Don't know if anyone has had this issue. I bought a physical gift card directly from Hyatt in December--had a 10 % discount code and used a SPG business card to get a 5% rebate.
Put the card in a drawer and never used it. Took it out yesterday and used it today at the Park Hyatt Washington and it had only a $300 balance. Called Hyatt Diamond Desk and they found it had been used in February for purchases in Scottsdale Arizona.
The Diamond Desk is going to refer the issue to the gift card department in Chicago which is closed tonight. She said it is likely I will get a new gift card.

So how does this happen with a physical gift card that has been in my possession and unused the whole time? Someone hacking into Hyatt?

 

Yes, my issue of someone spending $1700 on a $2000 card was a physical gift card

 

Same for my replacement card.

Intersting that the consumed amount was such a round number. Not sure if this is a fraud or some glitch within hyatt system.

Btw we got a replacement card for the replacement card. Hope the balance stays intact - no stays in the immediate future...

 

I have a bundle of these cards-all relatively small denominations. I guess I'll have to check the balance on each and every one now before I use them. Lot of troubling things going on with Hyatt right now.

 

I had an e-gift card drained. Because of this thread, I had been checking the balance about weekly. Between my last call and my check-in, someone used the balance. Fortunately, I mentioned at check-in that I intended to pay using the e-gift card and the front desk staff checked its balance at that time. Also fortunately, I was staying at the hotel for the three days it took Hyatt to issue a new e-gift card.

This is not a comment on three days being either fast or slow; I do recognize that Hyatt wanted to investigate. If it had taken n+1 days and my stay was n days, I would have been upset. As it was, Hyatt provided a new e-gift card in time, and it ended about as well as it could.

In a discussion with the front desk staff on the second or early on the third day, I was told that even if I needed to pay by charge card when I checked out, I could call the hotel once I received the new e-gift card and have the charge reversed and retroactively pay with the e-gift card. That was nice.

 

This thread prompted me to check the balance on a $1000.00 gift card and thankfully the entire amount is there. I will definitely continue to monitor the situation. Thanks

 

This entire issue (if you refer back a few posts - I had about $500 drained off an E-GC) has now made me change my strategy; I ordered a set of GC's in the last promo in December, but this time I stuck to the Physical GC's (checks) exclusively. They have worked great so far - including a relatively exchange rate at an international property - but you can imagine the anxiety as I used them for the first time and wondered - hope this isn't deja vu. Keep in mind that none of the traditional consumer protections that we get with a consumer Credit Card would apply here per my understanding - you rely on Hyatt to do the right thing (which they seem to be doing - so far).

 

Bought $1k gc last yr with the 10% off discount.
Was going to check out Hyatt and pay with gc but decided to check my balance first. The phone prompt told me that only had ~$400 remaining. I freaked out and called their GC dept to report fraud. To my surprise (which is sad on my part ), Hyatt rep was very understanding and sincere regarding the entire situation. 1 week later received a new e-gc with $1k amt. ^

 

A quick question about Gift Cards.

I have a booking at the HYATT Bali. Can I pay at check in with Hyatt Gift card, because usually in Bali they convert the total USD into IDR.

 

You pay in the local currency, and they decide what exchange rate to use for gift cards in USD.

 

I see. Then I will pay in local currenccy in cash as the rate I get in Bali is much better then the hotels.

 

No, gift cards dont work internationally. You need a gift check

 

Thanks, I think the Gift Cards are for N. America only.

 

Hi. As noted earlier in this thread, I had a physical gift card that was drained of almost $1700 before I used it.

Hyatt Customer Service reps were very cordial about this and knew I had no part in it and quickly issued a new card with the correct balance and had it shipped overnight to me.

Only Hyatt Customer Service staff can resolve gift card issues, not Diamond Desk. The number I called was 888-524-9288.

When I received my new card, I called that number to check the balance and it was all there. Hyatt staff is well aware of the IT hacking and when I asked how often I should check my gift card, was told once a month so the fraud is ongoing.

 

True, the Gift Cards are for N. America (USA, Canada, Caribbean) only--but you do get a rate within 1/2 % of the mid-market rate from the central computer. Gift checks OTOH are valid worldwide but are subject to each hotel's lousy exchange rate for USD cash.