To explore Visa's most frequently asked questions, click on one of the categories below to jump to a topic or simply browse the questions and answers provided.

Apply for a Visa card

Visa does not issue Visa cards, our member financial institutions do. There are two ways you can find a secure Visa credit or debit card that is right for you:

Use the Visa Card Advisor
Review our list of card issuers

Lost cards

If you’ve lost your card, call our Global Customer Assistance Center using one of our toll-free numbers. Within the United States, call (800) 847-2911.

Account inquires

Visa does not retain any details of financial transactions that you may have undertaken using your Visa payment card — these are kept and managed by your Visa credit or debit card issuer.

To access your account information, please contact your Visa card issuer. You'll find their address and/or telephone number on your Visa statement. The telephone number may also appear on the back of the card itself. You can also locate your card issuer and click through to their Web site for more information.

Minimum Purchase

Visa merchants are not permitted to establish minimum transaction amounts, even on sale items. They also are not permitted to charge you a fee when you want to use your Visa card.

If you run into a problem like this with a merchant, please notify the financial institution that issued you your Visa card. These institutions have access to the appropriate Visa rules and regulations and can help you document and file your complaint. You'll find their address and/or telephone number on your Visa statement. Their telephone number may also appear on the back of the card itself.

Unauthorized charges

Your card issuer can help you resolve issues regarding unauthorized transactions. You'll find their address and/or telephone number on your Visa statement. Their telephone number may also appear on the back of the card itself.

If you would like to learn more about services that Visa offers to add an extra level of protection to your Visa card, explore Security & Protection.

ATM locator

Visa has developed the Visa ATM locator to help you find an ATM that accepts your Visa card.

Careers

Visit our Careers section within this site.

Sponsorship

All sponsorship requests must be sent in writing to:

Event and Sponsorship Marketing Dept.
Visa USA
P.O. Box 8999
San Francisco, CA 94128-8999

Advertising

Thank you very much for your interest in Visa’s advertising, but we are unable to accept unsolicited advertising ideas.

Visa logo usage

As a service to authorized Visa card issuers and Visa merchants, Visa makes available electronic artwork of the Visa brand mark and links to Visa proprietary Web sites. Only Visa card issuers and merchants are authorized to use Visa brand marks. If you are working for a Visa card issuer or Visa merchant, please visit our Marketing Center for Visa logo information and downloads.

Visa Brand Overview

What changes is Visa making to its logo and card design?

Visa is refreshing the famous blue, white, and gold Visa logo to give it a new look.

Why did Visa change its logo and card design?

Visa has grown from a credit card company to a payments company that offers a range of payment products and services. The new Visa logo and card design reflect the evolution of Visa.

When did the current Visa logo start appearing?

The current logo began appearing on Visa cards as well as in advertising, marketing, and online communications in January 2006. Visa cards and communications with the current Visa Brand Mark will coexist with cards and communications that feature the Visa Flag until June 30, 2011.

Cards with Holographic Magnetic Stripes

Visa has recently learned of an industry issue involving an infrequently occurring technical problem at the point of sale related to the use of payment cards with the new holographic magnetic stripe. The scale of the issue is very small in number in both acceptance incidents and impacted cards in market.

Visa has learned that technical problems have occurred when cards with holographic magnetic stripes are used in environments that have high levels of static electricity. In these instances, the static electricity can interfere with the normal card swipe operation and prevent an electronic transaction from taking place.

The problems, however, do impact acceptance and convenience – the cornerstone of Visa’s commitment to cardholders. Visa believes that any issue that impacts acceptance, no matter how rare or isolated, must be addressed.

To address this issue, Visa has recommended to financial institutions with holographic magnetic stripe cards already in market that they replace these cards as soon as is practical.

How can I tell if my card has a holographic magnetic stripe?

Recently, Visa introduced a new card design that included a holographic magnetic stripe on the back of the card. The new design incorporates a dove hologram above the signature panel, where doves appear in multiple colors when the card is moved from side to side. Click here to see a sample of the holographic magnetic stripe card.

What is causing the acceptance problems with cards that have a holographic magnetic stripe?

Based on information and reports received, it is clear that the probable cause of these problems is Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) resulting from a combination of factors including:

• Low humidity at the point-of-sale, causing higher-than-normal electrostatic voltages
• Point-of-sale equipment with a relatively low tolerance for ESD, usually at the magnetic read heads
• Use of payment cards with holographic magnetic stripes, which have higher electrostatic conductivity than conventional magnetic stripes

What is Visa doing about this issue?

While the scale of the issue is very small, Visa treats any matter that impacts cardholder acceptance and convenience very seriously. Therefore, Visa has recommended to financial institutions with holographic magnetic stripe cards already in market that they replace these cards as soon as is practical.

Will I get a new card?

Visa has recommended to financial institutions with holographic magnetic stripe cards already in market that they replace these cards as soon as is practical. We are working closely with your financial institution to resolve this issue as quickly and make the process as easy as possible for you.

Can I continue using my card that has a holographic magnetic stripe? Will the card work?

Yes, continue to use your current card until your financial institution contacts you. The number of transactions impacted by this issue is very small. The vast majority of transactions made with holographic magnetic stripe cards are completed without any difficulty.

What should I do in the meantime?

There is no need for cardholders to do anything at this time. Your financial institution will contact you if your card will be replaced. Otherwise, you can continue to use your current card as you normally would. The vast majority of transactions made with holographic magnetic stripe cards are completed without any difficulty.

Has this problem occurred at ATMs, or is it limited to point-of-sale terminals?

The reported problems have only involved point-of-sale terminals. Currently, there are no reports of issues involving ATMs.

If I have a card with a holographic magnetic stripe and I experienced an acceptance problem, will my account be harmed?

No. The acceptance problems related to holographic magnetic stripe cards will not have any impact on your account.

Are there any safety issues with static discharge from holographic magnetic stripe cards?

Third-party laboratory testing indicates that cards with holographic magnetic stripe cards pose no safety concerns to cardholders.

Using Your Card

Will merchants still accept Visa cards with the old look?

Yes. Both new and previous Visa cards will continue to be accepted at more than 24 million locations worldwide.

Do merchants need any new technology to accept cards with the new design?

No. Merchants will be able to use their existing technology so this change will not affect the cardholder’s ability to make purchases.

Safety and Security

How will cardholders know that a new card is genuine?

As with the replacement of all Visa cards, those cards with the new design will be distributed by a Visa card Issuer. All Visa products provide a convenient, reliable, safe and secure way to make purchases. For additional concerns about your Visa card, call your card issuer.

How will merchants know that a card with the new design is genuine?

Visa is working with financial institutions, merchants and law enforcement agencies worldwide to ensure that there is no confusion as the new card design is introduced.

Will the change make cardholders or merchants more vulnerable to payment fraud?

No. Visa is working with financial institutions, merchants and law enforcement agencies worldwide to ensure that there is no confusion as the new card design is introduced. As always, Visa has programs in place to help monitor fraudulent activity and alert cardholders to potentially fraudulent use. Visa will continue to offer cardholders extensive protection through multiple layers of security, so cardholders can feel confident and secure when they use their new Visa card.

Accepting Visa

Visa does not set or service merchant accounts, but if you would like to accept Visa at your business, please contact a Visa Acquirer.

Email fraud

Be aware of any email message that requests personal data—such as passwords, PINs, or your social security number—or sends you to a Web site that asks for such information. These messages may involve the illegal practice of "spoofing," or forging an email address to resemble another, legitimate address and business. Remember to never send personal information via an email. If you have received an email that spoofs Visa, please notify Visa of the specifics of the illegal email.

More information

Didn’t find what you were looking for? For all other inquiries, contact AskVisaUSA@visa.com.

(For your security and protection, please DO NOT include your credit card details in any correspondence.)