FAQ
How do I get started?
Click ‘Start – Give a BIG gift!’. This is found in the upper corner of our site and on the application.
How do we use theBIGgift to collect funds for NPO’s (non-profit organizations) or acts of kindness?
Since all the money that is collected simply goes into your own Pay Pal account, you can use the money for what ever you wish! So, instead of using the contributions to purchase an iPod or Dartboard through our distributors, you could use theBIGgift to help out a child in South Africa, or put the funds towards purchasing canned foods etc. People helping people -> it’s powerful stuff!
It freezes or just stops on a white screen, why?
This may result in your browser being out of date. Or facebook/theBIGgift could be experiencing larger then usual traffic on the site. Try refreshing the page that you are having trouble loading. If the problem persists, you may have to wait a few minutes until you try again.
How do I invite friends to help contribute?
Using the application on facebook all you need to do is click on the names of those who you want to participate.
During setup the Master Gifter (creator) will be able to invite people. Also at any time anyone can click on the ‘Invite Friends’ button to invite friends who have been missed.
Can I purchase the gifts for myself or for another person?
Yes, anything you see on theBIGgift is available for anyone. The same present you got for your friend, you can also use the same method to purchase one for yourself.
How do I collect money from people who join or where does the money I contribute go?
When setting up the group you will be asked for your Pay Pal email address, people who join will send money to your account. Using Pay Pal will allow ‘you’ to be in complete control of the funds at all times.
I would like to use theBIGgift to purchase a gift for an event that’s not a birthday or a gift that is for myself. Can I do that?
Yes, no matter what the event is you can use theBIGgift in order to put together a group gift.
What is group gifting?
Group gifting is when a group of friends or family members split the costs of a gift. Group gifting is the best and most affordable way to get that special somebody what they truly want. A movie is a good present, but a new big screen TV is even better.
How safe are the payment transactions?
All transaction are securely done through Pay Pal. TheBIGgift never touches your money, this is the most simple and secure way possible.
How is the final gift chosen?
When all the voting, discussion and contributing is complete the Master Gifter (creator), will select the gift he/she chooses taking into consideration the decisions made by the group.
Can I contribute money more then once?
Yes, if the group is shy of the total amount, or if you wish to contribute more money, simply click ‘contribute’.
Is Pay Pal required to use theBIGgift?
If you are setting up the group, Yes. If you are simply contributing, then No it is not required to have a pay pal account. Although occasionally Pay Pal will be fussy when letting non-pay pal users send money. This is for security and legal reasons.
What do we do if we don’t get enough money?
If the group does not come up with enough money to get the gifts you voted for, you can do two things.
- Prolong the end date and contribute more money
- Select a less expensive gift
What are the costs? And are there any hidden fees?
No theBIGgift is 100% free and there are no hidden fees. Pay Pal is also free to use and their is no charge when sending money from one Pay Pal account to another, however Pay Pal does charge a small transaction fee when friends decide to contribute using a credit card.
How does the voting work?
When a gift is added it is put into the voting section. The voting section is an area where the possible gifts that invited participants have selected. You can vote for only one gift and can change your vote as many times as you like. In the end, the gift that has the most votes should be the one purchased as theBIGgift! The decision does however lie with the group creator (Master Gifter).
Where does the gift get sent?
When purchasing the gift, you will be asked for a shipping address (you should put in your friends address if you want the gift to go directly to that person). The address is not required until you make the end purchase.
How do I keep track of my groups?
One of the main tabs is called ‘My Groups’. Here you will find all the groups you are involved in. From here you can join any group you are currently in or in control of. You can also edit the groups from here.
How is the amount contributed/target amount set?
When someone contributes to the gift, the amount they contributed gets added to the ‘contributed/target amount’. Due to the fact that you cannot send money to your own pay pal account from pay pal: the amount contributed starts out at the minimum contribution amount set by the Master Gifter.
How do I contribute if I’m the creator?
Payment is coming from your pay pal account so you can simply pay for the gift with the funds in your account. If your account was at zero, you should add your contribution the same way you would add money to your pay pal account. The amount the creator contributes over the minimum amount set, unfortunately will not be shown on the big-giftometer.
How does shipping and handling work?
Shipping and handling goes through our merchants, currently that is Overstock.com. Overstock.com has great rates for shipping and handling. What ever special they have going at any given time is what our user’s receive. So, if they have an offer for new customers to their site and you go through theBIGgift service. The offer still applies! Currently they have FREE shipping for new customers within the US on your entire order.
If I add a gift to the voting list what does this mean?
Adding a gift to the voting area simply makes it an option and allows others to see more gift choices. There are no ties to this product. It could have 100 votes or 0 votes, the Master Gifter (creator) has the final say and selects the gift.
Does the recipient know this is happening?
That all depends on how good you and your friends are at keeping a secret. The better you are at this the more likely the recipient won’t have a clue!
How does the recipient find out?
When the final gift is purchased, A wall post is to be made on the recipients facebook page wishing them a happy birthday. Also a list of the contributors names will be included and a message letting the recipient know that their gift is in the mail and should arrive to the in a few days.
What’s the best way to get back into my group? Can I bookmark the application?
The fastest and easiest way to check up on your group is to bookmark the application. You can do this in the top left corner of the application right under our logo. It’s a smart decision to bookmark theBIGgift in order to get back to your group quickly and check on its status.
What does the count down in days mean?
This is how many days are left until the actual birthday. The group should be finished voting and contributing at this time so the gift can be ordered.
I can’t pay for the gift because Pay Pal says the recipient does not accept payment outside the US (or any other Country)?
This is an easy fix! simply change the Overstock.com website to match where you are located. You can do this by clicking ‘International Website’ in the bottom right corner of the Overstock site.
How does theBIGgift help ensure the group is successful?
Every group is a success regardless of how much money was collected. If your group didn’t get enough money to purchase the most expensive gift that everybody voted for. Simply choose another memorable gift with a lower price attached! TheBIGgift is set up in a way that no strings are attached.
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Contribution Issues:
Credit Card cannot be used for Pay Pal payment error
When purchasing products and services online, Pay Pal is one of the most commonly used payment gateways used to allow customers to complete their purchase.
However, when users attempt to make a payment by using a credit card without logging in to a Pay Pal account, occasionally Pay Pal will reject, or doesn’t accept the credit card with the following error message:
“The credit card you entered cannot be used for this payment. Please enter a different credit card number.”
Here are some explanations and possible resolutions suggested by users on the Internet.
Credit Card is linked or associated with a Pay Pal account
One of the main reasons Pay Pal does not accept a credit card, is because the credit card is already being used in a Pay Pal account. If you’re using a credit card that’s linked or assigned to a Pay Pal account, try logging in to Pay Pal during payment process. You can change the source of fund to make the payment after logged in to use credit card instead of Pay Pal balance. Although paying with your Pay Pal balance makes more sense when using something such as theBIGgift.
Credit Card is previously used in Pay Pal account or assigned in closed Pay Pal account
Pay Pal remembers credit card details even when it’s been removed from the account. In this case, try another credit card, or assign the credit card to a Pay Pal account, and pay with account logged in.
Pay Pal limit on non-member Credit Card usage
There is a limit based on the number of times, the amount of the transactions, and the type of merchandise being sold that a credit card can be used within the system without having to verify ownership by opening an account. These restrictions are for security and fraud protection reasons. There is no workaround to this limitation, but you should be able to use another credit card. If there is problem, try using another email address. Or… register a Pay Pal account.
Credit Card or email address raises flag in the transaction
Closely link to reasons above, where some part of the transaction raises flag on the server that stop the payment. Two possible flags are on credit card or email address. Try changing either the credit card or e-mail address or both when attempting to pay again.
Cookies problem
Try using another web browser and/or delete cookies and attempt to pay using credit card again.
Credit Card Is not confirmed in account
Contrary to some of the reasons above, if the credit card has been linked to an account, but not yet confirmed, try to complete all credit card information such as Card Verification Number or Security Code, and confirm the card by entering the Pay Pal code shown on the credit card statement on special refundable charge by Pay Pal.
Will a cash advance fee be charged when paying by Credit Card or Debit Card?
When you use your credit or debit card, you will not be charged a cash advance fee for sending money using these purchase categories: Service/Other, Goods and eBay Items. For these types of transactions, Pay Pal charges your credit or debit card only for the transaction amount. Here at theBIGgift, it is considered that you are using our service to help eliminate the chance of making your contribution in the form of a cash advance.
Note: If you make a cash advance purchase with a credit or debit card, the card issuer may charge a cash advance fee. Pay Pal or theBIGgift has no control over third-party fees. To avoid incurring fees when making a cash advance purchase, you may want to use a different payment method, such as your bank account or an e-Check.
How to protect from impostors?
It is always safer to deal with a well-known friend or group creator. However, due to some people taking advantage of facebook (faking facebook profiles to make you believe it’s someone else you are contributing to) the following procedures should be taken into consideration to protect our customers from being scammed.
1. When you join a group, make sure that you check and see who the group creator is. If you have been this person’s friend for a while and trust them then you should be fine. Unless someone is using there account on them. If you have concerns and you know the person simply ask them if they have indeed started a group for the recipient at hand.
2. When you join a group, and you know the recipient but not the group creator, you should do the following to ensure the group is indeed legit. You can ask another friend if this person has good intentions, or you could even go as far as asking the recipient of the gift if they can vouch for the organizer. Just remember to not give away the surprise
3. If you do suspect someone of abusing the program, it is encouraged to pass on the information to facebook officials. You should also leave a message on the group discussion wall warning others of your suspicions.
How do I avoid sending an e-check?
An e-check results when a payment is sent from an unverified account without sufficient balance of your Pay Pal account to cover the cost of the order. Pay Pal must contact your bank to verify that funds are available, thus the cause of the 3 to 4 day delay. To avoid sending an e-check, first complete the verification process for your account, and then make sure the funds are present in your Pay Pal account.
What is a pending e-check, and why do I need to wait for it to clear?
A pending e-check is a type of payment option available with Pay Pal. A pending e-check is just like writing a normal check, except electronically. Just like normal checks, pending e-checks take a few days to clear while Pay Pal verifies the funds are present within the senders account. Once the check has cleared, the money is transferred.
