I have Oyster credits in my account. How do they work?

Your Oyster credits will remain in your account until you book a hotel for $500 or more. During checkout, you will see your Oyster credits deducted from the total cost of your reservation. Please note, however, that the credit does not actually reduce the amount charged to your card at the time of booking. Instead, it acts as a rebate that will be sent to you in the form of a Visa Gift Card, which can be used as cash anywhere that Visa is accepted.

How can I earn Oyster credits?

Once you're an Oyster.com member, you can earn a $25 credit if you invite a friend to join Oyster and he/she books a hotel stay that totals more than $500. Once they make the reservation, your account will automatically be credited with the $25 amount. The credit you receive must also be applied to a booking of $500 or more. Invite your friends today!

How do I apply my Oyster credits to a booking?

They can be used in three easy steps:

• Sign in to Oyster.com using your e-mail address and password
• Find the hotel and room you want to book (booking total must be more than $500)
• Before you confirm your booking, we will show you your total cost plus the price after your gift card

Will my Oyster credits expire?

No, unused credits do not currently have an expiration date. Once you make a reservation using the credits, however, you have 6 months to claim your credits or the gift card will not be sent. Credits can be claimed by confirming with our Customer Care team the correct mailing address to send the gift card.

Will I still receive the credit even if I cancel my reservation?

No. The Visa Gift Card is not sent until the day that your hotel reservation begins. If you decide to cancel, therefore, the gift card will not be sent and the credit will be returned to your account.

I found a lower price somewhere else, and would like Oyster to match it. Can I still apply my Oyster credits towards that booking?

If you have Oyster booking credits and are going to be making a reservation for $500 or more, the price you find on another website must be lower than the Oyster.com price with the booking credits applied. For example, if you are making a reservation for $550 and have a $50 booking credit, the Oyster price is equivalent to $500, and only a price lower than $500 would qualify for the Best Price Guarantee.

How do I receive my Visa Gift Card?

The gift cards are sent via First Class Mail to the mailing address that you have designated.

How does the Visa Gift Card work?

A Visa Gift Card can be used wherever Visa debit cards are accepted. When making a purchase with your gift card, simply select the "Credit" option and sign the receipt. Please note that the Visa Gift Card does not have a PIN, so selecting "Debit" instead of "Credit" will cause the card to be declined. Each time the Visa Gift Card is used, the purchase amount is deducted from the available balance, until the balance reaches zero. Once the entire card amount has been spent, it can no longer be used as a method of payment. It can be discarded or kept as a keepsake.

Can I add additional funds to my Visa Gift Card?

No, you can not load more money onto your Visa Gift Cards.

Can I use my Visa Gift Card at gas stations, restaurants, online or over the phone?

Yes. However, you should be aware your Visa Gift Card may not be accepted at automated gas pumps. You can pay for your gas purchase with the station attendant rather than swiping your Visa Gift Card at the pump. Some merchants, like hotels, restaurants and mail-order companies, factor in an automatic tip or additional expenses when using gift cards. These merchants may require that the card have an available balance greater than the purchase amount to ensure there are sufficient funds for tips or incidental expenses. If you know your card does not have sufficient funds, inform the cashier that you wish to deduct a specific amount from the Visa Gift Card and use another form of payment for the balance or tip. Cardholders can use the Visa Gift Card for online or phone purchases, but will need to be sure the name, address, and phone number on the Visa Gift Card account information is exactly the same as the information given to the merchant. If the information is different, the purchase could be declined.

What if the Visa Gift Card expires before the card value is spent?

Cardholders are encouraged to use the entire gift amount before the Visa Gift Card expires. Any remaining balance can be returned to you, if requested. Funds are distributed by check within 10 to 12 weeks, minus a Card Account Closure Fee deducted from the card balance. The Card Account Closure Fee amount is disclosed on the back of the Visa Gift Card, as well as in the Cardholder Agreement provided with the Visa Gift Card.

How do I know what the balance is on my Visa Gift Card?

It's easy to keep track of what's left on your Visa Gift Card. Register the Visa Gift Card online at www.GiftCardLab.com to view your balance, or call GiftCardLab's customer service line 24-hours a day using the phone number found on the back of the Visa Gift Card. A merchant will not be able to tell you how much money you have remaining on the Visa Gift Card. Knowing your balance before shopping will help assure that the Visa Gift Card has enough funds available to pay for your purchases.

What should I do if my Visa Gift Card is lost or stolen?

If your card is lost or stolen, call the GiftCardLab Customer Service Center at 1-888-799-0028 as soon as possible so that the card can be canceled and replaced. As long as the lost or stolen Visa Gift Card is reported immediately, the recipient may not be responsible for any unauthorized charges. After the Visa Gift Card is canceled, they will send a replacement card with the remaining balance, minus a Replacement Card Fee that will be deducted from the card balance. Please refer to the Cardholder Agreement provided with your Visa Gift Card for additional information.

How do I activate my card?

The card comes with a Customer ID on the back, unique to each card. Please have this ID and the 16-digit card number ready and go to www.GiftCardLab.com and select "Activate Card." You can also call GiftCardLab at 1-888-799-0028 to activate your card. Please note that you will be asked to provide the Customer ID and the 16-digit card number.

When will I receive my Visa Gift Card?

The gift card will be sent on the day that you check into your hotel.

Where will my Visa Gift Card be sent?

The gift card will be sent to the mailing address that you specify.