You may have received an e-mail like the following this morning:
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Hi all,
I was given some gift tokens for Dundrum Shopping Centre recently and found out some interesting information about their "Schedule of Fees" (yes you read correctly!) for their new "GiftCard" scheme (aka plastic gift token).
Basically when you buy one of these new "GiftCards" you are CHARGED a "MAINTENACE FEE" of EUR3 PER MONTH for the privilege of having the "GiftCard". You are charged this fee every month (its deducted from the money you put on the card), from the second month after the card was purchased and until the card balance reaches ZERO! (Unless you have paid an "INSURANCE FEE" at the time of purchase - whatever next insurance for gift tokens!)
In other words if you bought a card at the beginning of the year for say EUR40 and didn't use it til the end of the year you'd have very little left as most of it would go on the maintenace fee!!
Advertised
If you don't believe me check out http://www.mygiftflexcard.com for their terms and conditions!!
You might want to remember this if you are considering buying one of these cards for Christmas etc., especially as it appears that other stores who operate card based gift tokens e.g. Brown Thomas and Roches Stores do not have such a "MAINTENANCE FEE"!!.
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This is a bit of a rip-off to say the least, so be warned!