Help with Visa Debit/Gift Cards

[drgnfly30]

I received four Visa Debit cards worth $160 through a Cingular rebate... after I activated the cards I put them away for our trip but I must have tossed the paperwork... I can't remember exactly how these will work... did I need a pin#? do they work like a gift/credit card... I'm pretty sure they shouldn't be used at gas stations, hotels, car rentals etc.. because of the authorization holds but what else? I'm such a scatter brain sometimes!

 

[mrslur]

I work retail and have seen these many times. You don't need a pin number. It does help to know how much is on each card because the cashier needs to type in that amount. If you try use it to pay the full amount the card will be declined (at least that's how it works at my store). Hope that makes sense. I just realized you are also from Delaware. Small world.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I had gotten the same kind of cards when we signed up with Cingular last year. I really hate how giftcards like those force you to either spend the exact amount on the card or you end up with a few dollars left on them that never gets spent. So, I bought giftcards for our local grocery store with them. At least the grocery store knows how to handle their own giftcards when the total exceeds the balance on the card. Plus, the VISA giftcards had an expiration date less than 6 months from when I received them, whereas the grocery giftcards never expired.

Then I took the amount of cash that I "saved" on groceries and put it into my Disney fund.

 

[ameraumi]

They are used just like a CC. DS got one for Christmas and we had a heck of a time using it at Wal-Mart. They had a special way they had to enter it so it took a while to go thru. I hope it was just them and not the norm at most places.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I bought one for my own use. I purchased airfare from Southwest without any complications, used it just like a credit card. I also used it at Target and the grocery store without any hassles. As the OP mentioned, you can not pay for gas at the pump, but you can pay for your gas with the attendant.

 

[drgnfly30]

I work retail and have seen these many times. You don't need a pin number. It does help to know how much is on each card because the cashier needs to type in that amount. If you try use it to pay the full amount the card will be declined (at least that's how it works at my store). Hope that makes sense. I just realized you are also from Delaware. Small world.

Hey!

So I can only use if for a partial payment of something? I was thinking about buying Disney Dollars with them so I won't run into an issue with them when I'm down there...

 

[my3kids]

Hey!

So I can only use if for a partial payment of something? I was thinking about buying Disney Dollars with them so I won't run into an issue with them when I'm down there...

You can use the full value of the card for the full value of any item. But if you have a card worth $50 and try to buy something costing $51 it would be declined. You could tell the cashier I want to pay only $50 on this card and pay the remining with cash and that works since the computer doesn't try to authorize more than the value of the card.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

You can use the full value of the card for the full value of any item. But if you have a card worth $50 and try to buy something costing $51 it would be declined. You could tell the cashier I want to pay only $50 on this card and pay the remining with cash and that works since the computer doesn't try to authorize more than the value of the card.

This did happen to me when I reached the remaining balance on the card. I handed the cashier the difference in cash first so I could use the remainder of the card and not having anything leftover. I did miscalculate thinking I didn't have enough change so there's about forty cents hanging out there.

 

[shades]

Hey!

So I can only use if for a partial payment of something? I was thinking about buying Disney Dollars with them so I won't run into an issue with them when I'm down there...

I've got $100 worth of Cingular rebate giftcards coming in the mail and I think I'm going to buy Disney Dollars with mine. Does anybody know if Disney Dollars are taxed when they are purchased? I've never actually bought Disney Dollars from the Disney Store. I've only received them from Sunshine Rewards.

 

[LizinSTL]

I've got $100 worth of Cingular rebate giftcards coming in the mail and I think I'm going to buy Disney Dollars with mine. Does anybody know if Disney Dollars are taxed when they are purchased? I've never actually bought Disney Dollars from the Disney Store. I've only received them from Sunshine Rewards.

I have bought $50 in disney dollars twice now with $50 visa/amex cards. No tax.

 

[wdwstar]

I am not sure if this is the same visa cc/debit/GC that i was looking into for DD. The visa card to activate it was $9.95 but over the internet they waive the fee. The other thing bother me was if you only had $50 on the card and tried to use it for $51 your card would be declined and you would be charge a $25 fee for going over the limit. If you wanted to check your bal. you could check it on the internet for free or call and be charge a fee or have certain retail stores check your bal. for a fee, I think one was CVS. you could also add or recharge the card at CVS for a fee too. I did not think this was a good idea for a teenager.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I paid $3 for a Visa gift card at my bank and could have any amount up to $500. There is a number to call on the back of the card to check the balance. The card isn't reloadable and there's no fee for going over the "limit"-the card will simply be declined. It can't be used to pay for gas at the pump because most stations place a hold on a credit/debit card. You can buy gas, but need to present the card to the attendant.

 

[Thumper33]

Watch out for your Cingular/Visa rebate card - they expire after only 3 months! If you "put it away" a couple of months ago, it may not be active anymore.

 

[drgnfly30]

Watch out for your Cingular/Visa rebate card - they expire after only 3 months! If you "put it away" a couple of months ago, it may not be active anymore.

I got mine back in March & they are good through 7/06...

 

[Thumper33]

Oh, that's good! I think it's a ripoff that they can put such a small time frame on them. I read a news article about how these companies hope you will "forget" to use them up before the expiration date, then they get to keep the cash!

 

[poohj80]

Since these are Visa cards, will they work in an ATM to get the cash value?

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Since these are Visa cards, will they work in an ATM to get the cash value?

No.

The cards have a Visa logo and can be used anywhere where Visa is accepted for payment. They can not be used like a debit card with a PIN and you cannot use them at an ATM.