Restaurant Choice Card Has Stopped Working Even Though It Has $150+ Left on It

dwarves on 11/08/2024 - 10:50
Last edited 11/08/2024 - 18:31 by 1 other user

This morning I tried to use an RC card at the coffee shop I go to every day. I keep close track of the card's balance. It is over $150. But it declined a $5 charge.

So, I have gone to their site and the site says:

This site is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance. Please try back soon!

There is no timeframe given, as usually occurs when sites are taken down temporarily. And that has me wondering whether perhaps there's a chance that RC has gone bust.

Anyone else have trouble using an RC card today? Or alternatively, anyone successfully used an RC card today?

EDIT: Balance check website is back up, so it's probably just a temporary block on my card

Food & Grocery Blackhawk Network (Australia) Gift Card VISA

Related Stores

The Restaurant Choice
The Restaurant Choice

Comments

  • holdenmg on 11/08/2024 - 11:11

    Call 1800 767 066
    Agent Support hours
    Monday-Sunday
    9am-10pm AEST

    • dwarves on 11/08/2024 - 11:21

      thanks

  • Nillionaire on 11/08/2024 - 11:15

    A lot of these multi store/restaurant gift cards have always felt like red flag to me.

    • dwarves on 11/08/2024 - 11:24
      +1

      Yeah, agreed, and RC especially. I think maybe the first discount I took up with them was 15%, maybe even 20%?? I bought small though, because I was concerned about counterparty risk. Like, how does this business make money?? But my purchases worked, and since then I've bought maybe $12k of cards and never had an issue. Fortunately if today happens to be the death day, I'm literally down to $150 on my last $5k card purchase, so if I lose that I'm still way ahead.

  • Neoika on 11/08/2024 - 11:28
    -1

    Click the Check balance option that redirect to the generic Activ VISA balance check. It just worked for me. You can check a different card to see whether it works or not.

    If it doesn't work for you, your card has been automatically blocked for suspicious activities and you have to contact CS to verify your detail before being issued a replacement card. I have been caught in the situation for a few times.

    • dwarves on 11/08/2024 - 11:31

      Thanks, funny enough, the site I linked in my post is now working for me. It has confirmed the balance I knew I had, so yeah, I'm now on the phone to them.

      I have had a card blocked for suspicious activity before - I have no idea why; the transaction that was supposedly flagged was very vanilla.

      Cheers

  • cloudy on 11/08/2024 - 14:21

    Try using it at a fast food place, maybe the cafe card machine isn't setup properly.

    • dwarves on 11/08/2024 - 15:00

      RC say that's probably what's happened - the cafe has done something with their terminal which currently means I can't use RC cards there. RC say there definitely isn't a block on my RC card.

  • dinted on 11/08/2024 - 16:44
    +1

    Similar issue at Grill'd yesterday, not sure why

  • Slippery Otter on 11/08/2024 - 17:51

    OMG I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE!! Stopped working at my cafe, Ace Acai and another place.

    But it did work at a Pub in Thornton last night. It could be issue with Square.

    • Poor Ass on 22/08/2024 - 16:41

      yes I've used this card before with Square but then recently Square stopped accepting….the MCC stayed same though

      but then I used TCN restaurant and it worked at the same place

  • Jstrrrr on 17/08/2024 - 10:42
    -1

    Restaurant Choice gift cards seem to be VERY VERY dodgy!

    The only time I've bought them was Jan 2023 - following an OZ bargain alert on FB points x20.

    Today, I checked 5 cards - ALL HAVE DIFFERENT EXPIRY DATES ON THEM! Two have already expired! 1 expires 10/24, 1 expire 2/25, another 7/25.

    They all should have the same expiry date! Which should be 3 years after purchase (from Coles). So should all be Jan 2026!

    What do I do…. I can try to use up the 3 remaining cards quickly, no problem. But two have already expired after just 1.5 years!

    • dwarves on 17/08/2024 - 12:04

      Yep saw your post. Annoying for sure. But I should think if you call them, they will be able to fix it pretty easily.

  • Poor Ass on 21/08/2024 - 12:24

    Mine declined today too

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