American Express Gift Card

[the coolest person everr]

so my friend gave me a aegc for my graduation and i want to buy something online...but when i do it says they cant reconize the card information and i need to register or acctivate it online...i went to the gift card webpage but didnt see any link or anything about registering it. visa's gift card thing does but can someone help me because i dont know if i just didnt see it or what. please comment!

[Marissa]

did you activate it in the beginning? sometimes they need to be activated.

[Caideenah]

=.= they said they went to the site and looked but could not find a link.

I had the same problem. Where's the link to register the card online???! Can American express gift cards even be registered for online use?

[BPed]

Amex Gift Cards don't need to be activated or registered. They come ready to use. If a website is giving some message that the card needs to be activated then the website is making a mistake. Call the phone# on the back of your gift card for additioal help.

[tom]

call 877-AXP-GIFT and wait until they tell you to press 3 for questions about a declined purchase and it will go to a representative then ask about registering

[Matt]

does that really work tom? i need to buy somthing online and not sure to buy one..

[Dennis]

Matt wrote:

does that really work tom? i need to buy somthing online and not sure to buy one..

I just did it today and yes, it does work.

[Sammi Franklin]

Why can't they let me do it online? Never had a gift that was so much hassle before I could use it. They should warn people before buying an American Express gift card about the hassle.

[Sammi Franklin]

Visa giftcards can be registered online. When is American Express going to come in the 21st century? Never had a gift that was so much work before I could use it.:(:(:(:(:

[Greg C]

BPed wrote:

Amex Gift Cards don't need to be activated or registered. They come ready to use. If a website is giving some message that the card needs to be activated then the website is making a mistake. Call the phone# on the back of your gift card for additioal help.

==========
Good post, as are most replies. Just to be clear - as you said, activation is not necessary. But you CAN register a gift card at www.americanexpress.com/gift . This does 2 things for you (if either matters to the bearer of the card).

1. if the card is lost or stolen (and the thief hasn't already used it) you can call and cancel the gift card. They will send you a new one with the current balance.
2. this allows a person to also use the card to make web purchases

These benefits were given to me by a cust svc rep at AMEX Gift Cards - if it is incorrect it is because the agent didn't know what they are talking about. I DO know that you can go to the above URL to check the balance left on the card.