Only valid for one year, after that they cost two euros per month: prepaid cards, which are also sold in the SCS in Vösendorf and in the CCA Amstetten, cause great dissatisfaction among customers.
If you don’t know what to give, vouchers are often the best choice – especially if you can redeem them in all stores in a shopping center. But if you don’t spend the credit quickly, you could be in for a rude awakening. This concerns the so-called PayLife prepaid cards, which can be purchased in Lower Austria, for example in the Shopping City Süd or in the CCA.
“An abysmal insolence”
A customer in Amstetten recently had a rude awakening: her credit disappeared into thin air. Or more precisely: it was used up by a ‘maintenance fee’. According to the terms and conditions, PayLife cards only have a limited term of one year. To ensure that the credit does not expire afterwards, you must pay two euros per month. “Abysmal insolence and a more than questionable business idea,” the woman said.
The Supreme Court also sees it this way, after it upheld a lawsuit by the Consumer Information Association in 2023 and established that consumers were seriously disadvantaged. Since this ruling, the fees can be reclaimed at any time in the shopping center and the card can be extended for a maximum of 30 years.
Still in circulation
This is now also stated in the conditions. “The full credit is then available to the customer,” emphasizes BAWAG, which is responsible for this. However, the voucher cards are still sold with a one-year deadline and fees. “Many people have certainly thrown away the cards because there was no more credit on them,” the Amstett resident suspects.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
