Everything You Need to Know about Gift Card Activation

If you are trying to activate a #visagiftcard, can't figure out how to activate a gift card, or you think you got ripped off by a gift card activation scam, watch this video. In this video, Shelley Hunter, Gift Card Girlfriend, shares the best way to activate #visagiftcards, how gift card activation works, and why it's important to activate your Visa and Mastercard gift cards.

When you buy a gift card at the store, the cashier "activates" the gift card and loads value onto the card. That's one type of gift card activation. But the type of activation people sometimes struggle with is gift card activation at home. Gift cards that generally need to be activated at home are those that arrive in the mail or via email. Examples of gift cards that have to activated at home are stimulus check gift cards, gift cards received from a rebate program, or a Visa gift card that comes in the mail from a customer appreciation event (e.g. you switched your cable service or received a rebate gift card when you ordered new contact lenses, etc.).

In this video, I'll share the following:
- Why gift cards have to be activated to be used
- Where you should look for gift card activation instructions
- Why you should NEVER search for a gift card activation website
- How to read the fine print on the back of your gift card
- A gift card activation scam you can avoid!

To be honest, it really is easy to activate a Visa gift card. But people get into trouble when they try to find the gift card activation site by looking online rather than following the instructions on the card. It's my goal to help people use the full value of the gift cards they have, and this is an important first step.

AND HERE'S ONE MORE TIP: Promotional gift cards such as the rebate cards or customer appreciation cards listed above, almost always have a short (6 months to 1 year) expiration. So make it a practice to activate and use the gift cards you received as soon as possible.

Let me know in the comments below if you have any other gift card questions. This is one of my favorite topics to discuss and I'm happy to help.

Happy Gift Carding and thanks for watching.

~ Shelley

0:00 Everything you need to know about gift card activation
0:38 Two types of Visa gift card activation
1:17 The most important thing about gift card activation
1:50 Don’t search online for gift card activation site
2:40 How to see the numbers on the back of a gift card
2:53 Gift card activation scam
3:48 MOST IMPORTANT TIP
4:00 Why gift cards need to be activated
4:46 Some gift cards will not be activated until after a waiting period

Mentioned in this video:
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- YouTube video on gift card registration:

[pinkflamingo_]

I bought a gift card from Home Depot. It was an amount over $500.00. The store marked it as fradulant and are now refusing the card. We have reciept for purchase and have called Home Depot. They are saying that they are looking into it but will take 10 to 15 days for them to get back wit us. I am upset that this has happened and don't know what to do. Can you help with suggestions.

[christoferdrewrocks]

It won’t let me register it for online usage, I activated it but I can’t register it.

[magnacarta]

My uncle sent me a Canadian vanilla visa gift card of $300 yesterday... It is already activated according to the receipt but I tried checking the balance several times, it said "system error"... I checked back on the activation receipt and it says it will be activated within 24 hrs and that attempt to check balance info before 24 hrs may render card void... It's yet to be 24hrs already but I hope the balance check attempt I made initially won't void the card....it's a lot of money ☹️☹️

[sw_]

Is there a gift card that can be used online without linking s.s.# or other sensitive info and can make online purchases anywhere? What is the best option?

[mercymaingi]

On the receipt, is it indicated that the gift card was activated?
What about one vanilla gift cards?

[bethholst]

If ots activated when your u purchase do you still need to activate it?

[katsypa]

Hi! Your video has been really helpful but my gift card still isn't working. I try to activate it but it keeps saying my card doesn't match their records.

[tinacirman]

I have thousands in disney e cards from a cancelled cruise. I found someone to buy them from me but she wants plastic actual cards not ecards. Disney doesn't allow purchase of gift cards WITH gift cards so I wanted to get zero balance gift cards that I can use to just transfer balances to them from the ecards. How can I buy gift cards at the store so that they will get activated but I don't want to put any balance on them since I already have the funds. Thanks!

[IkechukwuOguikpu-ni]

Give the giftcard now amen thank God amen

[carolbroadbent]

I have a visa debit gift card when I check the balance I have plenty of money left on it I just used it march 31st Now when I try to use the card it comes up invalid please help me

[lobothehuskyyy]

I bought a NetSpend gift card from the 7 eleven and in the cashier I though it got activated immediately so I went to the thing I was going to but but it says Your cards issuer had declined this request.what exactley does that mean?

[WillyPiaitir]

What can be purchased using a gift card?

[kimgaudette]

I have a question to ask my card is activate since today Oct 7/22 the language is now in French when I get to the verification part which I do not speak or read french. How do I get the language back to English.

[ShamuriiIngham]

i tried using the card but it keeps saying its on hold, i called the phone number and they keep asking me to repeat my 16 digit code but i did it like 5 times and it still wouldnt go threw

[stardust_rosewolf]

Where is the 4 digit activation code on a regular visa gift card? Can’t find it!

[anthonyraineri]

This is a scam, card not registered .

[imomoemiyasuo]

How can I activate my gift card sent directly to my email address

[collinjm]

i bought a visa gift card at the store and i’ve been trying for hours to use the card but it kept saying transaction failed/declined i thought it immediately activated when you get them from the store and the cashier would activate the card. i cant find the activation code anywhere i even called the number that is listed in the back of the card. Please help

[IkechukwuOguikpu-ni]

Thank God amen thank Jesus amen and amen thank you amen Ikechukwu oguikpu amen be good all the time amen give me the give card now amen help me now amen thank God amen

[King_Frd]

darn i was hoping i would be able to steal a gift card