raise.com Complaints & Common Issues

These aren’t isolated incidents but rather a recurring pattern that highlights systemic challenges within the platform’s operations and customer service.

Understanding these prevalent complaints is crucial for anyone considering using raise.com, as they represent the primary risks and frustrations users are likely to encounter.

The core problems revolve around the validity of the gift cards themselves, the efficiency of payouts for sellers, and the perceived inadequacy of customer support.

The Pervasive Problem of Invalid Gift Cards

This is arguably the most critical and frequently reported complaint for buyers on raise.com.

• Zero Balance Cards: Users frequently report purchasing gift cards that, upon attempting to use them, are found to have a zero balance, despite being advertised with a specific value.
• Incorrect Balance: In other cases, the actual balance on the gift card is significantly less than what was purchased or listed on the platform. For example, buying a $100 card only to find it has $50.
• Used Before Purchase: Some buyers discover that the gift card was already redeemed or partially used by someone else before they even received it or had a chance to use it. This often points to issues in the verification process or potential fraudulent activity by sellers that slips through the cracks.
• Deactivated Cards: Occasionally, a gift card might be deactivated by the retailer due to suspicious activity, leaving the buyer with a useless piece of value.
• Impact: For buyers, this leads to direct financial loss, immense frustration, and a sense of being defrauded, even if raise.com offers a guarantee.

Frustrations with Customer Service

The second most common and equally critical complaint across all review channels is the severe inadequacy of raise.com’s customer support.

• Unresponsive Communication: Users consistently report that emails go unanswered for extended periods, sometimes weeks or months.
• Lack of Direct Contact: Many users express frustration at the difficulty of reaching a live person via phone or live chat, often being routed through automated systems or FAQs.
• Generic Responses: When responses are received, they are frequently described as generic, templated, or unhelpful, failing to address the specific nuances of the user’s problem.
• Protracted Resolution Times: Even when a dispute or issue is acknowledged, the time it takes for raise.com to investigate and provide a resolution is often unacceptably long, leaving users in limbo and their funds tied up.
• “Runaround” Tactics: Some users report being given the “runaround,” where they are passed between different support agents or told to wait without clear progress.

Payout Delays for Sellers

While buyers contend with invalid cards, sellers frequently grapple with delayed payouts.

• Extended Holding Periods: After a gift card is sold, raise.com often holds the funds for a verification or “cooling-off” period to ensure the buyer uses the card without issues. These periods can be longer than advertised or expected.
• Unexplained Delays: Even after the initial holding period, sellers report inexplicable delays in receiving their direct deposits or PayPal transfers, often without clear communication from raise.com.
• Impact: This ties up the seller’s funds, negating the appeal of quickly converting unwanted gift cards into cash. For those relying on these funds, it can cause financial inconvenience.

Account Freezes and Closures

A particularly severe complaint that impacts both buyers and sellers is the sudden freezing or closure of accounts.

• Lack of Explanation: Users report their accounts being frozen or closed without prior warning or a clear explanation for the action.
• Access to Funds Denied: When an account is frozen, users lose access to any gift card balances they might have, any pending payouts, or their personal information.
• Difficulty in Reinstatement: Reinstatement of an account or access to funds can be an extremely difficult and frustrating process, often falling into the same customer service black hole.

The Guarantee vs. Reality

Raise.com’s 1-Year Money-Back Guarantee is intended to be a safety net, but complaints reveal a significant gap between its promise and its practical application. What Are the Benefits of Using Healf.com?

• Challenging the Guarantee: Users frequently find it challenging to invoke the guarantee, citing resistance from customer support, lengthy processes, or specific clauses that make it difficult to qualify.
• Burden of Proof: While the guarantee exists, the burden often falls on the user to provide extensive proof, and even then, resolution can be elusive.
• Time Sensitivity: If a user doesn’t discover an issue until months later, the process can become even more complicated.