Although the prepaid American Express gift cards is one of the most popular prepaid credit card gift cards out there, checking the balance can often be challenging. The website is not set up very well and it can take forever to get the right extension on the phone. The following two ways are the easiest ways to check the balance of your American Express gift card:

1) Check American Express Gift Card Balance By Phone, Call 1-877-297-4438

2) Check American Express Gift Card Balance Online, Click Here.

If you discover a balance still remains but would rather get cash for your gift card, consider selling the gift card online. Popular gift card exchange site  Giftah lets you convert your gift cards into cash, the site is easy and fun to use and will get you the most cash for your card

Its that time of year again, where the latest class of college students are finishing up exams and attending their convocations. Most of us know at least one student graduating this year, and we are aware that they are launching into one of the toughest economies in North American since the depression. Thats why graduation gifts this year are more likely to be cold hard cash or a gift card. Although many people frown upon giving cash and gift cards in this economy it is usually exactly what a graduating student needs.

Cash or a nice check makes the best gift, but if a graduating student lives far away and you are planning on mailing the gift a gift card is a better option. The best gift cards to give are the prepaid Visa’s or American Express gift cards, these can be used at any location the credit cards are excepted. If you still want something more personal electronics store gift cards, itunes gift cards or clothing gift cards are always popular with the college crown. Try to figure out what the students plans are for after gradation. If they are traveling then buy a travel gift gift card, if the student is moving into a new apartment an Ikea gift card may be in order.

Cash or gift cards in the best gift for grads in the uncertain economy. The last of their concerns right now is another College sweater or a special fram for their diploma, the current trend for students is survival.

A recent gift card patent litigation trial had the potential to render all gift cards in the United States useless. Every Penny Counts claimed that any company that issued “open” or “closed” gift cards was infringing on their patent for technology that automatically deducts excess cash from gift card transactions.

The “open” gift cards cover the American Express gift cards or Visa gift cards that can be used at any store and the “closed” gift cards refer to gift cards that can be used at specific locations, for example a Best Buy gift card or Wal Mart gift card. Essentially ever single gift card in the United States was covered by the lawsuit.

Luckily the U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed the Florida federal district court’s dismissal of the lawsuits which challenged the legitimacy of gift cards technology. Had the patent litigation been successful it could have potentially banned the use of gift cards in the United States.

Although this did not happen it shows how fragile gift cards can be for storing value. The company you own gift cards for can go out of business, the card can be lost or stolen, and now even patent litigation may lead to the loss of gift card balances. Everyone should get rid of their unused gift cards. It is much better to sell gift cards you will not use or trade them for a gift card you will use. The best place to get cash for gift cards is Giftah. You can get the best price for you gift card and turn the card into a liquid asset.