Gift Card Vent/Rant

[lady9]

For signing up for a new TV service we received 2 Visa gift cards. One was $150 and the other was $100. We went to a wonderful restaurant this evening with my parents, DD, DS, and Ds's girlfriend. The bill came to $184 for the 7 of us-totally worth it, excellent meal, fantastic service. The server used the $150 one with no problem but the $100 one was declined. He tried 3 times. We activated both cards as instructed and even checked the balance before we left home. Anyone have any idea why this would happen? As a side note-I hate the TV service we signed up for, very poor customer service and too many tech issues. I have the date we can cancel the service marked on the calendar.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

Not too sure if this helps, but when we got mastercard gift cards over the holidays and wanted to use it to get a $100 giftcard at benihana's, the $100.00 mastercard was declined. Benihana said this happens often with credit card/giftcards because when restaurants run credit cards, it automatically pulls an authorization for total plus 20% for gratuity. When she ran it for $80, it went through fine. Ironically we also had a $50 amex gift card and we were able to buy a $50 benihana gift card without issue. It may have to do with the issuing bank?

 

[Brer Shay]

This is a standard problem for VISA/MasterCard giftcards. If the server runs it through for a specific dollar amount, they will work; however if there is a % added, they won't go through. Same issue can happen at some hair salons. You can get some restaurants will work around it by adding in a tip before the card is run, but the server has to know how to do this, and not all do. The first card ($150) worked because it was used completely.

 

[poohfriend77]

That is so frustrating, OP! We have had so many problems using prepaid Visa/Mastercard, with it not going through, or a cashier telling me I needed to know the exact amount left of the card, etc. But my husband finally found a solution that works for us.

As soon as we get one, he immediately uses it to buy himself an Amazon gift card online. Then the whole balance of the original card is used up, and the total amount just sits in his Amazon account until he wants to use it. We know it won't expire, no "service fees," we won't lose the card, etc. It's great for us, because he orders from Amazon a lot, so it will never go to waste! Just thought I'd mention it as an alternative in the future.

 

[scard192]

My company gives us prepaid Visa gift cards as a Holiday Bonus and I had the same problem trying to use it at a restaurant on New Years Eve. Used another credit card for dinner and used the prepaid gift card at a regular vendor. It is frustrating the first time it happens when you don't expect it.

This year I used the card to buy a Kindle Fire at Staples and told the cashier exactly how much it was for and that I would using a credit card to pay the difference, no problem at all.

 

[ICF]

Issues like this are why whenever I get a GC from a place like VISA/AMEX (vs a store GC) we promptly go to a store that sells multiple gc's -- target, cvs, kroger....and use it to by other GC's. Never had an issue using a GC from a specific store or restaurant, but those visa / mc / amex ones have always caused us issues.

I used to get a Simon Mall Visa gift card as a christmas gift and it was always a pain to use.

 

[lady9]

Thank you for all the info. We will definitely use any future Visa GC to buy other GC rather than fuss with it. Thankfully we had our debit card with us. We will put our weekly grocery money back in the checking account and use the GC for groceries. It will work out in the end. Glad we were with family, could have been embarrassing if we had been out with friends. Thanks again!

 

[dcfromva]

I bought some similar type GCs several years ago as gifts, but decided to use them myself after reading about problems redeeming them (I would be horified if my gift recipient was put through any trouble redeeming them).
I won't bore anyone with the details, but it turns out the issuing cc company on the GCs I bought (back then) put a 15% block on certain categories of charges--such as hotels, restaurants and so on.

Within the past couple of years, I received a promotional MC GC and found they put a 20% block on certain categories of charges. The latest one, I actually called the issuing company and they said it was to leave room for the tip--and they can't tell if a hotel is a restaurant and there is no override! (I had tried to use it when I checked out to settle my hotel bill)

I found that Starbucks is a marvel at accepting gift cards, I was able to transfer the entire balance on the GCs over to my Starbucks card with no problems.

 

[disneylove69]

I had same prob on disney cruise. Bank said they can not be used for hotels and other categories there has to b x amount over total amount. So u have to use it almost only to buy product.

 

[jl]

Walk me through this please....I have a Visa $1000 gift card I want to use to pay for my room only reservation @ Boardwalk in March. The balance is $1250 as I have paid the deposit. I don't have any package - just booked the room. As the gift card is brand new, I haven't used it at all, will the $1000 be fully accepted/used & I can just pay the $250 balance? Or am I not understanding correctly? Thanks for any help.

 

[rantnnravin]

Walk me through this please....I have a Visa $1000 gift card I want to use to pay for my room only reservation @ Boardwalk in March. The balance is $1250 as I have paid the deposit. I don't have any package - just booked the room. As the gift card is brand new, I haven't used it at all, will the $1000 be fully accepted/used & I can just pay the $250 balance? Or am I not understanding correctly? Thanks for any help.

You might want to consider buying Disney Gift Cards with the $1000 Visa

 

[amryn21]

Walk me through this please....I have a Visa $1000 gift card I want to use to pay for my room only reservation @ Boardwalk in March. The balance is $1250 as I have paid the deposit. I don't have any package - just booked the room. As the gift card is brand new, I haven't used it at all, will the $1000 be fully accepted/used & I can just pay the $250 balance? Or am I not understanding correctly? Thanks for any help.

Just be sure they run it for 1000.00 and you shouldn't have a problem.