Amazon gift returns

i have had nightmares upon returning a gift and getting money toward another purchase at amazon. I somehow missed that you need codes, even after your money is in the gift category on your account. If you do not have proper codes, you cannot get the money out of your gift account, and it will be there forever.
I did chat, and he gave me a fake url, to email some department.
I also do not have prime, and do not keep my credit card active in my account.
Has this happened to you? How did you handle it?