What is a gift card?¶

A gift card is prepaid value issued for use with a retailer, platform, merchant group or payment network. Its purchaser, holder and redeemer can all be different people.

Value is carried by an instrument or code¶

Physical and digital cards may use a number, barcode, QR code, PIN, claim code or linked account. They can hold a fixed or reloadable balance. A transferable code may be copied or sent without the physical card moving.

Provider records can include purchase and payment, activation, identifier, balance history, account linkage, delivery and redemption. A zero balance does not remove the value of that history.

Trace each lifecycle event¶

Preserve the complete identifier, packaging, receipt, delivery message and account context without unnecessarily revealing or redeeming unused value. Reconcile issuer records with retailer, bank, card, communications and delivery or collection evidence.

State separately what proves purchase, activation, possession, transfer and redemption.