Visa gift cards

[eatatmidnight]

Some family members would like to purchase our college aged son gift cards for Christmas. The Visa gift card has come up. We purchased one from our credit union for him to use on a Disney trip in 07 and it was a pain to use in a lot of stores and restaurants. Are there some that are easier to use than others? If so, where are they sold? Thanks

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I buy VISA gift cards at my bank (TD Bank, formerly Commerce) every Christmas for my nieces and nephews. They've never mentioned having a problem redeeming them. I know that it can be a pain when there is a small balance on the card and you need to supplement the card with cash. When that happens, you sometimes need to have the cashier take the cash first and then run the GC for the balance.

It's more difficult online. I have a $100 VISA GC from Verizon. I got it for switching my phone/internet to FIOS. I tried to order a $100 Disney GC with it but since online merchants will make a reversible "test" charge of a few dollars before running the actual charge, the GC appears to have less than $100 on it when Disney goes to make the actual charge.

As long as your DS is not planning a lot of online shopping, it chould not be a problem to use the VISA GCs.

 

[ceecee]

You really need to watch those. DD has gotten several and one started taking $2.50 per month out after 6 months and the other after 9 months. She likes to "save up" when she wants something. The last time she got one, we gave her the $ and used it immediately. Some you even have to pay a charge to buy.

 

[eatatmidnight]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'll be sure to have them check the fine print before they get one.

 

[TaraPA]

I work in retail and 99% of these are a pain! Many have special keying instructions, or split tender instructions, and it is difficult to keep up with all the companies issuing them these days. Like someone else said, some also take a fee off monthly if there is a balance over a certain time limit. I've seen some that take a fee off for every balance inquiry, and for every swipe at a store. I had one customer last year screaming at me because she thought she has $25 on the card (that was the issuing amount). I swiped, it was declined. She insisted I swipe again, it was declined. I suggested she call for her balance, and when she did it was only $20 - they deducted $2.50 each time I swiped it in the store. What she didn't know was that they were about to charge her $2.50 for the balance inquiry call, so when I went to swipe her card for $20, it technically was now down to $17.50, and it was declined. Take off another $2.50 for swiping...this went round & round until she almost had nothing left on the card!