Accept the prepaid card for gift-giving

The Visa Gift card is a prepaid card that can be used at millions of locations where Visa debit cards are accepted, including retail stores and online merchants. Because it is a prepaid card, spending is limited to the amount of money placed on the card by the purchaser.

How the Visa Gift card works

When accepting Visa Gift cards, keep in mind the following basics:

• Visa Gift card purchases are processed like signature-based Visa transactions, not PIN-based debit transactions (which result in an authorization decline). A signature should appear on the reverse side of the card.
• To identify a Visa Gift card, check the front of the card for the word “debit” printed above the hologram, plus the Visa Flag. The card may be embossed with the cardholder's name or a general message.
• The card has no age limitation and purchases by youth should be honored per store policy.

Visa Gift card acceptance

• Visa Gift cards can be used at millions of locations where Visa debit cards are accepted, including online, phone, or mail purchases.
• For gas purchases, because of some preset authorization parameters, it is recommended that the cardholder present the card to the station attendant to avoid a potential authorization decline.
• For restaurant purchases, cardholders should be aware that many restaurants automatically factor in a tip of up to twenty percent when authorizing card purchases. If the restaurant bill, including the estimated tip, exceeds the amount on the Visa Gift card, then the card may be declined.

Verifying card balance

• The cardholder is responsible for knowing their Visa Gift card balance before using the card. To verify card value prior to the purchase, cardholders can check their balance by visiting their financial institution’s Web site or by calling the toll-free number listed on the back of the card. Note: Some merchant equipment is able to provide the card balance. If your store is able to verify the card balance, obtain the balance prior to processing the card authorization.

Declined transactions

• If a transaction is declined, it is likely that the purchase amount exceeded the balance on the card. Let the customer know that the transaction has been declined and ask for another payment method.
• You may suggest they verify their balance by calling the toll-free customer service number on the back of their Visa Gift card, or by visiting the Web site listed in the materials that came with the card.

Split-tender sales

• When purchasing an item of greater value than the Visa Gift card balance, a cardholder may use two forms of payment. Prior to processing the authorization request, determine the amount the cardholder wants to deduct from their card.
• Process the split-tender transaction per store procedure: either deduct funds from the card first, and then process the remaining balance using the second payment source; or process the second payment source before the Visa Gift card.

Returns

• Items purchased with a Visa Gift card can be returned for credit. The cardholder must have the card or card number and the purchase receipt at the time of the return in order to complete the transaction. The credit may take three to seven days to be reflected on their card.
• If the customer does not have the original card or the card number, follow store policy for handling the customer's credit.

Voided transactions

• At the request of the cardholder, you can void a purchase as you would any other card transaction.
• Let the customer know that it will take three to seven days for the authorization hold to be released from the card.

“Valid only in… ”

• Visa Gift cards displaying the message "Valid only in the United States" can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are accepted within the U.S.
• Issuers have set their parameters to decline all authorization requests from non-U.S.-acquired merchants, including mail/telephone orders and Internet transactions.