Vanilla Gift Cards
Reviews and Complaints

I gotta tell you, I had a not so great experience with Vanilla Gift. Don't get me wrong, their cards work just fine until something goes wrong. But boy oh boy, if there's a problem - good luck getting ahold of a real person. It's like searching for the holy grail. And when they do finally get back to you, they expect you to wait three whole weeks to get your money back! What kind of nonsense is that? And on top of it all, you don't even get the money you spent buying the card back. Like, excuse me? I paid for a working card, didn't get one, and now I'm supposed to wait three weeks AND not get my money back? That's just not right.

Gift cards are usually bought for a specific purpose, right? So imagine how inconvenient it is when you finally go to use it and it's not working. And let's say you're in a situation where you really need that money like now - what then? Nope, you gotta wait and hope for the best. And don't even get me started on their customer service wait time! I mean seriously, who has twenty minutes to wait on hold just to have the call drop and have to start all over again? It's ridiculous!

And don't even get me started on the fact that my card didn't even have a security code on it! Like, what kind of security is that? And to top it all off, the dang thing wouldn't even swipe. So clearly, someone over at Vanilla Visa messed up my card. But guess who had to deal with all the frustration and wasted time? Me. And guess who had to wait three weeks for a refund? Me. And who had to pay for something they didn't even receive? You guessed it - me.

Look, I get that mistakes happen. But why should it be the customer who suffers for it? Why can't they just issue a refund through the store where you bought it from and let them deal with it? At least that way, the customer isn't out any money while they wait. But instead, Vanilla Visa expects YOU to foot the bill for THEIR mistake. And they don't even make it easy to get in touch with someone to fix the problem!

Honestly, I wouldn't recommend buying Vanilla Gift cards. It's just not worth the risk of getting a defective one and having to deal with all the headache that comes with it. So save yourself the trouble and find a different gift card provider.

So, I gotta tell you guys about my experience with Vanilla Gift. I thought it would be a great idea to get some gift cards for my employees as a little thank you. I got 8 in total, 3 for $50, 1 for $70, and 4 for $500. Little did I know, this would be the start of a huge headache.

I gave the smaller ones to my team and kept the bigger ones for office expenses. But, my employees kept coming to me saying they were having trouble using them. I checked the balances online, and everything seemed fine. The cards all had a balance. I gave 3 of them back to my team and they said they would try using them online. But, one guy with the $70 card gave it to me to see if I could get a replacement.

So, I used one of the $500 cards to pay off a cell phone bill of $174.74. And, on another $500 card, I paid off a commercial auto bill and another small bill. That pretty much ate up all the funds on those cards. But, I still had most of the money left on the card I paid the cell phone bill with. I went to use it and it was denied. When I checked the balance online, it said the card was no good. Say what?

I called Vanilla Gift customer service and was put on hold for about 15 minutes before someone finally picked up. The customer service rep told me that the card had been reported stolen and that a new card had been issued. I was like, "Hold up, how can it be stolen when I have the physical card, the receipt, and the credit card used to purchase it?" The rep said she couldn't give me any details because of "privacy issues". She told me I could report it and get a new card issued in 45-90 days. That ain't right to me because I only bought the cards on October 13th and they had already given a new card to someone else without waiting 45-90 days. I asked to speak to a manager and was put on hold for almost an hour. When the manager finally got on the line, I told her how long I had been waiting.

She said they were busy and I was like, "I hear you, but damn, it shouldn't take that long to answer a customer's call." So, I told her what happened and she said she would send me paperwork to fill out to get a new card issued. When she asked for my name to mail it to, I told her my company name. But, she was like, "No, your name." I explained the cards were purchased for a company on a company credit card and to mail them to the company. Well, she hung up on me! I couldn't get through to anyone after that.

That's not all, though. I checked the balances on the other 2 $500 cards and there was nothing left on them. Someone used them at Target at 2 in the morning! What the hell? So, now I'm $1,339 short and nobody is answering me. I'm done with Vanilla Gift. I'm telling everyone how fraudulent they are. I'm filing a complaint with the BBB and talking to a lawyer about a claim. Stay away from Vanilla Gift, people!

2/9/2024

4:00-4:10pm

Called over four times. Card I was gifted is invalid on Vanilla Gift Cards end. Was told I will be receiving a new card. When they asked for my name, they pretend they can't hear and hang up on me. This happened each time I called. I made other calls and even called from a completely different phone, and they still acted like this. Still out a card and no way to recover the money for my gift because they hang up.

I went to a coin star [protected]@ 1780 west webb ave. In Burlington, NC on 2/8/2024 to get cash for my vanilla gift card. I cancelled transaction, because fee was to high, but it took money off my card it was $100 dollars on it it took all but $3.00 I want my money back on my card I am disabled and this was a gift for my medicine. The kiosk fee was to high so I cancelled it but it took money off my card and didn't give me a receipt or cash for it. It say balance on card is only $3.00 I haven't used card except at the kiosk mentioned above the card I used is in picture below.

I won $50 from the Arizona and they sent me a gift card from vanilla card people. I used the card one time it worked fine and have not been able to use it since. I have been on the phone with their customer service 3 times an hour and a half each time and I still can't use my card. The card number is [protected] exp 671. If I try and check it on line it tells me internal errors. I'm sick of their lies.

I had this gift for sometime -- but could not use it anywhere.

I know it is now expired - but pretty sure there is money left on it. The print out of the card I made and made notes on, say there is $26.18 left -- a balance that was impossible to use anywhere. Got so frustrated t the time, I put it in a drawer and unfortunately, forgot about it., Regardless I can't even check it now online with all the info needed. So need to check and get balance refunded even if past expiration date (thought those were illegal in Ca)

Card number is [protected]

In July 2023, I purchased a $500 Vanilla Gift Visa card for my wife at the store. Two days ago, she tried to use the card but encountered issues. Upon checking the website, we discovered that the funds were stolen just seven days after buying the card. The card was used for purchases by someone named Tori Berch until the last cent. This is truly awful! I demand an immediate refund of $500. Card number: [protected]. Security code: 415. I insist on being contacted to explain the situation and when I will receive my money back. This is nonsense. I will escalate this matter to various authorities and take legal action. I have witnesses and evidence that I only recently opened the card at the Kohl's store cashier and couldn't use it all this time as it was sealed.

I bought four gift cards at $25 a piece and none of them work. It tells them the balance but they are unable to buy anything. I can never get anyone on the phone to complain either. I purchased them at Walmart in Montevideo MN. This is very upsetting since I live on a fixed income. I want reimbursed.

[protected]@yahoo.com

REPLY NEEDED

Reference # 2445501AB43A7GZ1X on my Credit CARD.

good afternoon

 I sending you copies of my Walmart purchase receipt of your vanilla gift card along with copy of front and back of the card I purchased.

When I spoke to cust rep on Dec 27, 2023, he took my information and gave me a case number#[protected], and said I would receive a replacement card in 10 business day. He said nothing about documents I would need to provide to get my $100.00 sent back to me.

I called today and spoke to another one of your cust. rep, which I was told to send my receipt, front and back of the card and any notes that I took while speaking to your representative.

I have tried on several occasions to get customer service help. The number it tells me to call on the back of my card only gives me automated responses and states that my card is not valid. The card has $200 on it and I can't even get info on the balance of my card. I have called [protected] with no success. This is very unacceptable and out children paid money that they didn't have for us to have this gift for Christmas. Not a happy camper.

[protected] 02/32 086

[protected]@hotmail.com

A vanilla gift card was given to me on December 25 2022 as a Christmas gift. I attempted to verify the amount on the card this morning (01/16/2024. It showed the initial purchased amount of $200.00 and a current balance of. 02 ( two cents).I checked the purchase history and it showed a purchase of $199.98 at home depot on 01/16/2024

I never used the card. It remained in the original packaging until this morning until I I verified the balance. The card was purchased at Dollar General, Hwy 76, Lynchburg, SC 29080. I attempted to contact Vanilla gift card and only received a recording .

Received a Vanilla gift card as a gift and when I went to use it, realized that several of the numbers on the front had been completely removed. Packaging was not tampered with and there is no PIN number on the back that needs to be scratched off. I have the original purchase receipt and all packaging. Card was purchased at CVS Pharmacy #11065 on 11/30/23 at 4:26pm.

I was given a vanilla gift card as a Christmas bonus for my company on December 9. We use it one time and then didn’t use it for approximately two weeks. We use it again on December 21 and was advised that it had an in sufficient balance to purchase an item that cost $25. we checked the card and there was a pending charge for $260 to shipgadget.com. We immediately notified vanilla gift card people and filed a case and attempted to call ship gadget 30 or 40 times and left messages every time but no callback. Currently, according to vanilla gift cards, we have a case pending , but trying to reach a human to find out why the charge wasn’t immediately canceled since it was a “pending” charge to ship gadget, is a mystery to me. I am still on a daily basis, trying to contact vanilla gift cards all to no avail.

I went to use a sealed card with the activation purchase receipt attached and it had a zero balance. Someone (not me) used it on 12-16-23 at a post office for the whole amount of 70.00. I called to tell them, and they say it may take 90 days to resolve. That is unacceptable and I want my money back. Case # [protected] from 1/7/24. auth # 1101 [protected]

I got a $100 gift card for Christmas. When I tried to activate it, it was empty. Finally got thru and was sent a replacement card. Again, tried to activate it only to find out, a zero balance. replacement was today, January 6, 2024, at 10:59. was spent at a RDRCIDUD SILVER. O20033E57BCI trans #, merchant # GIWZXJ5A6D5B7DK, for $100. difficult time understanding agent, hope this info is right.

Purchased 5 cards as Christmas gifts for $100. I used one with no problem but the others came back with the last 4 digits and security code missing. I called the number provided twice with only speaking with someone once with very bad English. He said he would file a claim and asked for my date of birth which I told him it didn’t have anything to do with my complaint. He gave me case numbers and he was able to see the amount but I asked if he could see the last 4 numbers and security code he said No, this is very stressful losing money to SCAMMERS at Christmas time.

I purchased a Vanilla gift card on 12/14/2023 and presented it to one of my staff members as a thank you for Christmas. It was returned to me as an invalid card. When he opened it and attempted to use the Vanilla Gift Card, it had a $0 balance. I have tried contacting them via the website and phone. Both, no success. The website consistently says, "A system error has occurred. Please try again later." I have also called the toll-free number with the same result since 12/26/2023. This gift card was purchased at Wal-Mart.

I purchased a $200 gift card for my elderly aunt. She attempted to use it at a restaurant one year later and it was declined. I looked online for her and the card had been fraudulently used shortly after purchase at a sporting good store in another city. I attempted to call Vanilla several times, but it is impossible to get a person. Website only allows transactions to be disputed within 60 days, which is ridiculous in the case of fraud.

Recieved a "new" gift card that was sealed from Walgreens for $100 only to find the card had the last 4 digits and security code scratched off. Waited 3 separate times totaling over 3 hours on hold and never got in contact with anybody. Crappy company and Walgreen's should be held liable for selling their products as they don't provide refunds or exchanges for giftcards...SCAM

I received a gift card, and they said there was a problem with the merchant when the card was issued, and wanted me to mail in copies of my driver's license and I do not feel comfortable sending this information to some place because it has all my personal information on it including social security number. I feel they have stolen money the person who bought the card did not give them my driver's license and ss# so why do they need it

bought card 12.2.23 for $100 value. without zip code could not use it online at all. tried to use at restaurant 12.3.23 no zip code , no go! The evening 12.3.23 showed $100.00 deduction and 0.00 value. no way to speak to anybody, just a loser all the way around. online help no good. lost $100.00 dollars, just a sh-tty situation.

card [protected]

09/32