Visa gift card question

[always quiet]

I am making this trip to Disney a 'credit free' one. Everything at the moment is paid in full. We do have Visa check cards but thought it might be better to use a Visa prepaid card (I have some bills that are automatically deducted from my checking account and don't want to worry about accidentially taking too much out ). I was looking at their website and know that my bank 'sells' them. Does anyone know if you have to pay a fee for these cards or is it just the amount that you want to place on them? Also, can 2 seperate cards be linked together?

Thanks for any help!!

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Whether or not there is a fee associated with getting the card will depend upon the source. I see that you're from the Southeastern part of PA. Commerce Bank issues their VISA giftcard for no fee to their customers. Wachovia Bank charges $1.95 per card, but only to their customers. If you live near a Simon Mall (I know that Springfield Mall in DelCo is one, KoP Mall is another), they also offer a VISA gift card but I don't know if there is any handling fee involved in issuing one.

To my knowledge, two separate cards cannot be linked. You cannot reload VISA giftcards, so using that last few dollars can be difficult.

VISA giftcard transactions are often treated the same as debit transactions. If you try to use one at the gas pump, it may be declined if it has less than $50 available on it, since may gas stations pre-authorize for that amount before allowing you to pump your gas. This can be pain in the neck sometimes, especially when the balance on the card goes below the purchase price of your transaction. Then you'll need a cashier who knows how to ring it up so that you can use those last dollars.

 

[airplane]

I just got a visa gift card as a wedding present. I thought it was a great idea until I went to use it. I had a lot of problems w/ stores not knowing how to put the charge thru so I was declined alot. Also, when you get a receipt from the purchase, it doesn't show the amount you have left. I think it's more of a hastle then using cash. (I also just might be spoiled from how easy the Visa Disney Reward Card. I never had a problem using it and the balance remaining was on the receipt.)

 

[Mom2Ashli]

So you can get a Visa Gift card from your bank?

My Mom is looking to get a couple of these for a couple of her older Grandchildren. I didn't have a clue where you would get them.

 

[always quiet]

Yes, you can get them from many banks. If you check out their website, you can see exactly who sells them.

I did call our local bank and was talking to their customer service dept. One thing really confuses me now. She mentioned the $1.95 fee, which is no big deal BUT then she said that each time you use it, there is a "transaction fee" but she didn't know how much it was. That doesn't make any sense!! My kids have gotten gift cards for Target or Toys R Us and I have never heard of something like this.


Maybe I'll just go to the Disney Store today and get a whole bunch of Disney $$. Wonder if I left them with the front desk when I check in, would they attach them to the room key for charging privledges?

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Yes, you can get them from many banks. If you check out their website, you can see exactly who sells them.

I did call our local bank and was talking to their customer service dept. One thing really confuses me now. She mentioned the $1.95 fee, which is no big deal BUT then she said that each time you use it, there is a "transaction fee" but she didn't know how much it was. That doesn't make any sense!! My kids have gotten gift cards for Target or Toys R Us and I have never heard of something like this.


Maybe I'll just go to the Disney Store today and get a whole bunch of Disney $$. Wonder if I left them with the front desk when I check in, would they attach them to the room key for charging privledges?

That is crazy that they will charge you everytime you use the card. Okay maybe this is not the way to go for my Mom. I did notice that our local mall sells American Express gift cards. But no everyone takes American Express.

 

[gottaluvdis]

Be VERY wary of the Visa gift cards issued by Simon Malls. The state of NH is suing Simon Malls/Visa over these gift cards because of the exorbitant fees associated with having and using them, some of which are illegal in NH. They charge a fee just to purchase the card, they charge a fee to use it (in some cases), they charge a fee if you don't use all of it within a certain time-frame, they charge a fee to re-load it etc. Another state has also sued (I believe it was NY or CT) and the suits are pending. The NH suit has been going on since last year and has received a fair amount of press up here. Even though some fees associated with this card are illegal in NH, Simon claims the cards are issued by a national bank so they are trying to get around state laws. The AG's office in NH calls this card "the gift that keeps on taking".

 

[zulaya]

We used it for Disney and had no problems having it accepted there at any place we used it.

Cards cannot be linked.

We won't be using these cards again.

Why?

1.) You don't get a balance on the receipt...logical though considering if you pay at restaurants and add a tip, then you'd have to wait for an updated receipt.

2.)When you get to those last little dollars, you can't cash them out without paying a fee. Our bank wanted to charge us $15 for a card that had $4.85 on it. We didn't even want cash, just transferred back into our checking account. They claimed they couldn't do it.


So while it was nice not to have traveler's checks, that's all we'll be using in the future because at least you can check your wallet or purse and see exactly how much you have left. And those leftover traveler's checks can at least be re-deposited in your account when you get home with no other fee.

I'll happily pay that 1.5% for traveler's checks...it's cheaper than the fees on the gift card and a lot less hassle.

 

[twingle3]

i ordered one for mil on october 19th from Suntrust Bank online. They still haven't mailed it out to her. i called them and they stated that they can't just refund the charges to my credit card without charging me a fee. even though it was their fault. they can't even tell me what is wrong and why she hasn't received it yet. beware of suntrust bank.