Imagine being gifted a Vanilla gift card without you knowing how much monetary value it is worth, and for some reason you did not bother to check. Rather, you went shopping with it, and on getting to the checkout point, you found out that your Vanilla gift card balance is way less compared to all the things you bought. Embarrassing, right?
Well, that was me some years back, so you are not alone. I remember how all the bright smiles on my face and happy whistling died a natural death of shame, considering how I was shopping without a care and how the cashier looked at me judgingly, or should I say jestfully.
It was an awkward moment, and I remember walking out, forgetting to pick up my Vanilla gift card from the cashier. All I kept muttering was, “Why did you not check the balance?” and “Why did you not shop online instead?
Well, all of that is a thing of the past now, as I have learned to always and regularly check my Vanilla gift card balance, and you will be learning how to seamlessly check your Vanilla gift card balance too in this guide. Ready to learn? Let’s dive in.
Key takeaways
- Vanilla gift cards are popular prepaid cards that make it easier and convenient to make payments both online and in retail stores.
- Regularly checking your Vanilla gift card saves you from unnecessary embarrassment during purchases.
- Vanilla gift cards come preloaded with a specific amount of funds.
- The value limit for Vanilla gift cards is $500.
Overview of Vanilla gift cards
Vanilla gift cards are preloaded prepaid debit cards issued by Visa or Mastercard that enable you to purchase items from both online and physical stores. The vanilla gift card is issued by Bancorp Inc. and partners with Visa, enabling users to easily use it anywhere Visa cards are accepted.
The good thing about this gift card is that you can use it as a traditional bank debit card to store your money if you do not want to hold that amount in your bank account, and it does not charge you high interest rates when you want to withdraw funds from it unlike regular banks do.
Also, the vanilla gift card conceals your identity, enabling your personal or sensitive financial information to stay hidden when using it for purchase. However, the only downside is that the maximum monetary value you can preload your vanilla gift card with is $500.
How To Check Vanilla Gift Card Balance
Checking your Vanilla gift card balance is super easy and straightforward. Infact, there are several methods that you can use to check your Vanilla gift card balance seamlessly. Here are the three simple methods that you can use:
1. The online method
- Visit Vanilla’s official gift card website on your web browser and click on the Check Balance Menu.
- On the next page, you will be required to input your 16 digit card number which can be found at the back of your physical card or in your email address if you are using the digital format.
- Then, add your CVV and expiry date.
- And click on continue once you are done. Your Vanilla gift card balance will immediately reflect on your screen.
2. Over the phone method
- Call the number on the back of your Vanilla gift card, or head over to the website to search for the customer service number if you cannot find one at the back of your card.
- You will get an automated prompt, listen to it and follow the instructions.
- Input your card details if you are prompted to.
- Wait for the automated prompt to tell you your vanilla gift card balance.
3. In-store method
- Visit a retail store that accepts Vanilla gift cards.
- Head over to the cashier’s desk and inform them that you want to check your Vanilla gift card balance.
- If they agree, hand over your Vanilla card to them and wait for it to be scanned.
- Once the cashier is done, they will tell you your Vanilla gift card balance.
Why you need to check your Vanilla gift card balance regularly?
1. Avoid declined transactions
If you have ever experienced your payment card being declined at the checkout, as I suppose you should have. You will agree that it is one of the most embarrassing and awkward moments to find one’s self in. Therefore, to avoid moments like this, it is best to always check your Vanilla gift card and any payment card at all regularly, so you stay aware of how much credit balance you have left before shopping.
Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.
2.Keep track of spending
Aside from saving yourself some embarrassments when shopping, checking your Vanilla gift card also helps you keep track of your spending habits. You get to know how much you have spent so far and how much you have left.
This is particularly nice, if you are on a budget or making payment for multiple purchases.
3. Increases usability
When you are aware of how much balance you have left in your Vanilla gift card, you tend to use the card more to make payments for purchases compared to when you have a Vanilla gift card whose credit balance is unknown.
4. Prevent expiration
Checking your Vanilla gift card balance regularly helps you make use of the available funds in the card before it expires.
5. Spot discrepancies
One common thing about using Vanilla gift cards and other types of payment cards is that unauthorized charges are often taken on these cards. And in a scenario whereby you have no idea of how much is in your Vanilla gift card, you may not spot these unauthorized charges.
That is why it is important to regularly check your Vanilla gift card balance, so that when issues like this arise, you can easily tackle it by informing the customer support.
6. Helps with budgeting
Regularly checking your Vanilla gift card helps you budget and plan shopping sprees that fall within your card’s credit balance. This way, you will have a head knowledge of how much you are to spend in total and if an additional expense can still fit into your budget or not.
7. Eliminates surprises
When you know your card’s credit balance, your mind is at peace when shopping, with no room for funny surprises or embarrassments.
Wrapping up
Checking your Vanilla gift card is crucial and saves you unnecessary embarrassment when making payments while shopping. The steps mentioned in this guide are simple regardless of how you check your Vanilla gift card balance.
We encourage you to make this a regular habit if you use Vanilla gift cards a lot and always come back to this blog post when you need more clarity. Till then, thanks for reading!
DISCLAIMER!
“This publication, review, or article ("Content") is based on our independent evaluation and is subjective, reflecting our opinions, which may differ from others' perspectives or experiences. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the Content and disclaim responsibility for any errors or omissions it may contain.
The information provided is not investment advice and should not be treated as such, as products or services may change after publication. By engaging with our Content, you acknowledge its subjective nature and agree not to hold us liable for any losses or damages arising from your reliance on the information provided.
Always conduct your own research and consult professionals where necessary.”
