Anonymous
map-marker Masset, British Columbia

Vanilla Mastercard Gift Card Review

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Don't EVER try to purchase anything online with the Vanilla MasterCard. This is the 3rd time where the transaction wouldn't go through. But the money is gone.
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Anonymous
map-marker Ola, Arkansas

Vanilla Mastercard Gift Card Review from Ola, Arkansas

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I have two 200.00 Vanilla Mastercard gift cards that I cannot use because they come up as not activated even though $6.88 activation was paid for at the time the online purchase was made at Wal-Mart.com. Wal-Mart gave me a phone number to call for further assistance to no avail. These cards were a waste of $413.76 because there's apparently no way to get them activated with them having been a gift. This is a SCAM. I RECOMMEND THEM TO NO ONE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
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Reason of review:
Order processing issue
1 comment
Guest

Absolute *** never will buy gift cards again! This is allowed to happen in the United States!

Anonymous
map-marker Edmonton, Alberta

Vanilla Mastercard Gift Card Review

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This company is a piexe of *** waste of money!! They wont load my money on my card and now saying my pin isnt vaild or anything! They will not return my momey i DO NOT remmond this bs company. Too many issues they wont fix or no help even givin!
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Reason of review:
Damaged or defective
Namir Yce

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Newmarket, Ontario

Very Unhappy!!!

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Vanilla Mastercard - Very Unhappy!!!

I purchased a Vanilla MasterCard in the amount of $200.00 on Dec 1st,2015. My receipt states the activated amount to be $200.00 however when i tried to use it I was declined.

Calling customer service (which is a joke because although they are very polite they can't actually help you except to say the card doesn't work),really?!!! and they don't know why. I was told they would correct the problem within 7 days but 10 days later it still wouldn't work. Calling customer service again I was told they had issued a new card that was in the mail and I would receive it within 7-10 days meaning that I would have the card by the 21st of Dec (Which was already to late, I had purchased the card to buy my niece a Christmas present) but still no card arrived!

I called again on the 23rd and was informed that someone had put an incorrect postal code (zip Code) so it was returned to them (Guess it's hard for them to get 6 numbers right) again i was told it would take 7-10 days but now due to the Holiday season it would likely take even longer, so I waited until Jan 7th and still no card arrived. I again called customer service and they were shocked that it had not arrived so I was told they would have to cancel that card and send out another one which would of course be expedited, but somehow would still take 7-10 days?

It is now Jan 20th almost 2 months from the date of purchase and still I have not received the new card. I was surprised that I never once received a call from them to either apologise or to at least let me know what was going on, I have to keep calling them, but then again they already have my money so what do they care!!!

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Loss:
$200
Cons:
  • Length of time to resolve
  • Lack of responce
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered

Anonymous
map-marker Mississauga, Ontario

Scam - don't buy

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I received this Vanilla MC as a birthday present. I tried to use it after a month and was declined. Apparently somone used the card a week before. Since I am not an isolated case, I think this is an issue with the company that issues these cards. I called their customer support line and they sent em a lot of forms to fill and they were planning to go after Shoppers Drug Mart which would be a totally waste of time, in my optinon. The fraud happens at their end not at Shoppers. Stay away!
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Loss:
$100
Reason of review:
Problems with payment

Preferred solution: Full refund

Anonymous
map-marker Indianapolis, Indiana

Card accoubt invalid

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After getting the card at Walmart was told it was active at that time...

It wasnt, tried to use the card online to pay for a monthly service plan...

called the vendor an was told there wasnt any account available

that's just plain crazy, for I had just loaded the card at the time of purchase...

after three hours on the phone the account was located

be warned about this service, there is a 50 cent service charge for each transaction you make using this card. plus if you withdraw cash from an ATM on top of that bank fee this card will charge you in addition a one dollar fee for the withdrawal

I got this card because at the time of purchase I was told there were no got cha fees added for using this card at Walmart...

Another way to get your money from you even before you have access to it...Bummer

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Reason of review:
Pricing issue
Anonymous

Not working

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i was buying something online and it said it was declined so i called the people and something happened where my phone said this number is unavailable or something like unavailable the website said to check if everything was right and it was all right! i went to the website and it said to put your postal code in and stuff and i did everything the vanillaprepaid thing said but i went back to see if it worked and it didnt! so now im gonna return it for a different prepaid mastercard and ya i have no more to say now so so so so so so
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Loss:
$100
Pros:
  • Icecream cone
Cons:
  • That it didnt work
Reason of review:
decline card

Preferred solution: Full refund

1 comment
Guest

Never mind!!!! I wrote that^^^ lol it ended up working!!!! There's a tax that I didn't know about and I had to take 6 bucks out of my products and it worked!!!!

Anonymous

Victim of fraud

I received a Vanilla Master Card as a Christmas gift and have been saving it until now. The person who gave it to me purchased it on December 10.

Card did not work when I went to use it, even though sales associate tried several times. Upon getting home, I called the 1-800 number only to be told that apparently someone used the full $200 back in January 2016. I will fill out the dispute form they said they will send me, but they did say it could take 60 days to resolve.

WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE??? I will not ever buy one of these cards and will tell anyone I know not to either.

View full review
Loss:
$200
Reason of review:
FRAUD

Preferred solution: Deliver product or service ordered

1 comment
Guest

I received a $100 card for my birthday,purchased at Walmart on May 25, and was given the card May 31. When I went to use it yesterday, it didn't work.

Upon calling the 1-800 number, I was told it was spent at Walmart on May 30, prior to my receiving it. There is also no 3 digit number on the back to enable me to check the balance online. This is very upsetting, as my Mom purchased this and she is a senior, and this is a lot of money for her.

I don't know how it can be used by someone if it is still sealed in the original package. I will NEVER buy these gift cards, and will advise a one I know the same!!

Anonymous
map-marker Vancouver, British Columbia

IT WONT LET ME BUY STUFF ONLINE

I was trying to buy spotify premium. Yet for some reason, it didnt work. It says that the card holder is having a bad day. Also, Prior to this, i was trying to put my postal code to register my card earlier. But it didnt work because you switched websites. Pls take down the old website if this happens. i need a few more words so this is honestly all just spam and random stuff just to reach the 100 word limit. so how was ur day? probs better then the one im having because of this dahm prepaid card. erm... so life is good i guess.
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Reason of review:
Problems with payment
Anonymous
map-marker Aurora, Ontario

Would never use again

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Ridiculous that card starts charging you if you don't use it right away. It was purchased for me as a gift, doesn't expire until September of this year and I was saving it/forgot about it. Poor customer service to start deducting money from it. What's the point of buying it for someone? I'd rather just give cash that won't have charges! Very disappointed. Ridiculous that card starts charging you if you don't use it right away. It was purchased for me as a gift, doesn't expire until September of this year and I was saving it/forgot about it. Poor customer service to start deducting money from it. What's the point of buying it for someone? I'd rather just give cash that won't have charges! Very disappointed.
View full review
Loss:
$25
Cons:
  • Policy of money deducted
Reason of review:
Problems with payment

Preferred solution: Full refund

Resolved
Madisen Leu
map-marker Ryley, Alberta

Resolved: Vanilla Mastercard - Gift Card Review from Ryley, Alberta

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I'm so upset. Tried to use my brand new Vanilla prepaid MasterCard today.

The declined it. Impossible, I thought. I called and they show a bunch of purchases from Georgia (coincidentally where the office is that I have to send my dispute form) as well as Georgia and Connecticut. By the way, I am in Alberta, CANADA.

I now have to fill out a form, send it to USA and wait up to 60 days to see IF I get my money back. What a scam. This was a gift from my sister.

SOMETHING is clearly crooked with this system.

Cindy

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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
13 comments
Madisen Leu

I'll have a look - thanks noVA

Guest

Cant use our Visa gift Cards today either.....cant call, it hangs up on you. No way to look online, comes up an error. AND NO PENALTY FOR THIS???

Madisen Leu
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1084804

Wow, seriously? That's brutal

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1084804

I bought both my parents these gift cards for Christmas. .My mom went to use hers today and it wont work..Same thing..Cant call, it hangs up..Online error comes up also.Mine were purchased at a Rite Aide in Ohio....now what?

Madisen Leu
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1085148

Was that a visa or MasterCard? I wasn't aware there was an issue with visa until I saw the comments here.

It makes me so mad that people can get away with this. I'm hoping the news story running here in Edmonton today will help bring this into the open. It's complete ***. I called one of the businesses that showed up on the charges and it was a doctors office in Connetticut.

She said they have had a different issue the last few weeks of charges going in and out of her business account even when they aren't even open! The credit card companies seem to not even think it's s big deal! And it's seems to be s ton of small charges - almost like they are testing to see if it's active or not. And there are a few Equifax charges on mine.

Almost like they are pulling credit bureau info - to secure credit fraudulently?

I just don't know what to make of it. But it's definitely a very large, organized group doing it all.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Madisen Leu

From NoVA:

I tried to respond but it says it needs moderator approval. Search " FlyerTalk Gift Card Fraid" and you will find a forum dedicated to discussin the issues with debit gift cards.

It is likely not an inside job because it is very possible to guess the GC numbers by either buying a few. Sometimes they take the cards out of the store, get the #s, then reseal them and take them back.

Of course it's pretty noticeable when they are revealed because the glue doesn't adhere to the card/packaging correctly.

Guest

Hi Cindy. My name is Sarah Kraus and I am a reporter at Global Edmonton.

The same thing happened to me and we are doing a story on it.

Can you please call me? 587-525-****.

Thank you,

Sarah

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1084752

From NoVA: this is not uncommon. If you get prepaid cards visa/mc it is best to treat them like cash and use as quickly as possible.

It is important to make sure the packaging hasn't been tampered with along with store shelves not being rampaged through. Since most of these cards are produced in batches and shipped in groups it is very possible to open a few, but a few and get a pattern for the card numbers. Then keen trying small transactions until one is activated and then unload it.

If the prepaid company isn't responsive then another avenue is to file with CFPB (consumer financial protection bureau). I literally buy hundreds of these a year.

They usually post the money back within a week so hopefully that's some comfort, but it can take 30-60 days. It is a real pain in the *** (PITA) since they don't seem to staff real customer service.

Madisen Leu
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1085168

In the cases of ours.....the packaging wasn't tampered with at all. It was perfect.

No signs on the inside either. The reporter, on the other hand, had actual numbers scratched off.

So they recorded the numbers, scratched parts off and then packaged. The issue seems to be originating from the workers doing the actual production of the cards before they even get to consumers.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Madisen Leu

From NoVA:

It's more likely to be fraudsters outside of the manufacturing. It's possible to guess the last four digits of gift cards.

With computers it's not hard to continuously try and make small $1-2 purchases until one goes through.

Sometimes the packages are tampered with like in the case of the reporter and other times one can just buy 3-4 GCs and figure out the pattern.

See this thread for more information. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/158****-gift-card-fraud.html

View more comments (12)
Alanni Dne

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Trussville, Alabama

Vanilla master card, oh brother!

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Updated by user Mar 21, 2016

My vanilla mastercard 'gift' card didn't work most of the time. I went online and then

called to inquire and got duped into ordering a new card for $5.95!

It didn't work either!

Customer service at this company lied and said I wouldn't be charged this fee,

turns out, I wa...

Original review Mar 20, 2016
Tried to use this card several times, tried to charge my phone, buy gas, and it was declined saying that my "bank" didn't approve..it's a GIFT CARD!
My "bank" doesn't have ANYTHING to do with it!
Furthermore, while trying to find out why the card left me holding the bag several times, I went to the vanillamastercard page where I was duped into requesting a new card, only to find out AFTER doing so that a $5.95 deduction would be made.
My call to 1-80*-680-**** explaining that I did not need a new card and that I just wanted to know why my card was declined, several times, got an answer that the receptionists supervisor was "right here" and that the "$5.95" new card fee would not be charged..you guessed it, they DID bilk me anyway.
What a hassle of a "gift".
View full review
Loss:
$6
Pros:
  • Little
Cons:
  • Lies
Reason of review:
Not as described/ advertised

Preferred solution: Full refund

Anonymous
map-marker Toronto, Ontario

Vanilla Mastercard Gift Card Review from Toronto, Ontario

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I purchased a vanilla MasterCard gift card for $200 a week ago. I tried to use it after, and nothing but decline occurred. I call the service agents and they tell me to email incomm, I emailed incomm, waited 3 days like I was asked, then, what do you know? They supposedly didn't receive it even though delivery was successful on my behalf. Don't buy any of these, the company is a scammer and commits fraud on a regular basis. Oh, that reminds me, time to report them!
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Reason of review:
Problems with payment
Anonymous
map-marker Brampton, Ontario

SCAM!

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I purchased the card for $200 on Feb 20 for my boyfriends birthday which is on Feb 24. I gave him the card after his birthday. He didnt use the card until MArch and when he tried to use the card at 2 different locations the card didnt work. When I called customer service to ask why the card isnt working, they told me that there was already $196 dollar purchase made on the card on Feb 23. I told them it doesnt make any sense, I didnt even give my boyfriend the card yet, it was in my apartment and how can it even be used?? the lady had no idea told me to email customer service to dispute and I have not gotten this issue resolved. I wish i did some research before purchasing the card, never realized that prepaid cards can be a scam.
View full review
Loss:
$200
Cons:
  • Scam
Reason of review:
Damaged or defective

Preferred solution: Full refund

1 comment
Guest

this card is absolutely terrible, i have attempted to make purchases on several sites, and have been declined every time i have attempted it. it does not pop up as a valid format for the sites, and will not go through as a transaction.

Anonymous
map-marker West Plains, Missouri

Vanilla Mastercard Fraud

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I purchased a Vanilla Mastercard for $100 only to find out when I got home to register it online that it already had a fraudulent charge on it the moment it got loaded with the cash. The charge was for FM INC. I called customer service and they informed me that several of their cards had been compromised due to an "inside job" and that they have seen this before. It will take 60 days to get my money back, if I ever do. I have heard others still fighting after 6 months. If you have the same issue with fraud charges from FM Inc, please post. Do not buy these cards!!! They have been compromised!
View full review
Loss:
$100
Cons:
  • Rip off
Reason of review:
Fraud

Preferred solution: Full refund

1 comment
Guest

That is so wierd i just purchased the cards i have one transaction on everycard with the same fm inc and they took it all. What should i do?

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