Morrisons Warning

A question about : Morrisons Warning

I often pick up a gift voucher from Morrisons when I am on my way to B&Q and suchlike. It is on the way, I can pay by Amex and I get money off fuel. Very money saving.

Last weekend, I found a glitch in the system which I was not aware of.

I had done a Homebase reserve and collect online (via topcashback of course) and it was going to cost about Ј100. Morrisons happens to be on the way to Homebase so I popped in, picked up Ј100 of Homebase vouchers and went over to Homebase. Went I went to pay with the Homebase vouchers, the computer said no. There was no spend available on any of the cards.

Homebase said I had to ring the 0845 number on the back of the card to find out what had gone wrong. So I paid by credit card and called in at Morrisons on my way back home.

Morrisons said there was nothing they could do because the till had issued activation receipts for the vouchers, and said I would have to call the 0845 number on the back of the card.

So I ring the 0845 number and they said that there was spend available on the cards. They asked when I had bought them and when I tried to use them and they said It takes 24 hours from activation for the money to appear on the cards.

But it doesn't say this on the card or the activation receipt, and it hasn't done it with other gift cards from Morrisons (this is the first time I have bought Homebase ones).

So if you are buying gift vouchers in Morrisons to spend immediately (and get money off fuel), be aware that the spend might not appear on the card right away (it doesn't for Homebase ones).

Best answers:

• We were going to do the above on a Homebase 15% off weekend, however the checkout assistant at Morrisons was kind enough to point out that the card might not be activated for 24hrs, hence we left the card and went straight to HB as we needed the item. Shame they didn't do the same on your transaction
• Thanks for the warning about this, but could I ask maybe you change the title of your post to say warning or something instead of glitch.
  Glitch means something else (usually good) round these parts.
  BTW the same is true of most of the gift cards sold by Tesco, including their own gift cards. This is especially inconvenient if you return something for a refund onto a gc and intend spending the money that visit. If you tell the SA you intend to spend it today they will often put it on a money card (which is validated immediately) instead.
• This happened to me once and when I got to Homebase the card balance was zero. Staff told me that it could take 24 hours for the balance to show. I had nectar bonus vouchers as well so wanted to use these on particular dates. The sales assistant suggested I buy the goods on a cc and then come back for a refund once the gift card was loaded. I did this but would not recommend it because getting a refund was complicated/long winded for the staff on this occasion because I had 3 for 2 on plants etc.
  I would heed the warning and just know that you cannot guarantee that these gift cards will be loaded. In fact as a rule of thumb leave 24 hours and check at customer services or ring to check balance before leaving home.
  Tabby
• I bought Ј280 worth of Currys vouchers at Morrisons to buy a Laptop. However at the till in Currys I was informed you could only use a maximum of three vouchers at one time. I had 14 Ј20 ones so was told I had to pay the balance Ј220 with cash or card. I was livid and asked where this restriction was listed in the terms and conditions on the cards. I got no reply and the vouchers were accepted after the till was "fixed" to accept all vouchers.
  It was an embarrassing situation and I left the store as quickly as I could. I have contacted both Morrisons and Currys customer service but after 10 days I have yet to receive reply.
  Beware!
• I also had this problem with jd sports vouchers so beware