Vanilla giftReviews 438

I put $200 on the card and I would have had fewer problems if I would have just thrown money in the trash. Customer service is nearly hopeless and most definitely of third world origin so don't expect to get any help from them when you figure out that you need it... And you will. Visa is banned in my wallet from now on!

My twin daughters received $500 gifts cards as graduation gifts, and we were never able to activate the cards. Repeated system error when I tried to activate the cards online. Initially an hour-long wait on hold. Second attempt the customer service rep asked for the card information then hung up on me. Third attempt I was told that the cards had never been properly activated at the store of purchase. I have NEVER had this experience with a gift card before. And I will NEVER buy from this company again.

Bought Plenty of these over the years.When it works it's fine. But if anything goes wrong you will spend endless hours on the phone. So far I've called 7 times, 7 different people including a manager (or so they say), countless hours, 2 and a half months (so far) and nothing. It's always the same BS. I'm so sorry, we will escalate the issue, we've sent an email, they will be in contact, 24 to 48 hours, blah blah blah. Absolutely awful.

I purchased a VanillaGift Card and loaded it with $200.00 from Walgreens. I used it to purchase a few items around a total of $80.00. When I first purchased the card I went on line for a balance. It showed a loaded card with $200.00 on it. Week or so later I went online for a balance check and was unable to check. The VanillaGift card computer told me "Check back later, there was an error". Well it's been a couple of weeks and several inquiries later nothing. I used the call line and was on hold for 30 minutes waiting for an agent. No one answered. Online is not operating. Word to the wise: Don't purchase any VanillaGift Cards or you will be sorry!

The worst gift card experience ever. I wouldn't even give it a one if that was a choice. From the day I bought it! I have money on it and when I go to use it, it gets declined or says error. I will never buy it again!

I received a $100 gift card from a friend. I got online, activated it, tried to use it at a store for a $10 purchase and the card wouldn't swipe. The card reader just didn't process that anything had been swiped. I tried to add the card to my Apple Pay so I could use it that way, but it wouldn't let me. I called the number on the back of the card, and there was seemingly no option to speak to anyone unless I was reporting the card lost or stolen. I went with that route to get a person and she said that the card should be able to add to Apple Pay but she didn't know why it wouldn't work, but she suggested that I just use the card for online purchases instead.

A few days later, I tried to make an online purchase and when it asked for my ZIP code, I tried mine not knowing if that would work. It didn't, so I called the number again, was on hold for a long time, then I was told that the cards are "anonymous and have no name or ZIP attached to them as a way to secure the funds". I asked to have a ZIP created associated with the card and they said they couldn't. They suggested that I either only use online retailers who don't require a ZIP or use it in person at a store. I told them that the card doesn't swipe, and they suggested that I just stick to online, or request a replacement card. I'm wary of voiding this card and getting a replacement because I've read online that people have ordered replacement and they never came. I'm wondering if my friend who bought the card should just do a chargeback on her purchase of the card but I'm not sure how her credit card company would take that.

Oh, and the last irritating thing is that on their website, they say specifically say that you can use your gift card for any online merchants that accept VISA debit cards. Not true.

I received a Vanilla Visa Gift Card from a friend for my birthday and tried to use it at a local restaurant. It did not work. I attempted to check the balance online (3 times) and it would not work. I then telephoned the number on the back of the gift card *******760 and a recording said, "Congratulations, you were selected to win a $100 voucher to Walmart." Now since I was a "winner", the recording said I would be connected to a live representative. The representative asked for the card number and activation code. She then said she needed to connect me to a supervisor, but while I waited I would only need to pay a one time activation fee ($5.95) for the Walmart $100 voucher. I told her I did not want to pay the activation fee because on my original gift card there was a paid activation fee AND it does not work. All of a sudden I was disconnected. I then called again and coincidentally...I was chosen as a winner of a $100 Walmart voucher. (Boy, I it must be my lucky day.) This time a male representative asked for my name and the correct spelling. He also asked for information about the card and then told me I would need to speak with a supervisor because I was the lucky winner of the $100 Walmart voucher, but first needed to collect the $5.95 activation fee. I told him no, I do not want to pay the activation fee because one was paid already on the original gift card that did not work. I told him to give me a voucher for $94.05 this way the activation fee was already included. He said he could not do that. I subsequently told him I did not want the $100 voucher, I only want my Vanilla gift card to work. The representative told me he couldn't help me then a tried to hang up. I told him I simply want the Vanilla Visa gift card that has been paid for to work. Once again he repeated that he could not help and was hanging up. I told him this sounds like a scam and unfortunately called him an *******@hole. Needless to say he hung up on me.

I was gifted a $100 vanilla gift card over a year ago and had tried to activate it a few months later while at a Walmart to make a purchase but couldn't. I just tried activating it again and it says balance is $0.02, and there is a single transaction on it for $99.98 at a shady sounding website that sells shoes that I never even heard about! Very upsetting and disappointing. I will let everyone know never to purchase vanilla gift cards!

$100s on card. All stores say cards invalid for credit or debit. Customer service denies any problems with card, refuses to replace. They are just going to keep the money forever.

Vanilla Gift sucks. They flagged and froze my gift card simply because I looked up the balance multiple times in one sitting. Their customer service is $#*!. They hardly speak any english and you have to wait for a minimum of a half hour just to speak to somebody. I've been waiting on more than $100 from them for about 6 months. Horrible service. Horrible competency. Horrible process.Horrible company don't shop with them.

I purchased a Vanilla Gift Card from Walmart and sent it to my customer, but he was unable to use it. He sent it back to me. I contacted Walmart and was told to call Vanilla. When I called Vanilla, I was put on hold several times because the rep did not know what's she is doing. When asked for supervisor or manager, she put me on hold for over an hour and never came back. I called back and was put on hold again and again. I could not get the issue resolved or refund from Vanilla. NEVER buy a Vanilla Gift Card Again!

Have a problem with vanilla gift card and find out there is no real way to get help. Seems like a scam.

DON'T BUY VANILLA GIFT CARDS.THE VANILLA GIFT CARD CUSTOMER SERVICE IS A SCAM, THEIR AGENT FROM INDIA SCAMMED ME OUT OF MONEY FOR A FRAUDULENT PURCHASE OF MEDICAL INSURANCE. I TRIED TO RESOLE A PROBLEM WITH THEIR CARD, AND HAD TO LISTEN TO ENDLESS PROMOTIONS DON'T CALL *******760. CALL YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OR FTC.

Bought 2 cards and only 1 is activated, opened a case more than 2 month ago but nothing happened after providing all information. Will never buy it again.

I purchased a 200.00 vanilla gift card, well i didnt use it for its original purpose so i spent 58.00 on line next day tried to use a grocery store it was declined so i call for balance o balance WTH somebody hacked it and used it, so they sent a new one i tried using at grocery store declined again WTH i call somebody tried checking balance hacked again goin on 2 months still cant use gotta wait for new card i will NEVER BUY AGAIN

My mom purchased a 200 dollar visa gift card for my birthday. When I opened it up the security code was scratched off and I could not use the card for online stores without the code. Then I attempted to use it at a grocery store and it would not go through. When I called the customer service they wanted my mom to email them copy of her driver's license because all of her information she provided over the phone was not sufficient enough. With all kinds of scams and traps people fall into you can see how a person can be hesitant to send a picture of their drivers license through mail. They said they could not help us any further until that was emailed. I do believe that the Vanilla Visa gift card company tempers with their cards so people end up spend money to purchase the card but not be able to use it. This Is a way for this company to steal your money and profit from the victims.

Cannot believe I've been waiting on the line with these people for an HOUR, because the card the was purchased had missing numbers on it. I sent in my ID, the actual copy of the gift card front and back and my receipt and STILL NOTHING! SCAMMERS!

I love getting these when I have an urge to do online shopping. I recently had plans to purchase my brother some specialty mends bar soap that we all can imagine what company, so I loaded a card, went home to open and activate it and 75% of the card number wasn't legible. I was furious. I was farfetched, bamboozled by the exactly the fact I got ripped off, but the sheer excitement of whoops I now just lost money.and it may as well been a scratcher. I went through all the gibberish of calling the store number then the card corporate number and bath and fourth two or three time, I finally gave up. It wasn't a big deal, but for record I had that guy wretch feeling and it happened that's all I'm saying. When? You ash. May 1-4thsomewhere in there, if you're like me, superstitious. Ha whatever. I just hope it doesn't happen too often. Mistakes happen. *Shrug*!

Got a $150 vanilla gift card for my birthday from my kids.
Spent $40 of it in the first week, then 3 weeks later went to place a $90 order and it kept getting declined?
Logged into the card to see what was going on and it turns out there were 2 charges from another city for a pot store purchase. Almost $100.
First off I.dont purchase drugs, secondly I have never been to that city.
I proceeded to call vanilla who opened a " dispute " case.
Said it could take up to 45 days to investigate.
Almost 3 months later after several calls and emails, I received an email with their decision.
They said the investigation had shown that the card was "present " at the time of purchase from the pot shop so there would be no refund.
That is absolutely impossible, I still have the card in my purse, there is not a chance anyone used it "in person".
So because of this "ABSOLUTE LIE" I am now out almost $100.
I am sure they do this often as of course they don't want to pay you, but when it's this blatantly a scam, that's pretty bad.
I am of course going to report this to the BBB and anyone else who will listen.
I have now sworn off gift cards!