So received the free virtual Visa card as part of the recent NIB sign-up promotion.
However, finding it nearly impossible to find an online business that will accept these cards as they continually fail at check-out. I have reached out to the visa card supplier and they say the cards are operational and should work fine, but "Please be advised however that some merchants may choose not to accept Virtual Visa".
Any ideas?
Where have you tried? Small shops or large chains?
Both small and large, including Kmart, Amazon, Coles, utility bills, etc. etc.
Virtual shops?
Aren't all online shops virtual?
Virtually
Basically most of online shops,
eBay, amazon, kmart, target, JB hifi, OTR app, Council websites, etc and so many more.
Mine has worked on Door Dash…
Just use it to buy woolworths e-gift card
Tried Woolworths, other gift card providers - no luck
Metaverse
The one thing no one has mentioned so far is that the virtual Visa gift card you are attempting to use is a virtual Visa prepaid gift card.
Prepaid gift cards cannot support 3D Secure, and a lot of online merchants will require cards to support 3D Secure for security reasons. That would explain the reason that it is being declined a lot of online merchants.
If you have access to the discounted Woolworths Group gift card portal, it may work there. Woolworths Group have blocked most prepaid gift cards, but some prepaid gift cards can sneak through… Nevermind.
Discounted gift card portals operated by Lifestyle Rewards (e.g. HCF Thank You, Lumo Rewards) also accept prepaid gift cards.
Alternatively, you should be able to link it to a PayPal account and then spend it at online merchants that accept PayPal (e.g. Prezzee).
Paypal worked….thank you so much!!!
PM the number and cvc and I'll let you know where 😇
*expiration date too :D
and scan of the card.
wow.. these things have only got a 6 month shelf life once activated..
Oh.. no need to PM how much is on it.. just whether it was for single or family policy..
Have u tried putting card into google/Apple pay and using nfc/tap and go at a physical store?
I would love to know where too. I had trouble using mine because like the comment mentioned above, the virtual card doesn't support 3D Secure and almost every single transaction online today won't accept a card that doesn't have it.
I now have a $500 VISA gift card lying around, full balance, can't use it anywhere.
Have you tried something like Linkt? (I'm in VIC) I saw in their footer notes that they accept 'prepaid cards' but charge a large surcharge. You might be able to at least deplete the balance rather not being able to use it at all.
Here are some suggestions:
Does your health insurer allow you to prepay your health insurance? HCF allows you to prepay your health insurance using prepaid gift cards. As I mentioned before, their gift card portal (HCF Thank You) also accepts prepaid gift cards. (I am assuming you have health insurance…)
Have you tried using the Visa gift card at the Woolworths Group gift card portal? Some prepaid gift cards (e.g. Vanilla Visa gift cards) have not been blocked on the portal. I thought they would have blocked all cards with no 3D Secure support, but it looks like they block cards based on bank identification numbers (BINs) instead…
Have you tried paying a bill online at Australia Post? I have no idea if they require Visa or Mastercards with 3D Secure, but it is worth a shot, especially if you have a sizeable bill to pay! Be aware that some billers (e.g. Origin Energy, EnergyAustralia) may charge you fees for paying a bill through Australia Post.
Have you tried adding the Visa gift card to a PayPal account? I have added other Visa prepaid gift cards (e.g. OnlyONE Visa gift cards, Vanilla Visa gift cards) to my PayPal account and then used it at merchants who accept PayPal (e.g. Prezzee) with no issues. (I am assuming you have a PayPal account…)
If you have a Sniip account, they allow you to send BPAY payments from a prepaid card (including prepaid gift cards) to most BPAY recipients, but Sniip will charge you a 0.5% surcharge for prepaid cards. You could use Sniip to make a contribution to your superannuation account, overpay a utility account, mobile phone account, etc. If you don’t have a Sniip account and are interested, make sure to use the OzBargain referral system so you and a fellow OzBargainer can get a $10 referral bonus. (That would cover any surcharges…)
Have you tried making payments at the ATO? Some prepaid cards work when paying off tax bills directly to the ATO.
Paypal worked, thank so much for the suggestions!!
NIB actually allows you to make ad hoc payments onto your health insurance.
If you can't use the card they gave you to top up your insurance, then you have a strong case for a complaint.
They also have NIB rewards with about a 3% discount on supermarket GCs
Tried Amazon?