What a rip-off, after 6 months of being dormant (seriously, aren't most gift certificates/gift cards good for at least a year) the Simon Malls gift card starts dropping $2.50/month with inactivity. What a worthless gift (almost literally, if you wait too long!)

Guess this is the dark side of the gift card culture that we're in.

Something else about gift cards that irks me...you can't get change. If you spend $19.10 of a $20.00 gift card, they won't give you the 90 cents in cash. It gets left on your card, most likely to be eaten by the inactivity fee since I never remember to use the card again when there is only a buck or two left on it.

here is an e-mail I sent to Simons Mall complaining about their giftcard policy

Dear Sir/Madam,

This is the 6th e-mail I sent without any response. Can you at please respond. As far as customer service goes, your company gets "f". My goal is to blog Simons Company to inform as many people as I can about your giftcard policy. I hope the little business I can take away from simons will help you reconsider my request.

original e-mail

Dear Sir/Madam,

Last year my 13 year daughter received a Simon's Mall gift card as a Christmas gift. She did not use her card for over a year. Unfortunately her gift card is now worth .51 cents due to your 2.50 per month administrative fee. Your fee is outrageous. Your grace period is not realistic.

As a frequent Simons Mall shopper, I am requesting you reinstate her card to original amount. Her card number is 9999 9999 9999 9999

Thanks you ,

Robert Fiore

So true. It is a rip-off. The tiny print on the back of the card tells of the $2.50 fee but on the front of the card it says "Good Thru" giving a date until the next year. That is deceptive. The "Good Thru" should be replaced with "See reverse for details"!!
If a class action comes, I with it.

I was given a $100. gift card on Christmas 2004. I had no idea it expired after 14 months. They charge $15.00 additional to re activate it. This is after taking $2.50 a month after 6 months of nonuse.A $100.gift card is now worth $77.50 (not including the $15.fee)
Can they come up with any more outrageous fees and charges. I will no longer shop at their Malls. The gift card is a great idea just don't buy at any Simons Malls or their affiliates.