I have personal experience with losing a Visa Gift Card. I lost a $75 gift card and called Visa and they told me there was nothing they can do as its not registered to me. I tried calling the last place I remember leaving it and they could not help as the entire credit card # is not printed on the receipt nor is the CVC Security Code.

I found a $25 Gift Card and I did not know who the rightful owner is so I kept it because its like cash and I cannot be sued or put in jail as there is no proof as to whose card it is. Just like finding $20 on the ground you cannot be certain whose money it was. Now if I saw it fall from someones wallet I would of course give it back to them.

Now if I found someones wallet with cash,credit cards and personal ID's I would be the first person to call the individual who lost it or turn it in to the Police and of course I would not take any cash as that is associated with the person.

A gift card issuer loads $50 but does not register it to a specific person unless someone went online to register it and then they would have to call in to the issuer to have them block the card.

The Visa Gift Card i found was from the Holiday Season of 2014 on the ground so as it has been this long one cannot be certain whose card it was. Secondly a neighbor could lie and say it was his and then take the card from me.

I don't mean to be greedy but if no one has reported the card stolen since December 2014 and I found it in May 2014 then I can't be held liable. This is why I always register and monitor my Starbucks Gift Card online.

Unregistered cards cannot be replaced if lost or stolen it even says this on the back of the Gift Card.

Sorry you lost your card and perhaps this will be a good learning experience going forward.