Cracker Barrel Gift card remainder funds gone!

[Ty1on]

It is possible that the tip was automatically added to the bill since you had such a larger party? Usually automatically added with a party of 8 or more.

This is exactly what happened. If you are going to leave cash tips, ask the waiter, and manager if necessary, to remove the large party service charge in lieu of equal or greater cash tips, or better yet have them apply the cash to your check before tendering the gift card.

 

[BivDog]

Had a $50 Cracker Barrel gift card that had a remaining balance of $11.85 on it. Went to use remaining $11.85 and they said the balance was zero:0! We never go to Cracker Barrel but decided to go yesterday to use the remaining balance. Has this ever happened to you???

One of my co-workers told me a story about how he got a Home Depot gift card that his son gave him for Christmas and when he went into the store to use it they told him there wasn't any money on it. Allegedly after some research with the people at the store there was a criminal enterprise which was stealing the balances of the cards. BTW, I had something like this happen to me (THD card from my Aunt) and my assumption was that she didn't put money on the card. If the money just disappears like this while it's possible that *fees* uses all the remaining credit it wouldn't surprise me if it was stolen either.

 

[dixie]

Yes, I am beginning to think there is some type of theft of remaining balances on Gift Cards. My husband and I discussed other cards with balances that were zero when we used them. That is why we started writing the balance on the cards. Which we did on the Cracker Barrel card, but somehow it was used...:/!

 

[rickandcindy23]

This is exactly what happened. If you are going to leave cash tips, ask the waiter, and manager if necessary, to remove the large party service charge in lieu of equal or greater cash tips, or better yet have them apply the cash to your check before tendering the gift card.

I have the receipt in my possession, and the charge is not on the bill. The server just took the money, basically stole it. The Outback near our house doesn't have a policy of adding the tip, and if they did, it would be on the bill. Believe me, it's not on the bill, and they have no right to charge something not disclosed on the bill.

 

[dioxide45]

I have the receipt in my possession, and the charge is not on the bill. The server just took the money, basically stole it. The Outback near our house doesn't have a policy of adding the tip, and if they did, it would be on the bill. Believe me, it's not on the bill, and they have no right to charge something not disclosed on the bill.

You should be able to look up the balance online at https://www.outback.com/gift-cards. It will show you the history and show you what date the funds were used. If it was the same date as the restaurant food purchase, it would lead to the server taking a bigger cut than you authorized. I just checked the balance of the card we used there the other day. It shows the initial balance loaded back in December. It then showed the actual food charge on 3/3 and then the tip charge listed separately on 3/3.

 

[dougp26364]

One thing I know for certain. If I have a gift card, I'm using it all in one shot.

 

[Maple_Leaf]

Yes, I am beginning to think there is some type of theft of remaining balances on Gift Cards. My husband and I discussed other cards with balances that were zero when we used them. That is why we started writing the balance on the cards. Which we did on the Cracker Barrel card, but somehow it was used...:/!

You may have been had by the old switcheroo. They have zero balance cards by the register. They charge your card and see it has a remaining balance, then they keep your card and return to you a zero balance card. You write $11.85 on the zero balance card and leave, only to find next time it has a zero balance. If you register the card with the restaurant they can't get away with the old switcheroo but that may open you up to other risks, especially if you tie the gift card to another account in order to recharge the gift card.

 

[dixie]

Just received this from Cracker Barrel corporate...
"The card was used last in Wisconsin. The customer service agent said he did not know how this happened but it does happen and they are trying to take steps to prevent it from happening in the future."The card was in Texas where we live. So be very wary about your gift cards. Call Corporate if you feel your card was violated. They should be able to track the useage....!

 

[rickandcindy23]

You should be able to look up the balance online at https://www.outback.com/gift-cards. It will show you the history and show you what date the funds were used. If it was the same date as the restaurant food purchase, it would lead to the server taking a bigger cut than you authorized. I just checked the balance of the card we used there the other day. It shows the initial balance loaded back in December. It then showed the actual food charge on 3/3 and then the tip charge listed separately on 3/3.

Exactly how we knew he took the money. We checked online and saw the money subtracted from our balance, and it did happen that night. He stole our money.