How to set up vanilla visa gift card

Take the guesswork out of gift buying with the Visa Gift card. Visa Gift cards are perfect for any occasion - give the gift of freedom and choice by giving the Visa Gift card.

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A smart gift anyone can appreciate.

The Visa Gift Card is an ideal choice for birthdays, holidays, weddings, and suits all your gift-giving needs. It's also perfect for people of all ages. You decide how much money to give; they decide where to spend it.

You will receive important information regarding the Visa Gift Card such as how to activate and use the card. This information should be given to the recipient of the card.

Visa Gift Card Features

Thoughtful

Recipients can use the Visa Gift card to buy what they want, when they want.

Secure

The Visa Gift Card can be replaced if lost or stolen*.

* Covers all Canadian-issued prepaid cards 

Easy to use 

When making a purchase, simply present the card to the merchant and sign the purchase receipt.

Convenient

Visa Gift Cards are welcome at any of the millions of locations where Visa is accepted, even online.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Your Visa Gift Card Balance

Making a Purchase with your Visa Gift Card

Using Your Visa Gift Card

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You can use a Visa gift card for any purchase that you could normally make with a standard credit or debit card. While some Visa gift cards are activated automatically when they are purchased, others require additional steps to activate them. You can activate your card by calling the phone number printed on it, or by going online and entering the card’s information. Once activated, you can register your card if you’d like to use it for online purchases.

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   Call the number on the sticker on the front of your card. Most credit and debit cards come with a sticker attached to the front of the card when you first get it. This sticker contains the phone number that you need to activate your card. This is also true for some Visa gift cards. If there is a sticker on the front of your card, call the number listed and follow the automated prompts to activate it.[1]

   • To activate your card over the phone, you will have to verify the card’s account number and card verification number (or CVN) by entering it into the keypad.[2]
   • The CVN is three numbers, and is usually printed on the back of the card.[3]

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   Dial the number on the back of the card if there isn’t a sticker on the front. Your Visa gift card will have a customer service number listed on the back of the card. Call this number and follow the necessary button prompts to activate it. You will likely need to verify your card over the phone by entering your card’s account number and creating a PIN before using your card.[4]

   • Some Visa gift cards come with a PIN automatically assigned to it. You will be given your card’s PIN when you activate it.
   • If you prefer talking to an actual person instead of following an automated menu system, you can try to press “0” on your phone repeatedly. This often redirects you to a customer support employee.[5]

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   Contact Visa directly if you’re not sure how to activate your card. Contact Visa directly if you have questions while activating your card. It may also be best to call their customer service number if there is an issue with your activation.[6]

   • The customer service number is found on the back of your card.

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   Visit the activation link listed on the sticker on front of your card. If you don’t feel like making a phone call, you can usually activate your gift card online. There should be an activation link listed either on back of your card or on the sticker on the front of your card. It will likely prompt you to register your card online as well.[7]

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   Use the website listed on the back of the card if there’s no sticker. If isn’t a specific activation link listed on a sticker, you can flip the card over and find the website of the issuing vendor. The vendor’s website should contain a link to activate a gift card.[8]

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   Enter your information to register your card. While it isn’t mandatory, it may be a good idea to register your card in the event that you have problems with it in the future. You also need to register your card with the original vendor to make online purchases.[9]

   • Activating your card allows you to use it for purchases you make an in-person purchase. Registering your card allows you to use the account associated with the card, which is what you do when you make an online purchase.[10]
   • You may be asked to provide your full name, address, date of birth, or Social Security number. This is a legal requirement in most cases.[11]
   • When making an online purchase with your registered card, the address and name that you entered is checked against the card’s registered information. If they don’t match, you will have problems completing your purchase.[12]

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   Watch out for shady websites and scams when registering your card. Make sure that you’re registering your card on the correct website. There are several online scams that ask you to enter personal information related to your gift card, and if the wrong person has access to your card’s details, you may lose the opportunity to access the funds. Only register or activate your card with Visa or the vendor listed on the card.[13]

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   Sign the back of your card to prevent identity theft. Flip your card over and sign the strip on the back to prevent future issues surrounding fraudulent purchases. When using your card, merchants may check the signature on the back and compare it to the sales receipt in order to verify the card’s use.[14]

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   Record the card’s information in the event that you lose it. Write down the account number and registered information associated with the card and store it somewhere safe. In the event that you lose your card, you can’t replace it. However, you can still use it for online purchases if you have the account information stored somewhere.

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   Use your card before it expires. Visa gift cards often have an expiration date. If you don’t activate and use your card before it expires, you won’t have access to the remaining balance.[15]

   • The expiration date is usually printed on the front of your card, but it is occasionally found on the back as well.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How long after activation do I have to wait for the card to be usable?

  

  It should be usable immediately after activation.

• Question

  If I had provided Visa Vanilla card info. and 3 digit code on back of card to someone and didn't receive the service that card was to pay for., how do I see if the card has been spent?

  

  Put the card info into Onevanilla.com and it will give you a summary of what has been done with the funds inside.

• Question

  I just received a $50 gift card and the # on the card will not activate, so I can use it.

  

  If it was bought right before you received it ,there's a 1 hour period for the card to officially set up before you can use it. Try again later. If not, call Visa about it.

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