Why are VISA debit cards so hard to use?

Question

I've tried using them at stores at the mall, i.e. Sears, Kohls, and they have to change them over to their store's gift card and then use the gift card for the purchase. Why is this? The cards are more trouble to use then they're worth!

FYI - they were purchased at a kiosk in the mall.

Answer 1

I am assuming you mean VISA gift cards...they usually say debit on them. I have only heard of people having problems using them at resturants (because they approve for more than the amount of actual purchase) and gas stations (same reason). So I would be interested to know where you have bought the card from. I have purchased them for my husband usine www.deluxe-card.com and he has NEVER had any problems with them.

Answer 2

You will need to notify your bank that you will be using it outside of the U.S. This way your card has a less chance of being blocked. Also, take you banks telephone numbers in case you have a problems using your card. Only a very few cards in the U.S. are chip & pin compatible. For those card that are not. Take you passport and id. Tell the merchant to swipe the card and you will need to sign for your purchase because the U.S. has not upgraded to chip & pin yet. I just found out interlink & Plus are linked to each other. So if your card has this symbol-you can use it at merchant that take visa plus. You would choose checking or current account and then enter your pin. That is strange that you have the cirrus symbol on a Visa Debit card. In this case you may be able to use at places that take Maestro. You would choose checking or current account and then enter your pin. Another thing is if you can find a US bank (Not the bank called US bank). You can do a Visa Credit Card Cash advance. It will still come out of your checking account. There may be fee both ways for this method. You will need your id & passport. Just remember dollars is worth less. 1.00 GBP = 1.99830 USD or even more. Most transaction fees will not show on your receipt but will show on your statement. Some will not get posted until your statement is printed. Some people say don't let the merchant do dynamic currency conversion, other say go ahead and let them do it. You will still be charged a fee either way. A Visa debit card can work as primary credit or Current account both methods come out of your checking account. Look for a machine that won't hold your card, while you do the transaction. This way the machine can not take the card. All of this information is accurate. I researched it.

Answer 3

Don't let them do that. Insist they run the card as a Visa Credit card. I would report this problem to the Mail office. They should not be allowed to do this at all. The only reason they might do that is if you are purchasing more than that is on the card. Don't let them put the whole amount on that is on the card either. This card is meant to be used anywhere Visa is accepted. It might be against Simon mall gift card policy. Let us know what happens in the comment section.

Answer 4

These sound like Visa gift cards. They are like any other gift card that can be used anywhere you see the Visa logo.If you're having trouble, call the toll free number on the back of the card.

Answer 5

I have had nothing but trouble using my prepaid Visa Card. Many stores don t take them. I tried on Amazon, and they only let you use one card per transaction, so I cannot use up the total amount of the card. NEVER BUY THEM

Answer 6

This is the first time that I have heard of anything like this. Insist on processing your transaction as "credit." Consumers are almost always better off processing their transactions as "credit" anyways (very, very long and technical reason why). If the clerk refuses, ask to speak with a supervisor -- THIS IS YOUR CHOICE, NOT THEIRS. If this doesn't work, then I don't know what else to say except that the clerks and supervisors running your local stores are ill-trained and out-right ingnorant. What can you do?

Answer 7

What's up??? I never had any trouble???