Many of these scam sites look like they’re affiliated with American Express, but if you check the navigation bar, the website address will start with a prefix like “www279” or some other variation. This should be an immediate red flag. You can also go directly to www. balance. amexgiftcard. com, which is the correct page run by American Express. Keep in mind that if you make any mistakes when typing in the address, you could be taken to a scam site.
“Gift Cards” is the second option on the list.
The “Check Balance” tab is between the “Gift Ideas” tab and the “Login” tab.
You can also add your email address before you click “Sign In” if you want to create an Amex account. This is optional, so you can leave the field blank if you want to.
You may need to ask the cashier to enter the card information manually if there seems to be a problem with the card reader.
You can usually use cash, a debit card, or a credit card to pay the remaining balance at the register.
If you have to return an item, you’ll need to contact the merchant directly to see if there is an alternative solution.
Only use regular debit or credit cards for deposits and reservations. This includes hotel reservations, car rentals, or another kind of transaction in which you must provide a lump sum of money up front to be refunded later.
Online merchants typically aren’t set up to do split payment transactions, which is why the card will be declined. You may be able to call the merchant directly and do a split payment over the phone to complete your purchase, but it depends on the merchant.
If you’re shipping the items directly to someone else, enter their shipping address instead of yours. This shouldn’t cause any issue, because the gift card is not registered to your home address.
