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Vanilla Gift Cards
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1.2 453 Reviews

Vanilla Gift Cards Complaints Summary

26 Resolved
422 Unresolved
Our verdict: If considering services from Vanilla Gift Cards with a critical resolution rate, extra caution is advised. Examine detailed customer feedback to understand the severity and nature of unresolved issues. Be prepared for the possibility of unsatisfactory responses and have contingency plans, including seeking assistance from consumer advocacy groups if necessary.
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Vanilla Gift Cards reviews & complaints 453

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7:25 pm EST

Vanilla Gift Cards Mastercard

Received the Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard for $50 card as a gift 2015. One way Vanilla Steals your money is that your purchase must be for the exact amount you have on the card, or the card will not go through. So, for a $50 card, your balance a the store is $55, the card will just be declined instead of the $50 going through, and you paying the cashier the $5 balance after your credit has been applied. The cashier tells you the card has no funds because the card was declined by Vanilla. It is not until I spent 25 minutes with Vanilla's "customer" service that I was told your balance at the cashier must be for the EXACT amount left in the card. I am “glad” I called customer service because I was about to throw the card away thinking I may have used the funds already. It doesn’t end there, I was able to successfully use $39 dollars after having to manually punch in the numbers at Target a week later. $50-$39=$11 balance. The second way Vanilla Steals your money: A week later, I go to Trader Joes and separate my purchases so I have less than $11 total and the card will go through. No, did not go through and again wasted 25 minutes on the phone where they told me they had put a hold on the $11 balance and they would not able to clear the charges and release the $11 for 8 days. Why a hold on the $11? Vanilla said the cashier at Trader Joes cancelled the transaction and Vanilla’s policy is to put a hold on the funds for 8 days. The cashier at Trader Joes did NOT cancel the transaction! He was so helpful that in fact, he tried twice, once at $11 and once at $10 in case Vanilla charged a transaction fee. Matter of fact, he told me he had the same issue with one of those cards and had no patience to keep calling to figure out why he couldn’t use his balance so he threw away the card. See the pattern here, they try to do everything possible so they can keep your money...I would call that stealing. At this point, who knows if I will be able to use the $11 in a week or add 25 more minutes to the hour I have already spent on the phone with them. Never Ever buy a Vanilla Prepaid, Ever!

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8:13 pm EDT
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Vanilla Gift Cards Card not activated

Vanilla prepaid Mastercard Value $200, plus $6.95 activations fee purchased in Mississauga, Ontario at Shoppers Drug Mart not activated not working. Company claims that Shoppers Drug Mart did not activate it but Shopper's Drug Mart claimed this is the standard response from Vanilla Mastercard and the card is faulty for their end. We have contacted Vanilla Mastercard company, sent emails as requested with proof of purchase and Photo ID but the company has still not helped. Each time they respond that they have been unable to check whether they have received the emails because their email fax address of [protected]@incomm.com is inaccessible. Essentially they tie you up on the phone with employees who request information and cannot variy the information as they ahve no access to the email fax. We spoke to Tiffany the Manager Reference call# 475834 and multiple other personnel with absolutely no help.

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Ana1993
, PR
Feb 22, 2018 9:52 am EST

No me han enviado un reembolso de $25 dolares de hace como 2 meses atras

Mi numero de confirmacion es 9999685

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$cammed
Edmonton, CA
Nov 15, 2014 11:40 pm EST
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I also regret ever picking that vanilla pre-paid mastercard :( valued at $200.00 off the rack at shopper's in edmonton. Regrettably, i paid for the card in cash and didn't keep the receipt and i wasn't even aware that any of that was important as the card states activated when you purchase. So when i paid the money and the clerk gave me back the card, little did i know that when i tried to use the useless card 1 month later at sephora, that the card would be declined. (of course 1 month later i certainly threw away a shopper's receipt when cleaning out my bag as usually i only make small purchases there.) so when i called vanilla mastercard :( the very nice sympathetic customer service agent told me that the card was never activated and shows a zero $0.00 balance! She told me that without the receipt there was nothing that she could do for me and that she was very sorry. She also told me that this has happened before and on the clerk's side at the cashier at point of purchase everything can look fine and the card can say activated... But in fact... The card was never activated! They don't even have the date that i purchased it because my card was never actually activated and the funds $200 that i paid to the clerk never went on my card! It's like buying an expensive perfume in a box and not opening the box for a month and then when you finally open it, you find the box is empty and you didn't keep your receipt. So when you go back to store with the empty box and you say that you paid $200.00 for the perfume but when you got home the box was empty no one will be able to help you and it's likely that they may find it hard to believe. It's a great scam that the vanilla prepaid mastercard :( is running. Selling empty boxes to people. How many people buy these cards as gifts for other people and the recipient of the gift card never dares to tell them that the card had a zero balance $0.00 :( how many people don't use the card until well after they've thrown their receipt away only to find that the card was never activated properly and that they gave away $200.00 for a useless piece of plastic...And furthermore...What in fact happened to my $200.00?! ...Hahaha! Ironically i just took out the packaging for the card to take a photo of it and there is a gift box on it...And what's in the box?... Nothing!

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JMC4
, CA
Aug 08, 2014 5:51 pm EDT

I have dealth with this before on THREE seperate occasions.
If you phone the 1-800 number on the back and selecte their option "2" for lost or stolen cards and tell them you have an inactive card they will be able to assist you.
It's a bit of a pain but three times I had to go this route.
They will require you to fax them proof of purchase, the card and your name and phone number and they will mail you in a replacement card.
Been through this with Visa twice and Mastercard once.

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1:13 pm EDT
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Vanilla Gift Cards Card not activated

I bought a vanilla MasterCard back in February as a gift for my boss. It seems that the card was not activated at the time of purchase, so when my boss when to use it she got a "decline" message. I open a case under that, BACK IN FEBRUARY. The first representative I spoke with was helpful, she told me to just send a picture of the receipt and after they received it they would take 3 t...o 5 business days to reactivate my card. I told the girl to follow up with me once she had an update about the situation. Of course, nobody followed up with me so I called back again a month after because when I went to use my card and got a "decline" message AGAIN. Then, they said the picture was not clear so they could not activate the card (but nobody followed up with me). So the second rep said I should fax the receipt and that it was going to take 3 to 5 business days to be activated. I waited about 10 business days and went to use my card, and again "declined". I called back AGAIN and the girl said... "oh yeah, we received the fax (almost two weeks ago) now is going to be 3 to 5 business days (AGAIN) and of course I went to use my card yesterday... and AGAIN DECLINED. I can't believe after all of the times I have spoken with the reps NOBODY can fix this problem. It has been almost 4 months, you guys always had my email address and phone number but NOBODY CAN FOLLOW UP WTH ME OR FIX THIS PROBLEM? Of course I had to buy another card for my boss the week after I realized that you guys were not fixing this problem. I paid twice activation fee and I am still not able to use my $50 dollars that I spent to buy the first card. I have being a loyal customer of vanilla pre paid cards for a long time, but I am no longer buying anything else from you guys. THIS IS RIDICULIOUS. I just finished school and I don't have extra money to be spending in a company that does not even care about their customers. I currently work in a contact centre so I know that when you say you will follow up, YOU SHOULD DO IT. My reference number is 399373. PLEASE FIX THIS. I AM SICK OF CALLING AND USING MY TIME WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T CARE. And I need my money back. And it would be nice if you can also pay my double activation fee because I don't understand why I have to be paying for that twice if that is not my fault. THANKS. A VERY ANGRY CUSTOMER.

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1:46 pm EDT
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Vanilla Gift Cards Walmart scam or vanilla scam?

I had to get this card because Walmart would not give me back the cash I paid on my debit card for cell phone that I had to return. Now they won't take the card? I am soo done shopping at Greenvile Walmart... odd I can use that card at any convience store
I need to know the balance on the card and cannot find that out because of all the pop ups on my computer screen and they just never do tell how much I have left... they need to stop all this nonse and just tell people what their balance is so they can use it up

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scott rapoza
Ashaway, US
Jan 07, 2023 8:30 am EST

Recievied Vanilla gift visa card for xmas called card to see balance said $ 30.00 Went to use declined next place insufficent funs went back called card again ZERO balance how could that happen so dissapointed as it was from my 92 yr.old mother..My card # is [protected] exp 12/29 code 238

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Betty Jean Harvey
, US
Jan 03, 2023 1:44 am EST

i tried to use my 150.00 gift card vanilla visa but they are not answering my calls why have they closed down are they closed for the holidays whats going on the voice mail says remain on line for available rep buy no one comes on the line i need my 150.00 from my job for xmas

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Tyson S
Louisville, US
Dec 31, 2022 12:10 pm EST
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at 2:53pm on 12/20/22, $50 was took out of my card balance and was not me.

says the payment was made to paypal and says the following

" Paypal *SALLYFRASER - O400291BF8C4 "

in any way possible i would love my money back i was using that to buy christmas gifts for my girlfriend.

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DJR76
Illinois, US
Dec 25, 2022 1:03 pm EST

I purchased the gift card on 12/17/22 at 1132am for 300.00 and at 11:50 before arriving home or even opening the card there was a charge at 11:50am for 300.00 to coach!

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LaurenG556
St Charles, US
Dec 20, 2022 10:37 pm EST

Purchased $5000 in gift cards for employee gifts. Several are showing the balance was used and I am just opening them. No help from Vanilla...

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Linda S Maderitz Mazzella
, US
Dec 12, 2022 1:34 pm EST

Received a Vanill E reward Visa virtual card. I tried to use the card today and says invalid.

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Juliet Plumlee
, US
Dec 11, 2022 3:44 am EST

I had purchased a card a couple days ago. Havent even used it. Try to use it and it got declined. I looked up the card and it said it was empty. Someone had already bought something from a cosmetic line and used it all. I havent told or shown anyone any info on it. How can this happen and how can i get that money back?

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Kishona Hayes
, US
Dec 10, 2022 10:46 am EST

I downloaded 5 Vanilla eReward totaling $70 I never used the cards & I did not realize once they are activated they will deduct $2.50 each month after 12 months I really think this is horrible because these cards were never used & now they have a $0 balance and there is nothing I can do about it!

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Techbobby
Red Hook, US
Dec 06, 2022 2:10 pm EST
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Accidental order on ebay and would like a full refund

Transaction id: O*[protected]-O300294C8BCD

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Card Number: [protected]

Card expiration date: 03/2031

Card Security Number: 164

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Maddie Laws
, US
Dec 03, 2022 6:20 pm EST

Every time I try to log in to check my balance the website says an error has occurred. I've triple checked to make sure I'm putting in all of the information in right. Its been doing this for the last three or four days.

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12:14 pm EDT
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Vanilla Gift Cards non activation

I purchased a $200 prepaid credit card from Shoppers Drug Mart and it was not activated at store level in order for me to use this right away. I phoned Shoppers Drug Mart who now has $200 of my hard earned money plus the $6.95 activation fee (which is paid but not activated) and I wanted them to reactivated or exchanged the card and activate a new card for me. I was told by shoppers to call Vanilla MasterCard so I did so, and the response I get was email me pictures of the front and back of the card, the packaging and the receipt of purchase and they will send it off to the department and they will investigate why the card was not activated (which will take up to 5 business days), they may have to resend me a whole new card which will take up to 30 days to receive. Fine print in the card agreement says they will charge a $9.95 fee to reissue a new card. I also called the People's Trust Company who make and issue these cards and they are not open on Sundays. I have called Shoppers Drug Mart head office customer service number they are not open on Sundays in order to deal with any customer complaints. I am not a happy consumer who has paid out $206.95 of her money to a company and paid for a activation service which was not done at the level it should have been done at and now have to wait a month to get my money! This is terrible business and customer service of all parties that I have gone through. I am angry and completely unsatisfied with how this is being handled or not handled in this case. Tara Gerrard

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$cammed
Edmonton, CA
Nov 15, 2014 11:42 pm EST
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I also regret ever picking that vanilla pre-paid mastercard :( valued at $200.00 off the rack at shopper's in edmonton. Regrettably, i paid for the card in cash and didn't keep the receipt and i wasn't even aware that any of that was important as the card states activated when you purchase. So when i paid the money and the clerk gave me back the card, little did i know that when i tried to use the useless card 1 month later at sephora, that the card would be declined. (of course 1 month later i certainly threw away a shopper's receipt when cleaning out my bag as usually i only make small purchases there.) so when i called vanilla mastercard :( the very nice sympathetic customer service agent told me that the card was never activated and shows a zero $0.00 balance! She told me that without the receipt there was nothing that she could do for me and that she was very sorry. She also told me that this has happened before and on the clerk's side at the cashier at point of purchase everything can look fine and the card can say activated... But in fact... The card was never activated! They don't even have the date that i purchased it because my card was never actually activated and the funds $200 that i paid to the clerk never went on my card! It's like buying an expensive perfume in a box and not opening the box for a month and then when you finally open it, you find the box is empty and you didn't keep your receipt. So when you go back to store with the empty box and you say that you paid $200.00 for the perfume but when you got home the box was empty no one will be able to help you and it's likely that they may find it hard to believe. It's a great scam that the vanilla prepaid mastercard :( is running. Selling empty boxes to people. How many people buy these cards as gifts for other people and the recipient of the gift card never dares to tell them that the card had a zero balance $0.00 :( how many people don't use the card until well after they've thrown their receipt away only to find that the card was never activated properly and that they gave away $200.00 for a useless piece of plastic...And furthermore...What in fact happened to my $200.00?! ...Hahaha! Ironically i just took out the packaging for the card to take a photo of it and there is a gift box on it...And what's in the box?... Nothing!

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4:34 am EDT
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Vanilla Gift Cards can not get replacement cards or money back

I bought 2 vanilla visa card on Dec-2011 with a 100.00 value each. I sent to my niece as gifts for her 2 kids. They never worked
got 2 replacements never worked. again 2 replacements never worked. It's been 4 months. My niece tried first then gave up sent cards back to me I called and i was told my niece had to call them to let thme know she sent them back to me. She called they said they would only talk to me. i called then I got the we will get back to you. No one ever does, I keep calling back and the same thing over and over. I want my 200 dollars back, I don't care about the visa fee.
Thank you,
E.Crom

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ladon79
Detroit, US
Apr 26, 2012 5:14 am EDT

contact his manager
drit9753@yahoo.com
he will send you the $$

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8:00 pm EST
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Vanilla Gift Cards no refund of stolen funds

I was given a $300 VanillaVisa gift card from my boss in October. It was stolen, so I reported it to their customer service department. Was told I would get a replacement card. I received the replacement card and put it away for safe keeping, to use in December for the holidays. When I tried to use the replacement card in December, as planned, I was told that all of the funds, minus $5.95, was already used up. I called their customer service department again and was advised to fill out their dispute forms, but since the funds were used in October (from the original card) and I didn't try using the replacement card until December, I will probably not get much, if any, refunded. Don't use them! They will take your money and leave you with nothing.

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Ready to hurt someone
Allentown, US
Aug 17, 2023 7:03 pm EDT
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3 months and waiting for a replacement card

The original card did not have a correct series of numbers nor a security code.

Calling Vanilla Gift CS is an exercise in utter frustration.

DO NOT BUY AS THESE CARDS ARE A COMPLETE SCAM

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Mutty Rowe
Syracuse, US
Jul 04, 2022 2:50 pm EDT
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I purchased a Vanilla Visa gift card for $250. I went to use it and it showed a zero balance. I checked who cashed the card and there were five transactions that drained the card.

How does thus happen given the cards are sold in a sealed package?

Is there a US government fraud agency investigating this. Company

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10:35 pm EST
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Vanilla Gift Cards not validated

I purchased a $250 Vanilla Visa card only to find that it was not validated, Shoppers assumed no liability and
asked me to phone Visa. They told me that i would have wait for a new card in the mail as they had a series of
bad cards.
WHY IS SHOPPERS STILL SELLING THESE CARDS AND WHY COULD THEY NOT HELP ME. THE SERVICE END
OF THE RETAIL BUSINESS IS GOING TO HELL, I AM GOING BACK TO THE SMALL STORES, SAVING A COUPLE
OF BUCKS IS NOT WORTH IT WHEN YOU GET SCREWED AROUND LIKE THIS.

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visa__
ontario, CA
Dec 25, 2012 6:43 am EST

I just purchased a vanilla visa for $75 and it is defective as well. When I called the number on the back of the card, the lady told me to photo copy the front and back of the card and the receipt and fax it to a fax number that was provided to me and it would take 7-10 business days to receive a new card. It's christmas so can't fax it til December 27th and it is very important that I purchase a particular membership online. don't have money to get another card.

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1:25 am EST
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Vanilla Gift Cards unusable

I tried using my Vanilla Visa Gift card for a purchase $11.00 less than the value of the gift card and it was refused. When I called Vanilla VISA to ask why I was told it was because of a 15% Hold Back fee. I was told this is written int he Terms and Conditions. I took the time to read my included Terms and Conditions and it was not stated about a 15% hold back fee. What a rip off!

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dont need it
ft.worth, US
Aug 13, 2015 5:37 pm EDT

I bought a vanilla gift card and put $100 on it fir ny bondsman now it says my card has already been activated..i never put in a pin number how can this be unless i been scamed

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3:46 pm EDT

Vanilla Gift Cards Fraud

Okay, so I purchased a 200 dollar giftcard, and here is what happened - i spent 100ish dollars and my balance was well 20 dollars left, do the math was still owed 80, after 3 hours on the phone it was fixed, so i spent 50 on a game, come back to check my balance and its at -20, again do the math its off by wouldnt you know 50 dollars, so are People's Trust in the business of defrauding their customers?

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Johan redsox
Vernon, CA
Jun 05, 2012 5:59 pm EDT

Vanillamastercard is a god damn scam. We recieved one for as a gift when our son was born. We wanted to save it for a bit and get him something nice. We tried to use is after a year and it get declined. I guess you have to read the fine print vanillamastercard.com starts stealling from you after 7 months 2.50 at a time. By the time we went to use it was only good for 37.50. Nice gift for my son Vanillamastercard.com.

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Vanilla Gift Cards Refused card because of low balance

II received two Vanilla VISA gIFT cards for my, One for Christmas and one for my birthday?.I went to use one last month at a dept store and the salesperson said, I did't have enough money on the card to pay for my purchase|. I was so embarassed;. I will tell all my children and friends never toget this type of card for me again'. I called your customer represenative and they hung up on me|. So sorry that you do not care for your customers?. do not believe that both cards are no good for me to use because of all your fes:

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vanillacarduser
Toronto, CA
Jun 25, 2012 9:41 am EDT
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I agree, don't buy these cards. My card was used fraudulently – it’s a clear case of fraudulent activity. Vanilla Visa is putting me through a run around to claim back the money, which I refuse to do. Write a dispute letter, wait for a dispute rep to call, could take up to 90 days to get the money back! This is ridiculous….I will never buy these cards as gifts, and they can keep the money!

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Vanilla Gift Cards Expire Before Use and Maintenance Fee

Vanilla Visa Cards are a complete rip off. Not only are they not taken at all places where Visa is taken, the company charges a $2.50 monthly fee which can zap a card's entire balance if not used right away. We received three cards (2 $50 and 1 $25). We did not realize the maintenance fee as we had heard that Congress zapped those fees. We went to use the cards and the $25 card was totally unusable because it was consumed by fees. The balances we had on the other two $50 cards were also consumed by fees. AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS because it will cost YOU!

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vanillavisasucks
, US
Jan 14, 2012 11:15 pm EST
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Agreed. The whole thing is a scam; they managed to take $5 off my card's value before I realized it. When this happened, I used the Vanilla Visa card to purchase an Amazon.com gift card online. You must register the card on vanillavisa.com first and use your zip code for the name on Amazon.com. Doing this allowed me to transfer the remaining money to a form that will not expire. I recommend that other people who received Vanilla Visa cards likewise use them to purchase other gift cards as soon as possible to avoid expiration.

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Vanilla Gift Cards Declined on 4 coards not properly activated by Shoppers Drug Mart purchased on two separate occasions

I purchased five Vanilla Visa cards on two separate dates. Four of the five are not activated properly. I have been advised that my 850 dollars will not be refunded by the store. That I must fill out forms and forward via facsimile to Vanilla and wait a minimum of 10 days for a new card. I could see this happening infrequently, it appears that after looking through numerous complaints that I am not alone in this acitvation scam. Notwithstanding the terms of the card are in [re-sealed packages that you cannot open on the display, so any of your rights or terms are concealed. I beleave that the Vanilla Visa providers are using our funds to make money on the currency swap exchange markets, having using of exponential money can bring a lot of profit to Vanilla. Notwithstanding the merchant takes a fee and wont honor refunds on unusable cards. I am starting up a class action law suit and want you to get hold of me at [protected]@hotmail.com. I am very much upset by this unwarranted cash grab and fraud played on gift card purchasers. The merchant should be required to refund an usuable card, they should have information available in the store and should explain that there are charges after one year for cards not used even though they expirary date extends into three years. It is time we take action against those coporations selling the cards and Vanilla Visa/Mastercard for unfair business practises. This scheme surely makes both the merchant and Visa Money from the unwitting and uninformed pruchaser.

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Vanilla Gift Cards Crads use that is not even in the fine print

Use of gift cards is always an interesting experience but there was a detail that was left out of even vanilla visa fine print and we did not find out that only 83% of the balance that was on the card was going to be available for use when we were checking out of our hotel in Hawaii (very embarrassing). The remaining $17.00 would not be available for use until 14 days after the initial hotel charges were made on the card.We spent over an our on the phone attempting to contact customer service and get through the multitude of computer voice instructions only to be put on hold until someone who could tell us about the hotel use clause could tell us that a percentage of the card was blocked but did not know what percent.
Thankfully we had a VERY patient hotel desk clerk who took the time to go dollar by dollar until we found an amount that would be approved on the card. Unless I am given one of these cards as a gift (which I hope not to be) I will not purchase them again as they are impossible to work with.
To note however we also traveled with the American Express Gift cards and other than finding a couple of merchants that would not take AE at all we had no trouble using them and found them to be a little more liquid and safe than travelers checks.

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Vanilla Gift Cards Bait and Switch

I recieved 3 $25 Vanilla Mastercard's as a gift from a friend.
I hadn't used them until trying to now, only to be told that there is no money left on them.

I called customer service and they said that 7 months after they are purchased, $2.50 is taken off monthly whether they are used or not. Consequently, I have $0 left on all the cards and the money my friend gave me as a gift in the form of a Vanilla Mastercard has instead gone all to them and their greedy pockets.

Feel free to contact me if you have any suggestions for solutions.
[protected]@rampionent.com

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anothercolddayinsask
Regina, CA
Feb 06, 2012 9:45 pm EST

Thank you for your story and I am sorry to hear this is such a sham. I was thinking of purchasing these for my niece as a gift but now I certainly will not.

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Qwumpy
Boston, US
Jan 09, 2012 3:24 pm EST

Any "financial instrument" from the banksters and credit companies are for their own benefit. Any benefit one manages to eek from such a thing is inconsequential to them, a side dish at best! So when Mastercard puts out a "Vanilla" pre-paid credit card - it's only good for Mastercard. If you manage to get good out of it - great - but that is not the purpose of the card. The purpose of the card is to sucker people into making use of Mastercard's credit and then charging a hellish amount for said use.

To be honest, I surprised you didn't end up owing!

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Vanilla Gift Cards useless

I purchased a gift card yesterday to be able to purchase Microsoft word online. Only to find out that you can't use the card for online purchases. No where on the packaging does it state that you cant use the card for such purpose. Since this was my first assignment needless to say I didnt get it done. And failed my first assignment. Doesnt look good on my school record already. Then when I tried to find out the balance on the card it told me the card had never been activated, when it clearly states that the card is activated at the register and immediately available for use. This card is useless do not every buy one for anyone or any purpose..You can guarantee that if i ever get my money back from this that i wont ever be purchasing another one...

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trollinallday
Spokane, US
Dec 31, 2011 7:37 am EST

You're an idiot. You can too, you just have to call and register them. Which it does say on the package.

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11:04 pm EST
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Vanilla Gift Cards card unusable

I purchased a vanilla visa gift card so I could make some online purchases. I put $350.00 on the card. I can't even use it. I've tried to get through on the phone. No such luck. The automated service gives you an option to hold for a representative and then hangs up on you every time. I'm waiting to hear from my family member that I bought two additional "vanilla visa" gift cards for in the amount of $25.00 each. Yes that's $400.00 in total. I'm so pissed.

Read full review of Vanilla Gift Cards and 3 comments
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readplease
, US
Aug 22, 2011 3:24 am EDT

If you people tak the time out to read the terms and conditions that comes w/ the card you would not have a problem using them. Remeber these are anonymous gift cards NO NAME, NO ADDRESS IS ATTATCHED! Some merchants do not accept card if address verification is not able to be checked it is up to that merchant! This is not your credit card or banking/debit card.

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USAF22
, US
Mar 09, 2011 12:55 am EST

Have the same problem. It worked yesterday, today no luck. They said their system is down. I'm leaving for afghanistan and thought I could use it the last day I was here to buy a gift for my wife, I hope I come back alive so I can use it. At least you might be able to get ahold of some one tomorrow. Good luck.

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Aoak
, US
Mar 09, 2011 12:15 am EST

I have the same problem. I finally got through to customer support where a representative said that their systems have been down and the card has not been activated. She preceded to activate my card but it's still not working. No luck getting back in touch with them, I've been trying for the past 2 hours.

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6:42 pm EST
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Vanilla Gift Cards cant use it

i bought a vanilla master card and cant use it i have contact the company on dec 18 2010 ref 310996 some one was to get back to me not as of yet dec 30 2010 i want my money back..this is very bad buissness.. and will never buy again all the trouble i went throught and i have been trying to call it hangs up on
me... what do you have to say about that . my name is mary barnes

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rosanalomas
San Jacinto, US
Dec 17, 2013 7:27 pm EST

I got a gift card try to activated they wouldnt because ineeded a code on the receipt. tookit back to the store they tould me that they coulnt help me because my card was already used went i had just opend it what am i going to do that was for my kids Christmas this his a fraud

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9:18 pm EST
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Vanilla Gift Cards Incomm

Vanilla Visa is a rip off. They have in larger letters on the front of the product "No Fees". They hand on the rack amids other no fee gift cards. Once you buy it, you are hit with a $4.95 fee. When you try to return it, in my case immediately, you are told it is not possible to back it out. In tiny letters on the front of the package, it advises of the $4.95 fee whereas "No Fees" is written in large letters with smaller letters saying "after Purchase". The design was made to rip off so you buy several smaller denominations only to give them more fees. $4.95 for a $20 card is usury. And they won't tell where they are really located because the clerk said they are afraid of retaliation! Ain't that something!

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Vanilla Gift Cards - Vanilla Visa RIPOFF Cards

As it is once more nearing Christmas time and others out there may be considering “gifting” these VISA prepaid cards, please be forewarned. They would be more aptly named as VISA RIPOFF cards. The one overriding common denominator that users are experiencing with these cards is that they are NOT user friendly. “Vanilla Visa” is one of the worst. I have...

Read full review of Vanilla Gift Cards and 8 comments

Vanilla Gift Cards In-depth Review

Website Design and User Experience: The Vanilla Gift Cards website has a clean and user-friendly design. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to navigate and find the information you need. The site loads quickly, ensuring a smooth browsing experience for users.

Range of Gift Card Options: Vanilla Gift Cards offers a wide range of options to choose from. Whether you're looking for a gift card for a specific store or a general-purpose card, they have you covered. The variety of options ensures that there is something for everyone.

Purchase Process and Ease of Use: The purchase process on the Vanilla Gift Cards website is straightforward and hassle-free. It only takes a few simple steps to complete your purchase, and the website provides clear instructions along the way. The checkout process is quick, making it convenient for users.

Gift Card Activation and Delivery: Activating and receiving your Vanilla Gift Card is a breeze. Once you've made your purchase, you can easily activate your card online. The delivery options are flexible, allowing you to choose between physical or digital delivery, depending on your preference.

Accepted Locations and Usability: Vanilla Gift Cards are widely accepted at various locations, including both online and in-store retailers. The website provides a store locator feature, making it easy to find places where you can use your card. The usability of the cards is excellent, with no issues reported by users.

Customer Support and Assistance: Vanilla Gift Cards offers excellent customer support and assistance. Their customer service team is responsive and helpful, addressing any queries or concerns promptly. They strive to ensure a positive experience for their customers.

Security and Fraud Protection: Vanilla Gift Cards prioritize the security and protection of their customers' information. They have robust security measures in place to safeguard against fraud and unauthorized access. Users can feel confident that their personal and financial details are safe when using Vanilla Gift Cards.

Terms and Conditions: The terms and conditions of Vanilla Gift Cards are transparent and easy to understand. They provide clear guidelines on how to use the cards, including any fees or restrictions that may apply. It's important to review the terms and conditions before making a purchase.

Additional Features and Benefits: Vanilla Gift Cards offer additional features and benefits to enhance the user experience. These may include personalized messages, customizable designs, and the ability to check your card balance online. These features add value and make the gift cards more versatile.

Overall Value and Satisfaction: Vanilla Gift Cards provide excellent value for money and high customer satisfaction. With their wide range of options, ease of use, and reliable customer support, users can trust that they are getting a quality product. Whether you're purchasing a gift card for yourself or someone else, Vanilla Gift Cards are a reliable choice.

How to file a complaint about Vanilla Gift Cards?

1. Log in or create an account: Ensure you are logged in to your ComplaintsBoard.com account. If you do not have an account, please register by providing the required information and verifying your email address.

2. Navigating to the complaint form: Once logged in, locate the 'File a Complaint' button, which is typically found at the top right corner of the website, and click on it to access the complaint form.

3. Writing the title: In the 'Complaint Title' field, concisely summarize the main issue you have encountered with Vanilla Gift Cards. Make it specific and clear, such as "Unauthorized Charges on Vanilla Gift Card" or "Difficulty Accessing Funds on Vanilla Gift Card."

4. Detailing the experience: In the complaint description, provide a detailed account of your experience with Vanilla Gift Cards. Mention key areas such as:

  • The date and location of the purchase or incident.
  • Any problems with activating or using the gift card.
  • Customer service interactions, including dates and summaries of conversations.
  • Technical issues with the website or transaction errors.
  • Delays or failures in receiving a promised service.
  • Any discrepancies in card balance or unauthorized transactions.
  • Steps you have taken to resolve the issue, including any communication with Vanilla Gift Cards customer support.
  • The impact of the issue on you personally, such as financial loss or inconvenience.
Be as specific as possible, providing dates, amounts, and any other relevant details of your transactions with the company.

5. Attaching supporting documents: Attach any relevant documents that support your complaint, such as receipts, email correspondence, or screenshots. Do not include sensitive personal information like your social security number, bank account details, or other confidential data.

6. Filing optional fields: Use the 'Claimed Loss' field to state any financial losses you have incurred due to the issue with Vanilla Gift Cards. In the 'Desired Outcome' field, specify what resolution you are seeking, such as a refund, card replacement, or other forms of compensation.

7. Review before submission: Carefully review your complaint for clarity, accuracy, and completeness. Ensure that all the information provided is correct and that your desired outcome is clearly stated.

8. Submission process: After reviewing your complaint, click the 'Submit' button to officially file your complaint on ComplaintsBoard.com.

9. Post-Submission Actions: After submitting your complaint, regularly check your account on ComplaintsBoard.com for any responses or updates. You may receive feedback from other users or even a response from Vanilla Gift Cards regarding your complaint.

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