Can I see where my gift certificates are going?

[Guest]

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[Norbert250]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place.
I've given 2 gift certificates that show as being redeemed.  When I click on the lender's name, it doesn't show who they lent to.  Is there something I'm missing or is this information just not available?
I love Kiva - I'm on my 7th loan, and planning more gift certificates.
Thanks,
Marie

[wthepoo]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place.
I've given 2 gift certificates that show as being redeemed.  When I click on the lender's name, it doesn't show who they lent to.  Is there something I'm missing or is this information just not available?
I love Kiva - I'm on my 7th loan, and planning more gift certificates.
Thanks,
Marie

Hi Marie,

and welcome to KivaFriends. Glad you found your way here and that you are so enthusiastic about Kiva and spreading the word.

When you redeem a gift certificate your Kiva account is credited with the gifted amount - regardless of whether you make a loan/loans right away. So it's possible that the recipients have redeemed the Gift Certificates (GCs) but not yet used them for lending on Kiva.

Due to that and the general effect that the gifted funds mix with possibly existing Kiva credit, Kiva does not specifiy which loans have been made with the gift money.

But you should be able to see in the "My Portfolio" > "Gift Certificates" section of www.kiva.org who redeemed the GC when and to follow a link to their lender page listing all loans (if any) that the recipient has made.

Just in the interest of full disclosure: It is also (theoretically) possible that the recipient withdraws the gifted funds to a Paypal account.

Best wishes,
Wolfgang.

[Unilove]

Good to know, Wolfgang... alwats helpful with clear instructions thanks

Hello and welcome, Marie

 

[Norbert250]

Thanks for the answer.  Unfortunately so far 2 of the 3 people I've given a gift certificate to have redeemed the certificate but do not appear to have loaned out the money.
I didn't realize that with the first certificate, and I've bugged the other 2 people enough.  I'm afraid they may have got confused with the process, or possibly with the part where Kiva asks for a donation to themselves.  I plan to give one more certificate (to the spouse of one of the other certificate holders), and then I'll stop until I see them doing anything with them.
I just hope Kiva gets interest on the un-loaned amounts.
Marie

[Jan & John]

I looked today to see where some of my Gift recipients had loaned...

I found a couple who had not redeemed and so I clicked the 'Remind' button...

I just received a phone call from one asking if I had sent him 'another' Father's day present because he just received the email from Kiva. 

It appears the email from Kiva says nothing about 'reminding' and just issues email with the original message.
I think this is totally unacceptable and I will have sent this message to contactus@kiva.org . 

jan

[Jan & John]

reply to my comment to contactus about the gift certificate reminders ...

Hello Jan,   

Thanks so much for your email. There are a lot of improvements to be made in our gift certificate process, and we appreciate your feedback. We will certainly consider your email as we work to improve this process on our site. 

Best wishes,
Ali Carroll

Kiva Customer Service
www.kiva.org
Loans That Change Lives

hmm, jan