• Selling your gift cards is a five step process...

• Buying a discounted gift card is easy

• How long will it take to receive the money when I sell my gift card?

  We are currently paying within 20 days following receipt of your gift card, though it can be as quick as 7 days, or longer than 20 days

  We validate every card we receive, and since 1st January 2018, validation is often not complete until 2 weeks after the card has been purchased by a buyer. We call the two week period after purchase the quarantine period.

  • e-gifts, or gift cards where the PIN has been revealed and can be spent online: these are not paid out until 2 weeks after the card has been purchased.
  • iTunes cards - regardless of whether the code has been revealed, these are also not paid out until 2 weeks after purchase. We carry out extra checks if the code has been revealed.
  • Plastic cards where the PIN has not been revealed. We will pay these 2 days after validation provided we have been able to complete anti-fraud checks. If we can't complete these checks then payment will take longer. We may ask for proof of billing address through photo of drivers licence or photo of passport and utility bill.

  The card does not go on sale until it has passed the first validation stage, after which it goes into 'pending'. The following things affect how quickly we can validate the card:

  • You must have confirmed your email address and mobile phone.
  • All details must be correct including card type, value and expiry date.
  • If you included a receipt it can help. This is especially useful to prove expiry dates.
  • Some cards require that we visit the shop to validate which can take a week.
  • If we need to contact you, please respond quickly.
  • PayPal payments add a step which can take a little longer.

  We reserve the right to take up to three weeks to validate a card prior to the quarantine period; this means we will attempt to validate a card for up to three weeks before we send it back to you. The maximum time to complete payment could be 5 weeks after receipt.

  How can I find the correct balance of my unwanted gift card without scratching off the PIN?

  Cards with the PIN intact can be paid the most quickly. We often sell cards where the PIN is revealed, and we understand that you may have revealed the PIN during use or to make a balance enquiry. When you enquire on the balance of your gift card, these actions can avoid revealing the PIN:

  • Phoning etc
  • Going into the store
  • Some online balance checkers do not require the PIN.

  For more information see clause 25 Payment for your Items in Terms & Conditions

• What is the safest way to send a Gift Card to Cardyard?

  Use a postage stamp, and write your return address on the envelope. If Royal Mail have a problem delivering your item to us, they rely on the return address to get the item safely back to you. It also really helps if you write the send code (also called 'order code') on the envelope too.

  Use a sturdy envelope. Some people use a bit of card or some extra paper so there's no movement inside the envelope, but please don't place sellotape over the card as the residue is hard to remove . Alternatively simply request one of our sturdy envelopes and we'll send one right over, though you will have to choose and affix your own postage

  We've had very good success rate of letters and cards sent to us. However, there is always a (very small) risk when using the post and you have to take responsibility for choosing the postage. To avoid letters being held by Royal Mail, use a large letter stamp, just incase it is thicker than 5mm which can happen if the contents move. If you want complete peace of mind, use Royal Mail special delivery which will refund you the value of the cards if they don't arrive. The other Royal Mail service that some people choose is signed-for and this provides proof of hand delivery. Whatever you do, don't forget to write your return address on the envelope.

  We have a PO Box dedicated to gift cards which separates them from other company mail. If you prefer to send your cards to our head office at 6 Lyndhurst Road, this is possible though we recommend sending to the PO Box. The PO Box address to send gift cards is:

  Cardyard
  PO Box 842
  EXETER
  EX1 9WZ

  Don't forget to include your send code (7 character code specific to your package). We recommend writing this on the outside of the envelope. That way, if Royal Mail hold your package for any reason, they will tell us the code so we can contact you.

• Will you accept and validate my gift card?

  For us to accept your gift card, as a minimum:

  • It must match the description, and in particular it must be the same type. For example, we don't accept transcribed codes. Some people type out the code from a card and send it to us as an email gift card. We wouldn't accept that; instead physical gift cards should be posted to us.
  • It must be original: If you are sending us an email gift card, you must forward on the original email, and it must show the person or company that originally sent it. We protect the identity of our customers and will not send any personal detail to another customer, but we must see the original email.
  • It must be complete: Missing, incomplete or invalid codes will lead to cards being marked as invalid. Sometimes we are sent a link to a website to retrieve a card which is good, but if the link requires a form to be completed and an email to be retrieved, we will not be able to process it, so make sure its simple and clear.
  • It must be intact: We cannot accept cards that have been tampered with. iTunes cards must have their redeem codes hidden under the original scratch-off panel; we will accept iTunes cards where the redeem code is revealed but we will not pay you until two weeks after they have sold. We will accept photos of iTunes cards where the codes have been revealed rather than sending them to us, but it could take a month before you get your money.
  • It mustn't be a refund card. Refund and return cards are non-transferrable and we have an agreement with the shops that we won't take them.
  • Its value cannot be over £250 unless you have obtained our agreement.
  • The value of all the cards & vouchers you sell to us in one go (package) cannot be over £500* unless you have obtained our agreement.
  • You cannot sell us more than £1,000* worth of cards in one month without our agreement.
  • You must have a UK billing address.

  Provided your card satisfies the above criteria, its value and expiry date must match the data from the provider. It will then be validated. The more information you can send us, eg proof of purchase and original receipts, the quicker we can validate your card.

  For you to receive payment, you must have validated your email address and your mobile phone.

  We reserve the right not to accept any card or combination of cards at our discretion. Any cards that are not accepted will be returned.

  * If you are selling us gift cards worth over £250 we may ask you for details on their source - ie where they came from. We may also ask for proof of ID including your billing address. You only have to provide proof of ID once a year so its worth going through the hassle forge a trusted relationship with us.

• How do I save money selling or buying gift cards on Cardyard?

  You must have a UK billing address to buy or sell gift cards on Cardyard.

  Selling an unwanted gift card gives you money you didn't have before. Buying a discounted gift card makes you money on the difference between the price you paid, and its face value.

• What is a gift card?

  A 'gift card' is the collective name for gift cards, gift certificates, gift vouchers, and anything with a cash value that has been purchased from a retailer and can subsequently be redeemed and spent at that retailer. You may have been given a gift card by family, friends or your employer. You may have won a gift card in a competition. You may also have received a gift card from a shop as credit for a returned item.

  If you have a physical card, you must send it to us. Do not send an email with details of a physical card, even if it is for an online shop like Amazon. We cannot accept numbers transcribed from a physical card, or photographs of cards.

• What is not a gift card?

  A discount voucher that requires a purchase before it is valid, for example: ‘Save £10 when you spend £50.’ This is not a gift card and cannot be sold on Cardyard.

• What is an eGift or email gift card?

  If you are selling us an eGift card, send it to..

  e@cardyard.co.uk

  An eGift or email gift card is a gift card that is sent by email, and is purely in electronic form. An eGift or email gift card does not have a corresponding physical card. If you are sending us an email gift card, you must forward on the original email. We protect the identity of our customers and will not send any personal detail to another customer, but we must see the original email.

• Why use Cardyard?

  Cardyard is the safe, secure place to buy discounted gift cards, to get cash for an unwanted gift card, or to exchange one gift card for another.

  Cardyard is the UK's only gift-card buying company setup to give you money and save you money. The only gift voucher marketplace and gift card exchange founded and operating exclusively in the UK, dedicated to the UK market and consumers.

• Why buy a discounted gift card from Cardyard?

  Buying a discounted card from a reputable site like Cardyard is an easy way to save money when you shop in your favourite stores..

  For example, if you regularly buy a Starbucks coffee in the morning, spend £44.75 on a £50 Starbucks voucher on Cardyard and save yourself 11.5% every time you visit Starbucks. Remember, many gift cards are multi-use and you can keep using them until the credit is used up.

  Or if you spend £100 on your weekly shop at Asda, buy a £100 Asda gift card from Cardyard for £96 and save £4 every week – that would add up to a saving of over £208 a year!

  You must have a UK billing address to purchase a gift card on Cardyard.

• Why sell a gift card to Cardyard?

  Selling an unwanted gift card on Cardyard is easy, safe and secure.

  If you have a gift card for a store where you never shop, don't let it sit in a drawer and forget about it, and don’t buy something you don’t need, just to use it up - sell it to Cardyard and then get what you really want instead!

  For example:

  • Your company may have given you £100 in Argos vouchers for being employee of the month (Yay! Go you!) but you need cash to pay the rent or the electricity bill.
  • You have a number of gift cards from different stores, but you want to consolidate their value into a single store, allowing you to make a larger purchase without spending your own cash. For example, you have a £50 John Lewis voucher, and a £50 Hollister voucher. You really like the look of a dress in Hollister but it costs £90. Sell your £50 John Lewis voucher to Cardyard for £41.75, and convert it into a £58 Hollister voucher. Walk into Hollister with £108 of vouchers, buy the £90 dress - and have enough left over for a cute pair of earrings.
  • You need to buy a new bed, and have £100 of John Lewis vouchers - but no longer live near a John Lewis store.
  • You have iTunes vouchers but own an Android phone.
• Why exchange a gift card on Cardyard?

  Exchanging a gift card on Cardyard can save you even more money, by allowing you to replace an unwanted gift card with one you do want. For example, you have an iTunes gift card, but have an Android phone and prefer Spotify. By exchanging, you get better value for your unwanted gift card. See Exchange Value

• What if I'm not happy with the price I'm offered?
  We think we've got the price right. We work out the going rate for each card according to a pricing algorithm that considers a number of factors including popularity and response to price fluctuations. We have all the data and we know what to pay and what to charge. We are a very lean organisation and our margins are wafer thin. We know we offer the best price. However we would still love to hear from you and we value all feedback, whether about our site, our prices, or the way we do business.
• Why don't you list the shop or type for the gift card I want to sell?

  We are not currently extending our range of shops. If we don't accept a shop for which you have a gift card, feel free to contact us through email at support@cardyard.co.uk and we will add it to the list for consideration, but we have no plans to extend the range for a couple of months.

• What is the difference between Cash Value and Exchange Value?

  Exchange Value is 5% greater than the Cash Value, and you can spend it on another gift card. The Exchange Value gets paid into your Cardyard Account rather than being paid as cash. If your aim is to exchange a gift card for a different one on Cardyard, take the "Exchange Value" for your unwanted gift card by choosing "Cardyard account credit" in "Payment Method" when selling your gift card. You can then use your Cardyard Account to pay for the gift card you would like to buy.

• What is my "Cardyard Account"?

  All customers of Cardyard have a Cardyard account. When you sell a gift card, you can choose to receive cash or have it paid into your Cardyard account with a 5% bonus. To get this bonus, choose "Cardyard account credit" in "Payment Method" for each card you sell. We pay this bonus because you avoid a transaction fee. You can use your Cardyard account to purchase a gift card and save even more money. Money in your Cardyard account never expires; you can buy a gift card with it at any time.

• How quickly will I receive the gift card I bought?

  Gift cards purchased on Cardyard are dispatched the following working day, or sooner, using Royal Mail 1st Class mail, or (if selected at purchase) through Royal Mail Signed for service, or Special Delivery which includes insurance. They should arrive with you the next working day depending on your local Royal Mail service. eGifts arrive in your inbox almost instantaneously from dispatch, which can be within minutes from purchase, or the next working day depending on workload as it’s a manual process our end. For more information see clause 23 Delivery Policy in Terms & Conditions

• What happens if I don't receive the gift card?

  In the rare instance of a card not arriving, please contact customer support by sending an email to support@cardyard.co.uk. You should allow a week for a posted card, or until 6pm the following working day for an egift. Please be aware that if you did not select 'Insured' as a Delivery Option on the Payment Details page of the Checkout, and the item goes missing in the post, we will investigate for you and provide you with the relevant information but we are not liable to replace, compensate or refund any funds that may have been lost. For more information see clause 23 Delivery Policy in Terms & Conditions

• What if I change my mind after buying a gift card?

  You can cancel your order up until dispatch using the ’Cancel’ button in the My Accounts Buy History page. Once the card is dispatched you can no longer cancel the order and once received you cannot return the card unless you decide to sell it on Cardyard. For more information see Clause 22 Cancellation and Return Policy in Terms & Conditions.

• What happens if the gift card is worth less than the amount promised?

  If you buy a gift card from Cardyard you are protected by our 42 day guarantee. The gift cards we sell have been provided by the public, and while we make every effort to validate them, there is always a chance that an error can occur. We guarantee the value of all purchased gift cards on Cardyard for 42 days from purchase (date of receipt). Generally people buy gift cards on Cardyard to make savings for themselves, so we expect you to spend your cards soon after purchase. That way you are sure of their value, are covered by our guarantee, and can quickly benefit from the saving. Full details of our guarantee are in Clause 25 Goods Not As Described 42 Day Return Policy in Terms & Conditions.

• What expiry date will be on the gift card I buy?

  It depends on the individual card, but we guarantee that all gift cards sold on Cardyard will have at least 3 months before expiry, and could have as much as ten years or never expire. Most gift cards have expiry dates, but many automatically extend 2 years when any activity occurs on them, including a balance enquiry.. We recommend you spend your card within 42 days of purchase and you will always have enough time on the card to achieve this

• Are Gift Cards like cash, or are they subject to restrictions?

  Gift cards are similar to cash as they can be used to buy almost anything with little restriction, and can be combined with other offers and voucher codes. However, they can't be used to buy any money related products, such as other gift cards. For example, a WHSmith gift card can't be used to buy other branded gift cards sold in store. An Amazon gift card redeemed into an account, can't be used to purchase another Amazon gift card/certificate. An M&S gift card can't be paid into an M&S bank account, and a Debenhams gift card can’t be used to pay off a Debenhams credit card.

• Do I have to have an account to use Cardyard?

  You can browse the site for as long as you like, but as soon as you want to carry out a transaction, you will need to register. It just takes a couple of clicks to register using Facebook, Twitter or Google, and you can manage your account easily. If you decide you don't want to keep your account, you can delete it. This will remove all your details from the website. However, if you have made a sale or purchase your details will remain in our order system but only the accountants and security team have access to that.

• What information do you take from my Facebook, Twitter or Google accounts?

  We take your email address and a link to your profile picture, and that's all.

  Joining and signing in using Facebook, Twitter and/or Google makes it as easy as one click and saves having to manage your password on Cardyard. You have further control over what we can access by visiting your social media settings/applications as follows...

  • www.facebook.com/settings?tab=applications
  • www.twitter.com/settings/applications
  • security.google.com/settings/security/permissions

  For more information see our Privacy Policy
• Why do I have to confirm my mobile phone?

  If there is a problem with your gift card we may need to contact you, and do so quickly. We need to make sure your mobile phone is correct

• Do you accept American express and PayPal, as well as Visa and Mastercard?

  Currently payment methods are:

  • Visa & Mastercard debit and credit cards
  • Cardyard account credit
  • Cheque or bank transfer - contact support

  There are no plans to accept Amex or PayPal.

• Do you accept Bitcoin, Euros, $US or any other currency?

  You can only pay, and get paid, in UK £ sterling.

• Can I use Cardyard from outside the UK?

  You can use Cardyard outside of the UK, but you must have a UK billing address for selling and buying. We only dispatch physical gift cards to the UK.

• Can I use Cardyard on a mobile device like my smartphone?

  Yes, Cardyard will work on any device with an internet connection (well, almost any device). You can directly use the website and it will automatically reformat for the smaller screen. You can also download Cardyard from App Stores for free.

• Where is Cardyard based?

  Exeter, Devon, UK, the home town of the founder as well as the Premiership Champions 2017 Exeter Chiefs, Exeter City, The Met Office, Liam Tancock, Michael Caines, and the late Tommy Cooper. Birthplace of Chris Martin and Joe Launchbury. Gateway to Dartmoor National Park, the serene sailing waters of the channel, Devonshire cream teas and Ambrosia custard.

• Who is behind Cardyard?

  See the About Us page.

• Where can I find the Terms and Conditions, and why should I read them?

  Terms and Conditions are accessible from the footer of each page. They explain the clauses that protect you, including our delivery policy, your right to cancel, guarantees, privacy & cookie policy and data protection. They also explain your obligations when using this site and what might happen if things go wrong. Click here to read the Terms and Conditions.