Learn All About Visa Gift Cards

What are Visa Gift Cards?

A Visa Gift Card is a prepaid gift card that looks like a Visa credit card or a Visa check card. It is not a credit card. You can purchase it as a gift for someone else or for yourself. Any establishment that accepts a Visa debit card, will accept a Visa Gift Card.
The purchaser can place a certain amount of value into a card.
Unlike a traditional gift card that can only be used at the store or company that issued it, a Visa Gift Card can be used at any one of the millions of places that accept the Visa debit or check cards, thus making it extremely convenient.

Why Get Visa Gift Cards?

Why buy Visa Gift Cards when cash is just as good and cheaper (i.e. no fees)? The advantages of Visa Gift Cards are many. They are convenient and accepted by millions of merchants. You don't need to carry a large wad of cash with you and you're not liable if they are lost or stolen. They can also have messages on them that are suited to the occasion such as Happy Birthday or Merry Christmas.

Cost of Visa Gift Cards

What is the cost of a Visa Gift Card? Are there any fees?
Costs and fees will vary among different providers (issuers). For example, an issuer might charge $1.95 to issue the card, 35 cents for each transaction, and a $2.50 monthly maintenance fee (starting 6 months after the card was issued).

Activating Visa Gift Cards

Some Visa Gift Cards are activated automatically when you buy them; others have to be activated after purchase. Any activation instructions should be on the card. The recipient should sign the back of the card to help reduce the risk of its unauthorized use if lost or stolen.

How to use Visa Gift Cards

You use Visa Gift Cards much like you'd use regular credit or debit cards. Make sure your know the balance on the card before using it; although some merchants will be able to check the balance others might not.
Even though it is really a debit card, when you swipe the card through a keypad, select credit, not debit.Generally most Visa Gift Cards do not come with a PIN number. If you press the debit key, you'll be asked for a PIN number, which you don't have!
The balance on the card diminishes each time you make a purchase.
Can I use a Visa Gift Card outside of the United States? The front of the card may have a statement like "Valid only in the United States"e. which indicates that it is a Domestic Only Card. Visa Gift Cards that can be used outside of the United States may charge various fees; e.g. a 3% conversion fee, $2 transaction fee, etc.
If you know that the purchase price is greater than the balance on your card, tell the cashier in advance so that you can split the payment and make up the difference with cash, check or credit card.
Generally, Visa Gift Cards cannot be used at ATMs. For this you need to purchase separate pre-loaded ATM cards that can be used at ATM machines.
Once the balance has been depleted a Visa Gift Card cannot be reloaded.
Visa Gift Cards do have expiration dates. For example, your card may expire after one year and you may be charged a $2.50 monthly transaction fee after the first six months.

Checking the Balance on Visa Gift Cards

Some retailers of Visa Gift Cards can check the balance on your card. You can also determine the balance online. Check the back of the card for instructions. Remember, unlike many credit cards, if you go over your limit on a Visa Gift Card the transaction will be declined.

You can get the balance on your card from many merchants, including:

Best Buy
Office Max
Big 5 Sporting Goods
Dillard's
Abercrombie & Fitch
Boscov’s
Ross Stores
Barnes & Noble
Kohls
Toys R Us
TJ Max
Kmart
May
Nordstrom
Target

Returning Merchandise Purchased With A Visa Gift Card

Its a good idea to hold onto a Visa Gift Card even after you have reduced its balance to zero. Upon returning previously purchased products, the merchant may ask for it so that he can apply the credit to the card. You must wait 3 to 7 days before you can use this credit.

Visa Gift Cards Enjoy Zero Liability

The Zero Liability policy of Visa also applies to Visa Gift Cards; i.e. if your card is stolen or lost and then used fraudulently, you will not be liable.
Note: Zero Liability coverage is only applicable to cards issued in the United States.
The issuer of the card has a toll free number which should be on the back of the card as well as on the card materials (that came when you bought the card). After you purchase (or recieve) your Visa Gift card, you should write down this toll-free number as well as the Gift Card number, and preferably keep these separate from your card. If your card is ever lost or stolen you'll need to contact the card issuer and provide them with the card number so that they can cancel it and issue a replacement card for you.
Also note that the issuer may charge you a service fee (e.g. $15) for canceling the lost (or stolen) card and reissuing a new card.

How To Get Visa Gift Cards

You can purchase Visa Gift Cards in person, online or by phone.

A large number of banks and financial institutions are vendors of Visa Gift Cards, including:

Wachovia
Wells Fargo
PNC Bank
National City
Commerce Bank

There are numerous retailers who sell Visa Gift Cards including:

Walmart
CVS
Winn Dixie
Pathmark
Walgreens

Shopping For Visa Gift Cards

The Internet has made it easy to shop for Visa Gift Cards using directories and search engines like Google and Yahoo.

Canceling Purchases Made With Visa Gift Cards

Suppose you make a $40 purchase using a Visa Gift Card with a $100 balance and then immediately decide to cancel the transaction. Can you use the same card to make a $100 purchase that same day? The answer is No! During the first transaction an authorization hold (for $40) was placed on the card and then removed (when you canceled the transaction). It takes 3 to 7 days for the authorization hold to be removed, during which you only have access to the remaining $60 on the card.

Using Visa Gift Cards To Buy Gas

Suppose you have a $40 balance on your Visa Gift Card and want to buy $20 of gas. When you swipe your gift card at the pump the transaction is declined. The credit card machine at the pump does not know how much gas you'll be pumping so it attempts to get an authorization for $50 and declines the transaction because your balance is only $40. So if you're not sure whether the balance on your Visa Gift Card is at least $50, don't pay at the pump. Go to the gas station attendant and tell him how much to charge on the card (e.g. $20).

Using Visa Gift Cards At Restaurants

Be aware that some restaurants may add an automatic tip or other charges to your bill, resulting in a bill that exceeds your balance and is therefore declined. Of course you can arrange with the waiter or cashier charge the full balance of the card and pay for the remainder by cash, check or credit card.

Making Online Purchases With Visa Gift Cards

Karen received a $500 Visa Gift Card from her friend Robert. Shopping online, she adds $300 worth of merchandise to her shopping cart, proceeds to check out using her gift card as payment and is surprised when the transaction is declined. When purchasing the card, Robert had misspelled parts of Karen's full name and/or address.
To verify or alter the name or address corresponding to a Visa Gift Card, go to the issuer's website or contact them at the toll-free number on the back of the card (or in the card materials).

Visa Gift Cards For Employees

Why purchase Visa Gift Cards for employees? They are a great way to reward top performers and provide work-related incentives.

Visa Gift Cards Can Be Customized For The Recipient

Many issuers allow you to customize a Visa Gift Card with messages such as:

Happy Birthday
Merry Christmas
Happy Anniversary
Seasons Greetings
Congradulations

Is a Visa Gift Card's Unused Balance Lost After Expiration?

Frank has a Visa Gift Card which expired 2 days ago and had an outstanding balance of $200. Is the $200 lost? Not necessarily! For a fee (e.g. $15), some issuers will provide you with a new card loaded with your unused balance.

Visa Gift Cards Are Not For Everyone

Of course you need to buy Visa Gift Cards for people who can appreciate them for the convenience, flexibility and security that they provide. You may wish to buy Visa Gift Cards for these types of people and regular gifts for others. After all some people, perhaps thinking you didn't want to devote enough time to pick out a present for them, may not appreciate (or may even get offended) at receiving such a gift card.