I must be generating a massive electrostatic charge because I seem to be attracting a lot of Prezzy Cards as gifts and supplements to purchases.

They seem really useful but I find them a real PITA to use if anything goes wrong.

Some issues:

• Retail staff are usually no help and sometimes actively discourage use of the cards. Most retail staff don't know how to use them so if you forget which buttons to push on the terminal (try "Credit" account then "Enter"/green button for no PIN) then they are no help. Warehouse Stationery staff told me that they don't accept them - I don't know if that is right but it did get declined.
• Lack of informative error messages. For example, a declined message at a retailer POS terminal doesn't tell you why. I got the same message with a locked card as with an unlocked card with insufficient balance.
• Card not unlocked. Many of them sent by mail have to be unlocked.
• Card balance forgotten. Go to website and logon to account. Register card with account. If you don't already have an account then provide a lot of information to register.

Honestly, I don't see why I should have to provide all my personal information just to get a card balance for a card that someone else gives to me.

My tip is to use them quickly and, if not used immediately, write the balance in permanent marker on the face of the card.

Anyone else got any useful tips?