAX A COPY OF IT TO THE MERCHANT THE MERCHANT MAY BE TRYING TO DOUBLE DIP. THAT MEANS PLAY YOU FOR A FOOL.
2006-12-02 01:30:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell the merchant to take a running jump.
2006-12-02 01:05:34 · answer #5 · answered by daydreamer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell the merchant to go back to China and grow rice !!!!
2006-12-02 02:35:27 · answer #6 · answered by wombat2u2004 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋