Unable to Redeem Apple Gift Cards

enkidu79 on 14/02/2025 - 15:10
Last edited 14/02/2025 - 15:16 by 1 other user

Hi All,

I need advice on this, please.

I purchased three $200 AUD Apple gift cards from Coles, but I was unable to redeem any of them. I received the error message: "Can't Redeem Code, the code entered is not valid."

I went back to Coles, but they refused to help, saying that since the receipt shows the cards were approved, they can't do anything and that I need to contact Apple.

I reached out to Apple, and after hours of back and forth—submitting photos of the cards and receipt—they created a case for me. One thing I noticed was that the serial numbers on the cards were different from the serial numbers on the packaging.

A week later, Apple responded with:

"Thanks for contacting Apple. We are unable to resolve the issue with your gift card. Please contact Apple for assistance with any other issues."

I contacted Apple Support again, but they were unable to explain why the cards weren't working and said they couldn't help me. I escalated to a supervisor, but they gave me the same response. I asked them to at least send me an email confirming that they couldn't assist and that there was nothing I could do—but instead, the supervisor hung up on me.

At this point, I don’t know what to do.

My theory: The cards aren’t working because the serial numbers don’t match, meaning Coles may have activated different cards instead of the ones I received.

Has anyone experienced this before? What should I do next?

Financial Apple Gift Card

Related Stores

Coles
Coles

Comments

  • Hybroid on 14/02/2025 - 15:17
    +15

    Happy reading: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/887325

    Regular reminder: Don't buy gift cards. It's not worth the hassle and risk for a measly discount.

    • Duckie2hh on 14/02/2025 - 15:27

      caveat emptor

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 14/02/2025 - 16:26
        +2

        Balance of cards was even emptier.

        • kiitos on 15/02/2025 - 08:07
          +1

          That takes cents, cheers.

  • WookieMonster on 14/02/2025 - 15:23
    +6

    This is a known issue with Apple gift cards, and your theory is most likely correct.

    I talk about this issue in the Gift Card FAQ, and there has been a lot of discussion of this topic in past Apple gift card deals on this website. There have also been two related forum topics (one, two), although those forum topics appear to talk about a slightly different issue with Apple gift cards.

    When you say you went to Coles, did you go back to the store or did you contact Coles Customer Care? If you went back to the store, they may not be willing to help, especially since stores cannot force a gift card to be “deactivated”. On the other hand, if you contact Coles Customer Care, they may be in a better position to help you and push you through the correct process, especially since you are not the first Coles customer to face this issue.

    I am surprised to see that Apple refused to help, because they have been helpful for other people in the past…

    • enkidu79 on 14/02/2025 - 15:53

      I went to the supermarket, I had one of the cards unopened yet too but they werent interested. I have now submitted a request to Coles [email protected]

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 14/02/2025 - 20:39

      I was an Apple Reseller with 2 major retailers, over various times of my life going back to 1991. They were always arrogant.

  • vocadata on 14/02/2025 - 15:24
    +4

    I would contact the Office of Fair Trading in your state to seek assistance. It's not fair for Coles and Apple to brush you off if the purchase is genuine and "not fit for purpose". If you purchased the gift cards with a credit card, you can also raise a case with them to try to get a refund that way.

  • Ynk on 14/02/2025 - 15:31
    +3

    I have bought over 10k worth of Apple gift cards from Coles over the years and never had an issue however experienced my first tampered issue this week. Bought a $200 card from Coles in Sydney - Last 2 digits were scratched off the card and serial numbers didn't match. I've logged the case with Apple and provided all of the photos they requested on Monday but no response as of yet, also called the store to inform them they had tampered cards on the shelf, they couldn't have seemed more disinterested.

    I'll let you know how I go with Apple, I hope they resolve it for me as they should see I've put insane amounts of gift cards through my account without issue.

    • boomramada on 14/02/2025 - 15:42
      +3

      I have bought over 10k worth of Apple gift cards from Coles over the years and never had an issue

      True but this a newly introduced fraud, so-called "Card draining" fraud.

      More info https://www.ice.gov/about-ice/hsi/news/hsi-insider/recognize…

      Avoid using gift cards, not worth the hassle anymore.

      • Ynk on 14/02/2025 - 15:56
        +3

        I'll be switching to buying them digitally so they can't be altered and I'll still receive (a slightly reduced) discount compared to Coles.

        • boomramada on 14/02/2025 - 22:29

          yeah, but there aren't many discounts on digital gift cards other $1 for $20.. from cash rewards or something

    • Ynk on 15/02/2025 - 07:27
      +4

      An update: Apple resolved this for me within 6 days. They provided the correct code for me - I will note that I called them within 20 minutes of purchase/activation so they were able to block the redemption of the actual valid code before the scammer could redeem so that may have helped.

      • Loopholio on 15/02/2025 - 09:40

        Thank you for the update. 👁👁

  • Seraphin7 on 14/02/2025 - 15:52
    +9

    ADAGCHS??

  • PlasmaCatcher on 14/02/2025 - 16:21

    How about raising a credit card payment dispute with bank if paid by credit card.
    And beware of physical gift card tampering before payment.

  • Pelicannn on 14/02/2025 - 16:43
    +1

    If you don’t get anywhere with Coles or Apple, speak to ACCC / State Fair Trading.

    At the end of the day, you purchased the product from Coles, therefore you have a consumer contract of sale between you and them. Apple does seem to help at times in goodwill from other threads posted here, but ultimately, it’s Coles passing the buck here and they (under ACL) would be the ones held responsible as long as you can prove you haven’t done anything dodgy.

    • jv on 14/02/2025 - 16:59

      as long as you can prove you haven’t done anything dodgy.

      How could anyone prove that?

      • Pelicannn on 14/02/2025 - 17:04

        OP says he has one that hasn’t been opened. Pretty easy, open in front of Coles manager or on video.

        • enkidu79 on 14/02/2025 - 17:14
          +2

          I ended up opening it as I need to submit the issue for all cards

      • Loopholio on 15/02/2025 - 09:43

        Innocent until proven guilty. If that's still a thing today.

        • jv on 15/02/2025 - 10:00

          That only applies to crimes.

      • Muppet Detector on 18/02/2025 - 22:15

        Show them my Catholic priest membership card.

  • CurlCurl on 14/02/2025 - 17:23

    Cards where purchased from Coles. It's a Coles problem, not Apple.

  • n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm on 14/02/2025 - 17:39

    same thing happened to me. try redeem them now.
    took over a week for them to get activated.

    this only happened on my recent one. I usually top of once a year.
    it's probably to try to stop fraudsters.

    • enkidu79 on 17/02/2025 - 09:08

      did you have miss matched serial numbers too?

      • n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm on 18/02/2025 - 21:50

        I didn't check. but I went through the same as you, sending apple support proof, then they said case closed.

  • MS Paint on 14/02/2025 - 20:09
    -1

    When will people learn? FFS

  • Wiadro on 14/02/2025 - 20:47

    gift card scams scamming gift card buyers

  • askbargain on 14/02/2025 - 23:55
    +1

    Local store opens and checks serial at purchase

    • Ynk on 15/02/2025 - 07:31
      +1

      As well as checking the serial numbers match unfortunately you now also need to carefully check that the redemption code is 16 digits and not modified. When they removed the last 2 digits on mine it's almost impossible to even see they have been removed, I would especially struggle to check this in a store. Would recommend ordering from online portals or even safer digital delivery until Coles/Apple put in further protections.

  • Joey2scoops on 15/02/2025 - 08:04
    +6

    Bought $2k apple gift cards from Woolies back in December. They had them locked up behind the service desk, no problems with that.

    • Pelicannn on 15/02/2025 - 08:34
      +1

      This is an easy solution imo.

  • wetsandwich on 19/02/2025 - 15:21

    Credit card chargeback. If you haven't got what you paid for, then Coles is going to struggle proving that you did.

  • Skitchcat on 19/02/2025 - 19:04

    Make Apple gift cards payable at the register and a code printed on the receipt, just like if you were purchasing a Telstra, Optus etc phone recharge voucher. This way the code is generated at point of sale and is printed on your docket. Problem Solved? Just don't lose the docket.

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