How to Use Prepaid Gift Cards
Prepaid gift cards -- some of which are available through major credit card providers such as Visa, American Express or MasterCard -- can be used anywhere these credit cards are accepted, for the amount the card is purchased for. You can purchase prepaid gift cards at drug and department stores where you load the amount on the card, or purchase one with a pre-determined value; for instance, some cards come loaded with $50 or $75 values.
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Instructions
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Activate the card online at the website listed on the card. Depending on the card, you may need to set up a free account; in case the card is lost, the issuing company can replace it. Type the number printed on the card's front side into the designated fields. Type the three-digit security code -- the last three digits on the card's backside -- and submit. The card is ready for use. Many gift cards -- such as those restaurants issue -- should be treated as cash, as they are not tied to a credit card company and cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.
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At stores, slide the card on a card reader. Select credit. Ensure the purchase total does not exceed the card's limit. Some stores may require that you state how much is on the card so cashiers can enter the information themselves. If the total exceeds the card's limit, you must pay another way for the remainder. If the card is not tied to a credit card company, just give the card to the cashier and she can manually deduct the purchase amount from your balance.
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On the Web, use the gift card like you would a credit card to purchase items from the same store that issued the card. After shopping, when you are ready to check out, type the card number and expiration date, along with the security code, in the designated fields. Some online stores may not accept gift cards as forms of payment, and may allow gift-card use only for in-store purchases.
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