Using Visa or American Express Gift Cards on Paypal
One of the most popular gift card questions online is whether one can link prepaid gift cards like the Visa gift card to a PayPal account. The short answer is Yes and No.
Now, the long answer: Yes, it is possible to link a prepaid gift card like the Visa or American Express gift card to a PayPal account but for this to happen, you need to pray and hope that PayPal does not require you to go through their Expanded Use verification process. To better understand why, you first need to be familiar with the process for linking a credit card to a PayPal account. When you link your credit card to a PayPal account, PayPal will attempt to confirm your address with your credit card company. If the credit card company is not able to confirm your address, then you may be asked by PayPal to complete their Expanded Use enrollment process in order to activate your credit card.
Expanded Use verification means PayPal will charge your credit card a small about. Next to the charge will be a unique, randomly generated 4-digit Expanded Use code. If you have online access to your credit card activity, the charge and code will appear on your card activity in approximately 2-4 business days. If you do not have online access, you must wait until you receive your statement in the mail to get the 4-digit code. If you are adding a debit card to your PayPal account, your 4-digit Expanded Use code will be printed on your bank statement next to the charge.
Once you get the 4-digit code, you have to return to your PayPal account to enter the code per instructions from PayPal. Once completed, and PayPal confirms that you entered the correct code, you will now be able to use the card for PayPal transactions. The Expanded Use verification process is designed to protect you against fraud by verifying that the person attempting to use the credit card actually owns the card. PayPal will later credit the amount charged to your card to your PayPal account.
Now, here lies the problem with using prepaid or bank issued gift cards. If PayPal is unable to verify your address with the gift card issuer, then you may be asked to go through the Expanded Use process. Since most prepaid gift cards do not issue monthly statements or provide online access to gift card transactions, it will be impossible to complete the Expanded Use process. Also, it is not a good idea to call the credit card or gift card issuer to get the 4-digit Expanded Use code. If PayPal receives a complaint from your card issuer that you called them to get the 4-digit code, PayPal will close your account permanently.
So, the first step to attempting to use a prepaid gift card on PayPal is to make sure the name and address (billing address) on your PayPal account matches the name and address on file with the gift card issuer. If you just purchased your prepaid gift card, call the card issuer and add your name and address to the card. If your information (name and address) has changed since you registered your card, call the card issuer or go online and update your information before you use the card on PayPal.
Once this is done, you just have to hope that PayPal is able to successfully verify your address with the gift card issuer. If they are able to verify your address, then you are all set. If they cannot verify your address with the card issuer, then you probably will not be able to use that gift card on PayPal.
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This is a well written post, however, I think that it doesn’t need to be so complex
. Gift cards don’t have addresses assigned to them; at least not that the end user would know. Users should not expect to attach a gift card to any mechanism that requires an address. Customers, however, can attach prepaid debit cards to these type of accounts with no problems.
Cheers,
PrepaidWirelessGuy
http://www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com/prepaid-debit-cards.html
[...] Bonus Points may be redeemed for a $100 Gift Card upon point credit at participating retailers. Problem with Visa or American Express Gift Cards Since most prepaid gift cards do not issue monthly statements or provide online access to gift card [...]
[...] The Problem with using Visa or American Express Gift Cards Since most prepaid gift cards do not issue monthly statements or provide online access to gift card transactions, it will be impossible to complete the Expanded Use process. [...]
[...] talking about this blog, or specifically, the blog [...]
In general, yes, you can get the expuse using a prepaid card. As long as your card can view transactions, it is possible.
I’m not sure if I can say the same for Amex users (but that’s because I never bought one from them) but I can say for sure that it will work with a Vanilla Mastercard or Vanilla Visa.
Being that I’m not much of an expert, I am sharing my experience and my response to your post. You said that there is no way to get an expuse using a prepaid card, I say there is a way.
Of course, you’re talking about the bank-issued gift cards, and I am talking about store-issued gift cards. Two different things…
It’s not necessarily that you’re feeding the wrong information, but more of “not being accurate”. Than again, I didn’t even read the post (besides a couple of sentences) and only read the generalization you made that you can’t verify Paypal using prepaid cards.
I apologize if I sounded like I was being unfair. If you read my other post, I’m a silly person and this is nothing personal at all. I never visited your blog before, and that was my first time.
I should be more careful of what I write in the future. Would you like for me to remove this post?
Thanks for the comment.
…Oh Jesus. Look at me talking like I’m grown… LOL!
Edit: “Would you like for me to remove THAT post?”
Trust me when I say that you’re more of an expert than I am. I’m a very impulsive person, and to tell you the truth, I don’t even know if it applies to all card. That’s why I wrote “Vanilla Mastercard” and “Vanilla Visa”.
Again, it was nothing personal.
Jenny, I did not take it personal. I just wanted to clarify my post. Actually, it is nice to see that someone has figured a way to link a prepaid card to paypal. I am going to write a post about it and link to your post.
Unfortunately, my host sucks, and they “accidentally restored” my website to how it was in January. The post is gone.
Jenny, sorry to hear that
[...] Quite a number of people have also reported that they are not able to link the Vanilla Visa card to PayPal or use it on eBay. Part of the problem with linking the card to PayPal is that PayPal may require you to go through their extended verification process when you try to link a gift card, credit, or debit card. Since most bank issued gift cards do not provide a statement of the transactions, you are unable to get the code needed to complete the verification. And if you cannot complete the PayPal verification, then you are out of luck. For more on this problem, click here. [...]
[...] If you are trying to use your American Express Gift Card on eBay or link to PayPal, that may be more challenging. With regards to PayPal, it depends on whether PayPal requires you to go through their verification process. If they do, then you will need access to your transaction details. American Express allows you to view your transaction details online if you register your card. You will need the special code PayPal sends to your card to be able to successfully complete the verification. If you are successful at viewing your gift card transactions, then you will be able to link to PayPal, otherwise, you are out of luck. For more on linking American Express Gift Card and other bank issued gift cards to PayPal, click here. [...]
[...] Another issue is whether the All-Access Visa card can be used to make purchases on eBay or linked to PayPal. Being able to link it to PayPal depends on whether PayPal requires you to go through their verification process. If they do, then you will need access to your transaction details. If you are successful at viewing your gift card transactions, then you will be able to link to PayPal, otherwise, you are out of luck. For more on linking bank issued gift cards to PayPal, click here. [...]
so to check my statement…is that the same as checking my gift card balance because that’s the only way i can really check anything online. I’m using amex
[...] requires you to go through their verification process. Click on this blog post for more details – http://blog.giftcardrescue.com/the-problem-with-using-visa-or-american-express-gift-cards-on-paypal/References [...]
ok so when i buy a prepaid American Express Gift Card… I need to find the gift card issuer…
where can i find the gift card issuer?
where would the information be. (im looking for their phone number or etc.)
for example… if i buy it at CVS…. can the cashier put in my name and address?
Yeah i screwed up….i don’t know how to use paypal its super complicating!! And i got a american express gift card, because i don’t want to put my actual bank account info on there. So i shoulda read into it more i guess….i thought using a gift card would be the same like a credit card guess not…. so yeah paypal charged a dollar off my gift card and i can’t even activate the fricken thing to use it for what I wanted so whatever screw it….i got so frustrated trying to set up a paypal the other day i literally had to get up and walk away from the computer….its doesn’t make any sense…and this fine print…gift cards not working bs makes it even more of a headache
Just for information. The Vanilla Visa gift card do have problems being used online. However, Simon Mall giftcard can be used online, you purchase it at a Simon mall with cash and you register it online. If you cant register it online, call customer service up. They will put the correct address on. Also, some banks sell mastercard/visa gift cards and they enter your address for you.