BLACKHAWK NETWORK ANNOUNCES NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH HESS EXPRESS
April 17th, 2012
Leading Convenience and Gas Retailer Launching Gift Card Mall™ and Prepaid Center PLEASANTON, CA – April 17, 2012 – Blackhawk Network, a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses, today announced its award-winning Gift Card Mall™ and popular Prepaid Center will be available in Hess convenience store locations throughout the [...]
GIFT AND PREPAID CARDS WILL NO LONGER BE SOLD IN NEW JERSEY
April 5th, 2012
Blackhawk Network today announced that it plans to cease sales of gift and prepaid cards in New Jersey as a result of New Jersey’s intent to implement a 2010 unclaimed property law. American Express has already pulled its gift cards from New Jersey as a result of this legislation. A Federal Court injunction preventing implementation of the law was recently lifted, opening the door for New Jersey’s Treasury Department to claim balances of gift cards purchased in New Jersey if consumers don’t use them for a period of two years. In addition, the law requires retailers to collect customer ZIP code information when someone buys a gift card, a practice that cannot be easily implemented at a retail point of sale, and may not be relevant, since many of the cards purchased are given as gifts to other people. Unfortunately, grocery and other retailers selling cards are not able to comply with the requirements of this law without significantly increasing their costs, jeopardizing consumer privacy, or potentially slowing down the customer check out process. As a result, Blackhawk Network is planning to remove its third-party gift and prepaid cards from the state of New Jersey beginning in June 2012, unless the law is changed. Blackhawk Network’s third-party gift cards, representing over 175 different brands, are currently sold through over 1,300 retail locations in New Jersey.
If you are a New Jersey resident and don’t want to lose access to purchasing gift cards, visit www.giftcardusersunite.com to tell your elected officials. Consumers with questions about their gift and prepaid cards should email cs@blackhawk-net.com.
Blackhawk Network Announces No Monthly Fees for Visa® Gift Cards in Canada
March 26th, 2012
TORONTO, ONTARIO-March 26, 2011 – Blackhawk Network Canada, a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses, today announced it has eliminated monthly fees for Visa Gift Cards sold through its Gift Card Store locations throughout Canada.
Effective immediately, Gift Card Store’s Visa Gift Cards will not include monthly service fees, expiration fees or charges for lost or stolen replacement cards, offering consumers greater benefits and cost savings.
“We have witnessed a growth in prepaid card sales as Canadians are seeing the value in prepaid cards not only for gifting, but for self-use and help staying within their budgets,” said Steve Dekker, managing director and group vice president, Blackhawk Network Canada. “We have eliminated after purchase fees on Visa Gift Cards to help consumers who are looking for ways to make their money go further.”
No fee after purchase applies to new and already purchased “The Perfect Choice,” “My Treat” and “Gift Card” VISA gift cards sold across Canada. Other terms may apply, please see Visa® Gift Cards Terms and Conditions for foreign transaction fee detail and other non-fee terms and conditions, which remain in effect. “The Perfect Choice,” “My Treat” and “Gift Card” Visa® Gift Cards are issued by Citizen’s Bank pursuant to a license from Visa Inc.
Blackhawk Network Responds to Patent Infringement Decision
March 1st, 2012
PLEASANTON, CA, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 – Blackhawk Network, Inc. was found by a jury in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin to infringe two claims of a patent. The patent infringement case against Blackhawk was filed by e2Interactive, Inc. and Interactive Communications International, Inc. on October 14, 2009 and related to eight lines of source code that were part of Blackhawk’s gift card activation platform, but not used. Blackhawk has since removed the portions of the unused code found to infringe. This modification has no effect on how Blackhawk operates and has no impact on its customers.
On February 28, 2012, the same jury directed Blackhawk to pay damages in the amount of $3.475 million to the plaintiff for the period from August 2009 through February 2012, with no further payments due as the result of Blackhawk’s removal of the lines of code. While the damages represent an immaterial impact to Blackhawk’s financial results for these periods, Blackhawk is weighing whether to file an appeal.
The same court previously found that Blackhawk did not infringe the claims of a second patent asserted by InComm relating to adding value to customer accounts at retail points of sale.
Homebase Becomes First Home Enhancement Retailer in the UK to Launch Gift Card Store™ in its United Kingdom and Ireland Stores
February 28th, 2012
Homebase now offering gift cards from 25 leading brands, including Debenhams, iTunes, Pizza Express and Ticketmaster LONDON – February 28, 2012 – Blackhawk Network, a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses, today announced its Gift Card Store is available in Homebase, the UK’s leading home enhancement retailer. Blackhawk Network’s [...]
Blackhawk Network Launches Gift Card Mall In Guitar Center Locations Nationwide
December 22nd, 2011
Guitar Center Now Offering Gift Cards from Leading Brands, including iTunes, Applebee’s, Lowe’s, Olive Garden and jcpenney, Among Others PLEASANTON, CA – December 22, 2011 – Blackhawk Network, a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses, today announced its award-winning Gift Card Mall™ is available in over 200 Guitar Center [...]
Gift Cards for the Holidays: Great Way to Save
December 14th, 2011
Grocery Stores Offer Savvy Shoppers Deals with Gift Card Purchases This Holiday Season PLEASANTON, CA – December 14, 2011 – The gift the majority of shoppers would like to receive this holiday season is a gift card, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. With the current focus on value and convenience, shoppers [...]
Blackhawk Network Launches Gift Card Mall™ in QuikTrip Locations Nationwide
December 7th, 2011
Leading convenience store and gasoline retailer to provide new gift card offering PLEASANTON, CA – December 7, 2011 – Blackhawk Network, a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses, today announced it has partnered with QuikTrip Corporation, a prominent convenience store and gasoline retailer, to offer its award-winning Gift Card [...]
One-Stop Shop Destination Gift Card Store™ Makes Christmas Shopping Easy
November 17th, 2011
Gift cards from iTunes, Next, B&Q, Pizza Express, Ticketmaster and many more brands now available at locations including Tesco, Morrisons, Argos and Boots Accessible, flexible and convenient, Gift Card Store™, offers a wide variety of gift cards from some of the best brands in the world, including entertainment, fashion, dining out and home improvement, all [...]
Blackhawk Network Acquires Cardpool
October 21st, 2011
Gift card exchange website expands recipient options in time for the holiday season PLEASANTON, CA – October 21, 2011 – Blackhawk Network, a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses, announced the acquisition of Cardpool, the fast-growing gift card exchange company where consumers can buy, sell and trade gift cards. [...]
Blackhawk Network Announces Partnership with Smart & Final
September 26th, 2011
Blackhawk Network, a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses, today announced that its award-winning Gift Card Mall™ will be available in Smart & Final locations in California, Arizona and Nevada.
Blackhawk Network Expands REloadit Network
September 13th, 2011
Blackhawk Network, a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses, today announced that five new companies have joined Blackhawk’s growing REloadit Network.
