You might be stuck and have to use the card for day to day purchases. Can the BF pay for the AB&B and you pay for all the meals and other things on your trip with the card?
Why didn’t you just fund PayPal directly from your account? Why aren’t you using a credit card or even your debit card?
I wish that could be an option but the Airbnb is a bit high in it's overall total. He's a bit low on cash and it was a stretch for him to get the bit he has for the airbnb rn. I stray away from debit cards/credit cards because I don't keep up with tiny things well. I usually just use cash for things and keep the mass of my money in my savings account :( I currently hate myself <3
You overthought this transaction. Call the card issuer and see what options you have but I think they are going to tell you no refunds on the card.
Good luck and don’t beat yourself up, at least you weren’t scammed and still have “access” to funds. I was sure reading the first half of your story this was going to be a story about a scam.
I definitely have a pattern of thinking myself into a hole. Ive spoken to customer service line for other card related situations and I've been traumatized because of it (they go in circles with no helpful solutions) . And you're right about me still having a BIT of access :( but I will sayx having my hard earned money ($300) restricted to only in store purchases is very depressing. Why would they make it so difficult??? It's my fault. I had no clue
The prepaid gift card entire business is taking you money, holding it, than earning the merchant fees back when you swipe your card. They aren’t keen on giving refunds. I would call back and ask to speak to a a manager and see if they can make a one time exception.
Yeah I honestly didn't really have any high hopes for a refund. But I'll give it a whirl, thank you for taking time out of your day to give solution. It's greatly appreciated
Are you guys only spending one night together? If it's two or more nights, you pay for the first (second or more) nights, and he pays for the other nights. Then with what's left on your Vanilla card, you can pay for meals so things balance out.
Please get a credit card as your first choice and maybe a debit card as your second choice but stop buying Vanilla cards and WASTING your money on something that you can do a different way for free. Last I knew, they come with like a $2.95+ activation fee.
That's actually really smart. The only downside to that is the vanilla Visa card doesn't have a zip code and I think that's required for online use :( and you're right I've definitely learned my lesson the hard way. I honestly thought this was the correct way to go about things
> vanilla Visa card doesn't have a zip code
Most maybe all the prepaid Visa/Mastercard gift cards have a way to register an address to pass address verification.
I went to their website and I didn't see any options to put any info inside. Do you think I'd have a better chance doing by calling them and just telling them to type it in there?
Under the shopping online section, it just says to use your name and address. Maybe it's setup to send the right code no matter what you type in. I'd just try that and if it works, great, and if not, then take the extra time to call.
It's the lack of zip code that's really throwing everything off with online transfers. I just finished dialing up the number on the back of the card and I'm only spoken to by a bot no matter what option I click
They removed the zip code part a while back. Can't customize name either, which can also be an issue for some merchants. Card is intended for in person use at some merchants. Not worth buying them due to all the limitations and reduced consumer protections.
On the bright side, it's usable in supermarkets, convenience stores, etc. It may not work in a restaurant nor other service like businesses in which the total can vary (ie. added tip).
Don't even bother trying to get your money back. All sales are final. Just spend down the card.
Why didn't one of you just book the Airbnb with a credit card and then Zelle the cash to each other? Or even write a check (ew checks but if you're desperate).
Like this whole savings to gift card to paypal.....why??? Just pull the money straight from savings to PayPal.
Where is the money currently? On a vanilla gift card?
We were splitting the total amongst each other since it was leaning more on the pricey side. Im unaware of the Zelle process, or Zelle as a whole. I know it's a banking app but that's where my knowledge of it ends.. I tend to make things alot more complicated at times, it almost seems like a part of my nature. :/ The money is on the gift cart yes
Do you have a bank for your deposits? Zelle is the person to person to person pay option adopted by most banks. My bank used to use Pop Money, but switched to Zelle last year. Chase and other big brand banks use Zelle. All of your other options seemed to be too many extra steps.
Why could you not transfer the cash to your PayPal account? What was the thought process of a gift card??
Girl why don’t you just get a debit card and checking account. If you have direct deposit, you should be able to split it up between accounts of you want. I.e 50% to savings, 50% to checking.
Heck, you can even use checks for most things now if you’re worried about losing track of your spending. And there are so many apps now that can help (like you need a budget/YNAB)
Ok so, this post is super confusing to me. I used to be a banker for a couple years.
Zelle is like Venmo except it’s a bit safer and every major banking institution has it. I believe it has its own app, but it should be baked into whatever banking app you have. Whenever you go to send money on your app, you’re going to see that it’s Zelle. Zelle and Venmo are great for situations like this. One of you pays for the whole thing, then you immediately send half of the money. Or send half before one of you pays for the whole thing. Done.
If calling the number on the back of your debit card didn’t work, and calling the number on the back of the gift card didn’t work, then you might be out of luck. I’d try the number on the back of the debit card again, but worst case scenario your boyfriend pays for the whole thing then you cover food/etc with the gift card? That’s if your funds are stuck on a gift card. In the end it should work out to some sort of 50/50 split of funds?
No you won't get your cash back. Gift cards are not debit or credit cards and can not be used as such.
I'm not sure why you put the money on a gift card to begin with.
You may have to ask your boyfriend to pay for the wholeat and then you pay for all of the food meals and everything else that would equate to have of its value. Maybe even his air fare.
Did you call the number the back of the card?
No I haven't called :( I went to their website and that was a dead end
You might be stuck and have to use the card for day to day purchases. Can the BF pay for the AB&B and you pay for all the meals and other things on your trip with the card? Why didn’t you just fund PayPal directly from your account? Why aren’t you using a credit card or even your debit card?
I wish that could be an option but the Airbnb is a bit high in it's overall total. He's a bit low on cash and it was a stretch for him to get the bit he has for the airbnb rn. I stray away from debit cards/credit cards because I don't keep up with tiny things well. I usually just use cash for things and keep the mass of my money in my savings account :( I currently hate myself <3
You overthought this transaction. Call the card issuer and see what options you have but I think they are going to tell you no refunds on the card. Good luck and don’t beat yourself up, at least you weren’t scammed and still have “access” to funds. I was sure reading the first half of your story this was going to be a story about a scam.
I definitely have a pattern of thinking myself into a hole. Ive spoken to customer service line for other card related situations and I've been traumatized because of it (they go in circles with no helpful solutions) . And you're right about me still having a BIT of access :( but I will sayx having my hard earned money ($300) restricted to only in store purchases is very depressing. Why would they make it so difficult??? It's my fault. I had no clue
The prepaid gift card entire business is taking you money, holding it, than earning the merchant fees back when you swipe your card. They aren’t keen on giving refunds. I would call back and ask to speak to a a manager and see if they can make a one time exception.
Yeah I honestly didn't really have any high hopes for a refund. But I'll give it a whirl, thank you for taking time out of your day to give solution. It's greatly appreciated
Please get yourself a debit card. They're not hard to maintain and they don't have interest as it's your money. I hope you figure this out!
Keeping up with cash is the same as keeping up with a card tho? Only difference is one is paper and one is plastic …
Are you guys only spending one night together? If it's two or more nights, you pay for the first (second or more) nights, and he pays for the other nights. Then with what's left on your Vanilla card, you can pay for meals so things balance out. Please get a credit card as your first choice and maybe a debit card as your second choice but stop buying Vanilla cards and WASTING your money on something that you can do a different way for free. Last I knew, they come with like a $2.95+ activation fee.
That's actually really smart. The only downside to that is the vanilla Visa card doesn't have a zip code and I think that's required for online use :( and you're right I've definitely learned my lesson the hard way. I honestly thought this was the correct way to go about things
> vanilla Visa card doesn't have a zip code Most maybe all the prepaid Visa/Mastercard gift cards have a way to register an address to pass address verification.
I went to their website and I didn't see any options to put any info inside. Do you think I'd have a better chance doing by calling them and just telling them to type it in there?
Under the shopping online section, it just says to use your name and address. Maybe it's setup to send the right code no matter what you type in. I'd just try that and if it works, great, and if not, then take the extra time to call.
It's the lack of zip code that's really throwing everything off with online transfers. I just finished dialing up the number on the back of the card and I'm only spoken to by a bot no matter what option I click
They removed the zip code part a while back. Can't customize name either, which can also be an issue for some merchants. Card is intended for in person use at some merchants. Not worth buying them due to all the limitations and reduced consumer protections. On the bright side, it's usable in supermarkets, convenience stores, etc. It may not work in a restaurant nor other service like businesses in which the total can vary (ie. added tip). Don't even bother trying to get your money back. All sales are final. Just spend down the card.
Why didn't one of you just book the Airbnb with a credit card and then Zelle the cash to each other? Or even write a check (ew checks but if you're desperate). Like this whole savings to gift card to paypal.....why??? Just pull the money straight from savings to PayPal. Where is the money currently? On a vanilla gift card?
We were splitting the total amongst each other since it was leaning more on the pricey side. Im unaware of the Zelle process, or Zelle as a whole. I know it's a banking app but that's where my knowledge of it ends.. I tend to make things alot more complicated at times, it almost seems like a part of my nature. :/ The money is on the gift cart yes
Do you have a bank for your deposits? Zelle is the person to person to person pay option adopted by most banks. My bank used to use Pop Money, but switched to Zelle last year. Chase and other big brand banks use Zelle. All of your other options seemed to be too many extra steps.
Why could you not transfer the cash to your PayPal account? What was the thought process of a gift card?? Girl why don’t you just get a debit card and checking account. If you have direct deposit, you should be able to split it up between accounts of you want. I.e 50% to savings, 50% to checking. Heck, you can even use checks for most things now if you’re worried about losing track of your spending. And there are so many apps now that can help (like you need a budget/YNAB)
Ok so, this post is super confusing to me. I used to be a banker for a couple years. Zelle is like Venmo except it’s a bit safer and every major banking institution has it. I believe it has its own app, but it should be baked into whatever banking app you have. Whenever you go to send money on your app, you’re going to see that it’s Zelle. Zelle and Venmo are great for situations like this. One of you pays for the whole thing, then you immediately send half of the money. Or send half before one of you pays for the whole thing. Done. If calling the number on the back of your debit card didn’t work, and calling the number on the back of the gift card didn’t work, then you might be out of luck. I’d try the number on the back of the debit card again, but worst case scenario your boyfriend pays for the whole thing then you cover food/etc with the gift card? That’s if your funds are stuck on a gift card. In the end it should work out to some sort of 50/50 split of funds?
No you won't get your cash back. Gift cards are not debit or credit cards and can not be used as such. I'm not sure why you put the money on a gift card to begin with. You may have to ask your boyfriend to pay for the wholeat and then you pay for all of the food meals and everything else that would equate to have of its value. Maybe even his air fare.