Visa<sup>®</sup> Gift Cards - FAQs (2024)

Table of Contents
How do I buy a Visa gift card? Can I get a Visa gift card at a branch location? Will my credit be checked to purchase a Visa gift card? Is the Visa gift card connected to my credit or the credit of the person to whom I am giving the card? Why do you need my personal information if I am purchasing the card for someone else? If the Visa gift card is not connected to my personal credit profile, why do you need my Social Security Number? Can I add a message on a Visa gift card? What payment method can I use to buy a Visa gift card? Will I be charged a fee for purchasing a Visa gift card? Can I cancel a Visa gift card order online? The website timed out before I was able to complete my purchase. Will I still be charged? How long will it take to receive a Visa gift card? Where will the Visa gift card be sent? Can I send a Visa gift card to any address? Why should I save my profile if I am buying a Visa gift card? How do I activate my Visa gift card? Can I create a PIN (Personal Identification Number)? What should I do if the Visa gift card never arrives? My Visa gift card doesn't have my name on it. Can I still use it? Do I have to accept the Terms & Conditions? How will I know the amount of my Visa gift card? Why should I register my Visa gift card? Do I need an email address to use my Visa gift card? Can I make purchases for more than the amount remaining on my Visa gift card? Can I use my Visa gift card at more than one place? Can I use my Visa gift card online? Can I use my Visa gift card to get cash at an ATM or financial institution? Can I use my Visa gift card to get cash back at checkout? Can I add more money onto my Visa gift card? How can I check the balance on my Visa gift card? What should I do if my Visa gift card is lost or stolen? Do Visa gift cards expire? Can I buy a new Visa gift card with my current Visa gift card? Why am I suddenly being charged an inactive fee? What is the difference between a pending transaction and a posted transaction? Why is my actual balance different than my available balance? FAQs

How do I buy a Visa gift card?

You can purchase a Visa gift card online. For more information about denominations or other frequently asked questions, visit our Visa Gift Cards page.

Can I get a Visa gift card at a branch location?

No, Visa gift cards aren’t available at our branches.

Will my credit be checked to purchase a Visa gift card?

No.

Is the Visa gift card connected to my credit or the credit of the person to whom I am giving the card?

No. The Visa gift card is not tied to anyone's personal credit.

Why do you need my personal information if I am purchasing the card for someone else?

Your information protects your rights with the card if it is lost or stolen before the recipient receives it. It also enables the gift card recipient to call a Customer Service Representative and validate his/her identity as the gift card receiver.

If the Visa gift card is not connected to my personal credit profile, why do you need my Social Security Number?

Visa uses this type of information when filing a dispute for an unauthorized purchase. While your Social Security Number is not required, it enables Visa to better protect your dispute rights if your card is ever lost or stolen.

Can I add a message on a Visa gift card?

Yes, we have several personalized messages that can be embossed on the Visa gift card. A list will be provided during the purchase process.

What payment method can I use to buy a Visa gift card?

You can use a Visa or MasterCard (credit or debit) issued from us. We do not accept Visa or MasterCard issued from other institutions. Please note you will be charged a cash advance fee if using a credit card.

Will I be charged a fee for purchasing a Visa gift card?

Yes, there is a fee for purchasing a Visa gift card. Purchase and delivery fees will appear during the purchase process.

Can I cancel a Visa gift card order online?

No. Once you have submitted your online order, it cannot be canceled.

The website timed out before I was able to complete my purchase. Will I still be charged?

If you were able to submit your purchase and you received a confirmation number, you will be charged for your purchase. If you were unable to click the "Submit" button and the system timed out, you should not be charged for your purchase.

How long will it take to receive a Visa gift card?

After placing your order, please allow up to 10 business days to receive your Visa gift card. If you requested Express Delivery, you will receive your Visa gift card in 3-5 business days.

Where will the Visa gift card be sent?

The Visa gift card will be sent to you unless you specify a different address.

Can I send a Visa gift card to any address?

Visa gift cards can be sent to US addresses, including APO and FPO addresses. They cannot be sent to a PO box or international address.

Why should I save my profile if I am buying a Visa gift card?

By saving your profile, you can purchase additional Visa gift cards in the future without having to enter your account information again. In addition, you can sign in and view your purchase history.

How do I activate my Visa gift card?

You can activate your Visa gift card one of two ways: Call 866.543.9161 (you can also find this on the activation sticker of your Visa gift card). There is no charge for using the voice response system. A fee applies if you speak with a Call Center representative. You can also sign in using your Visa gift card number and click Activate My Card.

Can I create a PIN (Personal Identification Number)?

Yes - you can create a pin on the Gift Card website by selecting "My Pin" under the My Settings tab.

You can also request one at the time you activate your card using the toll-free number on the sticker. There is no charge for using the voice response system. If you activate your card on the website, you will need to call 866.543.9161 to request a PIN.

What should I do if the Visa gift card never arrives?

If you do not receive the card within 14 business days, call 866.543.9161.

My Visa gift card doesn't have my name on it. Can I still use it?

Yes, you can still use your Visa gift card even though your name doesn't appear on the card. Make sure you sign the back of your Visa gift card because a retailer will validate your identity by comparing your signature on the back of your Visa gift card with the one on your receipt.

Do I have to accept the Terms & Conditions?

Using your Visa gift card signifies that you accept the .

How will I know the amount of my Visa gift card?

The original value may be printed on your card or on the card carrier. You can also check your balance by signing in or by calling the toll-free number on the back of your card.

Why should I register my Visa gift card?

There are several benefits:

  • It enables you to make purchases online. Your registered address will serve as the billing address that retailers require.
  • It enables representatives to more quickly assist you when you need assistance.
  • It protects you if your card is ever lost or stolen, so that you can be reimbursed for funds lost.

Do I need an email address to use my Visa gift card?

No, you are not required to have an email address to make purchases with your Visa gift card. However, your email address is useful if you forget your username or password on the website – it can be sent to you at the email address we have on file.

Can I make purchases for more than the amount remaining on my Visa gift card?

For purchases that are higher than your Visa gift card balance, use your gift card along with another form of payment. If you attempt to make a purchase for more than the amount available on the card without another form of payment, the transaction will be declined.

Can I use my Visa gift card at more than one place?

Yes, you can use your Visa gift card at multiple retailers long as there is a balance on the card.

Can I use my Visa gift card online?

Yes, you can use your Visa gift card to make purchases online. We suggest that you register your card before purchasing online. Some retailers will not process your purchase without a valid address registered to the card.

Can I use my Visa gift card to get cash at an ATM or financial institution?

No, your Visa gift card can only be used for purchases

Can I use my Visa gift card to get cash back at checkout?

No.

Can I add more money onto my Visa gift card?

No the card will no longer work once the funds have been spent. You can always purchase a new gift card.

How can I check the balance on my Visa gift card?

To check the balance of your Visa gift card, sign inor call the toll-free number on the back of your card (a fee applies if you call).

What should I do if my Visa gift card is lost or stolen?

If your card is lost or stolen, contact us at 800.562.0999 to report it.

Do Visa gift cards expire?

Yes, Visa gift cards expire seven years from the purchase date. The expiration date is printed on your card for easy reference.

Can I buy a new Visa gift card with my current Visa gift card?

Yes, you can purchase a new Visa gift card using your current Visa gift card. There may be a charge for this purchase, which will be displayed when you order.

Why am I suddenly being charged an inactive fee?

A monthly maintenance fee is waived until the card becomes inactive for 18 months. If you still have a balance and you have not used your card for 18 months, your card will be charged a monthly inactive fee for as long as there is a balance remaining on the card.

What is the difference between a pending transaction and a posted transaction?

Pending transactions are authorized transactions with a hold for the purchase amount until the transaction clears. Posted transactions are purchases that have cleared on your card. There are some pending transactions that are more or less than the amount you actually spent. Some retailers place a pre-authorization amount to ensure the account is active and that you have enough money to cover the purchase. Once the transaction posts to your account, the pending transaction will be removed within a few business days, and you can use the funds again.

Why is my actual balance different than my available balance?

Typically, your available balance is less than your actual balance because your available balance reflects purchases that have been authorized but have not yet cleared your account. Your actual balance reflects all purchases that have cleared on your account.

Visa<sup>®</sup> Gift Cards - FAQs (2024)

FAQs

How to fix Visa gift card not working? ›

If your Visa gift card isn't activated, it could be the reason why it's not working or is being declined. On purchase, gift cards need to be activated to be used. If you're having issues, please call (833)-263-4157.

Why is my Visa gift card being declined online? ›

My gift card was declined. What should I do? Check to make sure there are sufficient funds on the card before making a purchase. If your purchase is declined and you believe the card has sufficient funds, please contact the card issuer at the toll-free number listed on the back of the card.

How to activate a Visa gift card? ›

Activate—If you purchase your Visa gift card from a retail outlet, the card should be activated and ready for immediate use after purchase. However, if you purchased it online, you'll need to activate it once you receive it. This is typically done online or by calling the toll-free number listed on the card.

Why isn't my Visa gift card working on Amazon? ›

First, not all Visa gift cards may work as debit or credit cards on Amazon. Some may require users to use a CVV to authorize a purchase. Since Amazon doesn't ask for this information while adding payment methods, these Visa gift cards might not go through.

How do you get a Visa gift card to work? ›

Many Visa Gift cards are activated automatically upon purchase and may be used immediately. However, some Visa Gift cards must be activated by the recipient before they can be used. Be sure to sign in the designated area on the back before making your first purchase.

Why is my Visa card not working? ›

Your card may be declined for a number of reasons: the card has expired; you're over your credit limit; the card issuer sees suspicious activity that could be a sign of fraud; or a hotel, rental car company, or other business placed a block (or hold) on your card for its estimated total of your bill.

Why is my visa card being declined online? ›

A credit card decline is when a credit card payment isn't authorized or accepted. There are a few reasons why a customer's card might not work – whether their card has expired, they've spent too much on it, or the issuing bank thinks there might be suspicious activity, among other reasons.

Why is my card being declined online when I have money? ›

Why might my debit card be denied even if I have money in the account? It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Your debit card may be denied due to overdrafting, reaching daily purchase limits, or your bank suspecting fraud.

How to fix a declined gift card? ›

Gift cards & pre-paid cards

The best thing to do is to contact the number on your card, or contact the issuer of the card, and ask them why the charge is being declined and ask them to remove this restriction. Once this has been lifted, you should be able to try again without the card being declined.

Is a Visa gift card automatically activated? ›

If you're wondering how to activate a Visa gift card, the good news is they are already activated and ready to use after they've been bought. So once you've been gifted a card, almost all of the work has been done for you — just make sure you sign the back of your card before using it!

What is the PIN number on a Visa gift card? ›

The assigned PIN number is the last four digits of the card number.

Are Visa gift cards activated at self checkout? ›

Yes—if you're using a Visa Credit card, a Visa Debit card or Visa Gift card.

Why do Visa gift cards never work? ›

The most common reasons are that the card hasn't been activated, the cashier is running the wrong type of transaction, the dollar amount being charged is greater than the card's balance or the credit card processing machine is bumping up the charge amount to either place a hold on the card or to allow for a gratuity.

Why is Amazon no longer accepting Visa cards? ›

Online retailer Amazon has, at the last minute, cancelled plans to stop accepting Visa-issued credit cards. Amazon previously announced that it would stop accepting Visa credit cards this Wednesday, 17 January (see story below), criticising what it said were the card issuer's high payment costs.

Is Amazon blocking Visa cards? ›

19, 2022. But Americans just skimming headlines might miss the fact that this issue involves Amazon in the U.K., not in the United States. For now, anyway. There's been no move by Amazon — at least publicly — to ban Visa cards as a payment method for U.S. shoppers.

Why is my Visa only one gift card not working? ›

There are a few reasons why a transaction might be declined, including: The merchant's connection to the Visa network is currently unavailable. The OnlyONE Visa Gift Card has not been 'activated' The transaction value is greater than the available balance on your OnlyONE Visa Gift Card.

Why won't my Vanilla gift card work even though it's activated? ›

The most common reason for the “status on hold” error is when the Vanilla gift card has been temporarily frozen and its active status cancelled for some reasons such as the gift card being reported stolen etc. The best approach to this is to contact Vanilla and give them your card details.

What happens when a Visa gift card runs out? ›

Yes, Visa gift cards do have an expiration date. Typically, the expiration date is noted on the back or front of the card itself. After the expiration date has passed, the card will no longer be valid and the remaining balance will be forfeited.

How do I contact Visa gift card customer service? ›

For general questions regarding Visa gift cards, call (866)511-GIFT. Card information is provided by third parties. Visa may receive compensation from the card issuers whose cards appear on the website, but makes no representations about the accuracy or completeness of any information.

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