Why is my gift card 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.

How do you activate a gift card?

Activate Your Visa Gift Card In 3 Simple Steps
  1. Locate the activation instructions. These can be found on a sticker (usually on the front) or printed on the back of the card.
  2. Find the gift card numbers. Activation requires the 16-digit gift card number that is located on the front of the card. …
  3. Activate your card.

How do I know if my gift card is activated?

Locate the activation sticker on the front of the card.
  1. If you don’t see this sticker or something similar on your card, it’s probably ready to use and doesn’t need activation.
  2. You can also check for specific instructions printed on the back of the card or included with the packaging.

How long does it take for a gift card to activate?

After you activate the gift card, it should be ready to use. I have seen some cases where a gift card issuer imposes a waiting period after purchase, meaning the gift card may not be usable for up to 24-48 hours even though it has been activated.

Do gift cards work if you steal them?

A stolen gift card is no more than a piece of worthless plastic. In order to use a gift card, you have to take it to the cashier and give them the amount of money you want to put on the card. Then the cashier will activate it.

How do I activate a gift card online?

Plastic gift cards that are typically purchased online require activation.
…
How Gift Cards Are Activated
  1. Review the activation instructions. These can usually be found on a sticker adhered to the front of a card. …
  2. Find the card numbers. …
  3. Activate your card online or through an automated phone system.

Do SM gift cards expire?

Your SM Gift Card does not expire.

What happens when you activate a gift card?