The National Retail Federation estimated that consumers would spend a total of $26.3 billion in gift cards this holiday season, up 42 percent from $18.5 billion in 2005. (from a story by Cheri March,The News Messenger)

The growing trend seems to be all about opening the envelopes under the tree instead of the traditional gift-wrapped box.

Shopping for someone else is always a difficult task. If you purchase something that centers around a size (jewelry, clothing, etc.), do you have the right size information? Then there is the risk of receiving two or more of the same gift - my daughter received three copies of "Blood Brothers" by Nora Roberts.

So it is not surprising that more people are turning to gift cards, reducing any risk of embarrassment. Who was to know, however, that all plastic cards (on the same store rack) are not equal?!?

I received what appeared to be a VISA gift card as a Christmas present from a close business friend. Several days after Christmas, I finally opened the card package in order to do my part for the U.S. economy.

As I read the card, I discovered it was advertised as a prepaid card from Netspend that could be reloaded. The instructions indicated the card had to be activated, so I called 1-86-NETSPEND.

After wading through several layers of automated instructions, I reached a human being. I was asked to provide some basic information, then the major shock - "Can I have your Social Security number? "

I was caught off-guard by this request; it seemed odd to provide this information for a gift card. The Netspend employee informed me that as a reloadable prepaid card, Homeland Security required the information in order to track any and all activities related to the card's use.

I asked what my options were if I refused to provide my Social Security number and was rudely told I could not use the card.

I asked to speak with a supervisor who confirmed, in a much nicer tone, how the card had to be activated. I finally asked about a refund.

Two weeks after speaking with Netspend (and providing my name and address), a refund check arrived in the mail. Netspend charged me $4.95 to process the refund. They also charge $.50 for speaking to them on the phone.

My anger level went up several notches, so I called Vons Market, as this is where the card was purchased. I explained my encounter with Netspend, the rude operator, my friend paying $9.95 along with the dollar value of the card, and Netspend charging me $4.95 to process a refund check.

Vons was very understanding, apologized for the poor encounter and offered to pay back the refund fee.

My hope is that all merchants will evaluate their gift card displays and make a customer-friendly effort to separate the prepaid cards from "true" gift cards.

I know I will be checking to make sure I do not give anyone a Netspend prepaid card - it's more of an insult than a gift.