How To Activate a Gift Card
What is Gift Card?
A gift card, also known as a gift certificate in North America, or gift voucher or gift token in the UK, is a prepaid stored-value money card, usually issued by a retailer or bank, to be used as an alternative to cash for purchases within a particular store or related businesses.
How To Activate a Gift Card
If a card needs to be activated, the ID number and activation code will be on the card, as well as a website and toll-free phone number via which you can activate the card. Gift cards that need activation may also require you to use a PIN.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do gift cards get activated?
But it’s really simple. When you buy a gift card at the store (whether it is a retailer, restaurant, Visa or Mastercard gift card), you take the gift card to the cash register and ask the cashier to load money onto the card. The cashier takes the card, activates it and loads the dollar amount requested onto the card.
How do I activate my gift card on my phone?
Call the gift card issuer or visit their registration website. Check the sticker on the front of your gift card for a registration link or toll-free phone number. If there’s no sticker, look at the back and use the customer service phone number or website provided.
Where is activation code on gift card?
The 16-digit ID number is usually written on the card, and the much shorter PIN and activation code should be written on the sticker.
What happens if a gift card is not activated?
Visa gift cards are linked to bank accounts that generally must be activated in order to receive transactions. Inactive cards will be declined if used for payment because the associated bank accounts are not ready to be used.
How do I know when my gift card was activated?
To check if the gift card was activated, contact the retailer where you purchased the card or the company who issued the code. If the store confirms the card is activated and you still get an error message, contact us for help.
Do I activate a gift card?
Activation is typically required before a gift card can be used for the first time. If you have yet to hear of them, gift cards are a popular gift option that allows the recipient to choose their gift from a particular store or retailer. However, it must be activated before a gift card can be used.
How do I use my gift card online?
You can use your card for online purchases by entering the card number, expiry date and the 3 digit code (CVV) found on the back of the card. Occasionally websites will ask for the name on the card, in these instances simply insert “Gift Card” in the field provided.