Jonathan Kamens 86 47
#TechIsShitDispatch
I ordered an electronic restaurant gift card. The order went through #Square, and they supposedly sent it to the recipient's email address.
She claims she never got it, but she's old and tech-challenged so 🤷.
Square did not send me a copy of the card, so I can't resend it to her. They sent me a receipt, but there are no instructions in it for what to do if the card wasn't received.
This is not an accident. If the card is lost the restaurant gets to keep the money!
May 8 at 5:32pmWeb
Show threadUnredacted Epstein files now2d ago
@jik That sucks. About 20% of gift cards are never redeemed, but an issuer would have to be specially scummy not to send the card in the first place.
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 472d ago
@pedrobizbikedu I mean, I think it's entirely possible that they sent it and my Uncle's friend just couldn't find it in her email because she's flaky like that. The slimy part is not providing any instructions to the purchaser for what to do if the recipient says they didn't get the card.
Show threadJohn Deters2d ago
@jik Generally no, the restaurant can't keep the money. Unredeemed gift card values fall into a legal concept called "escheatment", and need to be reported. Funds are usually required to be turned over to the state, depending on the state's laws.
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 471d ago
@targetdrone This is entirely dependent on jurisdiction and is not true for the majority of U.S. states.
Also, even in states where it's true, the restaurant gets to keep and benefit from that money for the time until the escheatment law kicks in.
Also, if the restaurant closes during that time poof the money is gone.
Show threadJonathan Kamens 86 471d ago
@targetdrone Finally, just speculating here but I suspect many non-chain restaurants don't bother to remit unclaimed gift card balances because margins for restaurants are incredibly tight and the state rarely enforces this law against small businesses. For a restaurant, ignoring the law is almost certainly a risk worth taking.
Next time you feel the need to "well, actually" me, please know what you're talking about first. Thanks.
Show threadJohn Deters1d ago
@jik I worked for a large retailer that had to follow escheatment laws very closely. I didn't realize that small businesses skirted those laws as a matter of practice.
So I do know what I'm talking about, just in my scope it was very different.