Visa Gift Prepaid (2024)

FAQs

What happens if a prepaid card is not enough? ›

There isn't enough money on the card

For example, if you have $4.27 on your prepaid card, but try to buy a $5 item, the transaction will fail since the card balance is insufficient. Again, this differs from credit cards and debit cards, which are linked to credit limits or bank accounts with overdraft protection.

If your Visa gift card has insufficient funds to cover the transaction, it will be declined.

There are a number of possible reasons why a purchase could be declined: You don't have enough money left on your card. You haven't activated or registered your card. The address you gave to make an online or phone purchase is different from the address you have on file with your prepaid card provider.

Depending on where you make a purchase, you may be able to use your Gift Card toward a portion of the final purchase price, and use another form of payment to pay the balance. If the business agrees to a split payment for the transaction, ask them to charge a dollar amount up to the remaining balance on your Gift Card.

Any authorization request that is greater than the card's available balance will be declined. However, there can be times when a Visa merchant puts an item through without prior authorization. If an overdraft occurs, you will be required to make a payment to Cardholder Services to cover the negative amount.

In most cases, even reloadable prepaid Visa cards cannot be overdrawn (unless fees create a negative balance), but you should always check the terms and conditions of your card to know for sure. Though prepaid cards are useful for many reasons, excessive fees could outweigh the benefits.

The three main reasons credit card transactions are declined are 1) the funds are unavailable, 2) incorrect security code, or 3) billing address does not match. Please contact your credit card vendor to see why the transaction was declined.

Generally, with prepaid cards and debit cards, you can't spend more than you have loaded on the card or than you have in your account. If you try to spend more, the transaction is denied. However, some bank and credit union accounts allow you to make overdrafts, and so do some prepaid cards.

Most prepaid cards have a network logo (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover) and can be used anywhere that brand is accepted. Some examples include grocery stores, department stores, gas stations, hotels, and for online shopping. Prepaid cards can also usually be used for purchases over the phone.

If the purchase exceeds your Visa Gift Card balance, you must provide another payment method to cover the remaining cost. Choose another credit card, debit card, or payment option to pay the difference.

Why does my Visa gift card keep saying insufficient funds? ›

Is the Gift Card Balance More than the Purchase Amount? Visa gift cards are linked to bank accounts that cannot be overdrawn. If the purchase is greater than the funds available, the card may be declined.

Maybe the card wasn't activated properly when it was bought. Maybe someone who gave you the card made a mistake and gave away a card they've already used. It can happen. I once ran into a problem when we bought gift cards — which were not compromised — and a clerk at the store had some trouble running the card.

Generally, with prepaid cards and debit cards, you can't spend more than you have loaded on the card or than you have in your account. If you try to spend more, the transaction is denied. However, some bank and credit union accounts allow you to make overdrafts, and so do some prepaid cards.

Once the money runs out, you won't be able to make more purchases until you reload the card. A prepaid card functions in some ways like other cards. This means you can swipe or insert it into point-of-sale systems to make your purchases and, in some cases, use it at ATMs for cash withdrawals.

You can load money onto your prepaid debit card by logging onto the website of the card issuer and transfer money across from another account. Many prepaid debit card issuers have their own mobile apps and you can use them to load funds onto your card from another account.

Disadvantages of prepaid debit cards

If used effectively, credit cards are a better option, but may be difficult if you have a low credit score. Fees: There are additional fees involved with using and purchasing a prepaid debit card, which may make them more expensive than a traditional debit card.