Crunchy Vaccine-Injured Socialist Xennial Hippie
A GREAT (and SAFER & MORE PRIVATE!) Alternative to Using Your Own Credit Card for Online Shopping!
I got this $100 Visa Gift Card because although I have actual credit/debit cards that I use in person at brick & mortar stores and other businesses and online on big-name websites like Amazon, Instacart, Shipt, Target and the like, I am not comfortable giving out my actual card info when shopping on less(er) known and/or potentially risky websites.So when circumstances necessitate doing business with them (as it did recently, while looking for a replacement battery for my 2007 HP laptop I dug out from a closet after not using it since 2009-2010 [and particularly since switching to Apple/Mac in 2012-2013] in order to play some retro offline Windows games I’ve not played in years that I missed playing…………….unfortunately, neither Amazon nor any other big-name stores or websites [like Best Buy, NewEgg, etc.] seem to carry a compatible battery and I had to go with an unknown/lesser known website) I prefer to use non-reloadable prepaid “gift” cards, so that in the worst case scenario, if the site is “fly-by-night” scam business and/or the website gets hacked, they won’t have access to my actual credit/debit card info or bank data, and the maximum amount of money I’d potentially lose would limited to whatever the denomination (or remaining balance) on the prepaid card. Granted, depending on the card (AFAIK there cards come in denominations of $25, $50, $100 and $200 cards) it could still be a lot of money to lose, but at least one’s entire credit line and private info wouldn’t be at risk as it would be using a conventional credit/debit card.Personally, after several years of using prepaid Visa, Mastercard and other credit cards, like this one, I have to say I think prepaid “gift” cards are a GREAT option, when shopping online, especially when making purchases at certain websites/kinds of websites.However, previously, Amazon did NOT offer these prepaid Visa, Mastercard and other credit-card “gift” cards and rather, only offered gift cards for specific stores, restaurants or other businesses. This necessitated having to physically go to a brick & mortar store and buy a prepaid “gift” credit card in person anytime I needed a Visa/Mastercard to use online — and since, due to disabilities, I’m unable to drive, getting these prepaid cards were a huge hassle!Which is why I am so glad that Amazon has started offering these prepaid Visa/Mastercard gift cards for sale through their site. I don’t know if its because of COVID-19, and the lockdowns, or what, but making these prepaid cards available through Amazon, has made it a LOT easier for those of us who are mostly homebound, to get and use these cards as needed.As mentioned, these cards come in denominations of $25, $50, $100 and $200, and are NOT reloadable (meaning once the balance on the card is used up, you need to buy another card and cannot add more money to that same card). Also they cannot be used to get cash at ATMs or POS (point of sale) purchases. But they can be made for most other purchases where Visa and Mastercard are accepted, which these days, is the majority of places, at least in the US. I have never used these in other countries, not even Canada, so I cannot speak to their functionality abroad. That being said, I recently tried to use one of these cards online on GOG (Good Old Games) and I had difficulty completing the transaction because apparently the site’s based in Europe, so the card was declined. But then I just made the payment using the card as a “guest” via Paypal (I no longer trust Paypal enough to maintain an actual account with them anymore) and the transaction went through, immediately.Other than that, I’ve had no problems with these cards. The card arrives, open the package and register the card number on their listed website, with your basic info (name, address, phone number, email) which AFAIK is NOT necessary for in-person purchases, but IS (or may be) necessary for online purchases — and then use the card just like you would any other Visa or Mastercard until you’ve exhausted the amount on your card. Then, throw it away (or cut it up first if you’ve registered it with your personal info) and get another one the next time you need it!Easy-peasy!⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 5 STARS!!!!!!!!!
Matt
Formal Complaint Regarding Fraudulent Gift Card and Unethical Customer Service Practices
This card was a scam. It did not function as described. Upon calling the number printed on the card, I was directed to the website also listed on it. When I followed the registration instructions provided, the funds on the card immediately disappeared.It appears that the entire process is deliberately designed to exhaust customers and make resolution nearly impossible. The level of inefficiency, misinformation, and deliberate runaround I experienced strongly suggests a systemic effort to discourage customers from pursuing their claims. It feels intentionally obstructive — as if the expectation is that most people will eventually give up and accept the loss.I find this practice deceptive, unethical, and potentially fraudulent. I fully intend to report Amazon Payments Inc. to the Better Business Bureau and any other relevant consumer protection authorities. No customer should be subjected to such treatment or manipulation. This experience has been both unacceptable and deeply concerning, and I urge immediate investigation into Amazon Payments Inc.’s handling of these prepaid Visa cards.I strongly advise anyone who has experienced similar issues to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and relevant consumer protection agencies. The more consumers who report these deceptive practices, the harder it becomes for companies like Amazon Payments Inc. to continue operating in this manner without accountability. No one should have to endure hours of runaround, misinformation, and stress just to recover money that rightfully belongs to them.This has also happened to two of my relatives in almost identical situations, proving that this is not a coincidence but a recurring problem.