Vanilla Gift Cards
Reviews and Complaints

I bought two cards from Walmart total- $900, $400 on 9/24/22, $500 on 10/1/22. Before I could get to the store to do any shopping, someone spent about $310 from the two cards in just a few hours! I have called them countless times and gotten nowhere at all. Their processing services are so horrible that I have spent hours trying to figure out how much I actually lost. Their customer service line is in the Philippines and I have to wait until it is 3AM here to get someone who then speaks with such a thick accent that I can't understand them. I cancelled the two cards and they sent me replacements for the remaining balances, which was then stolen too! I called VISA corporation, not the bank listed on the back of the cards. (The cards say they are issued by MetaBank N.A.) They took my card numbers and said they were issued by Pathward Bank, who had no record of the cards existing! I am a retired widower who has cancer and no money. This was all I had for me and Christmas for everyone.

I bought 4 sets of 3-$25 Vanilla Gift cards from Sams. I sent them out for Christmas presents. I was made aware that they don't work. I have called Vanilla Gift cards customer service and they said they couldn't help. I am pissed I spent over $300 for Christmas and I'm embarrassed. I have contacted Sams they are supposed to contact me. We will see.

Our daughter bought us a $100.00 Vanilla Visa Gift card for our Anniversary

around September of 2021. Due to the COVID we were unable to use it for some time. In June of 2022 we were in Florida. We tried to use it at an establishment. The establishment advised us that the card had a -0- balance on it. This was the first time the card had been taken from the envelope. In July of 2022 we contacted Visa Vanilla to let them know what had occurred. They told us that the card had been used in a Target store in California in December of 2021. We advised them that we had never been to California. They sent us forms in July 2022 to be filled out to file a claim. We filled them out and sent them to Visa in August of 2022. They advised it would take 3-4 months before we would hear anything from them. We called them in October of 2022. They said we should hear back from them by November of 2022. We called them at the end of November, and they told us the card had been used legally in a Target store in California and there was nothing more they could do. The case is closed.

I called them back on December 14, 2022, to see if there was anything more they could do to help us with this situation. The girl told me the case is closed there is no more they will do to help us. We feel they did not do a thorough investigation.

Case #[protected] I received a gift card from my law firm for $450. I used some of it but had $250 left on the card. Last week someone used the card number on December 4th and charged $249.54 from Imagine.com, an online company - It was not me making this charge and the card has always been in my wallet. I have requested this to be investigated and was told I would be emailed a form to fill out to start the process. I have never received the form. Case #[protected]. Please help as I need to get the form and I need to get my $250 back.

Now as I said if this problem isn't rectified, I will personally launch a legal and consumer campaign to have this company 's product removed from major chains such as Walgreens and CVS to start with. I will file suit against Vanilla and any associates with the banking commission. Furthermore, through my contacts on radio, I will try to launch a media campaign against this company that I suspect has a hand in these shenanigans.

I received a Vanilla Gift Card worth $500.00. I checked the balance on 09/06/22 on the Vanilla Gift Card Website. When my wife tried to us it on 09/07/22, it showed a negative balance of $500.

I filed a report with them on 09/11/22. They told me it would be 45 - 90 days. It has been 90 days and I have not heard a word. I sent in all the proper documentation requested, not to mention that someone took my money on their website while checking the balance on my card. I entered all the necessary information that was asked of me.

I received a Vanilla Gift Card for my birthday. I purchase a chair with gift card and bank card. The chair was cancelled. So requested another card from the company because I had thrown it away. I sent in all information requested and they stated that I would receive a replacement in a month. I sent a email to find out what dated it was coming. They sent back stating that it needed a store stamp. At no time did they request this, I have all emails from them with information needed. I would like for you to check into this for me, because my card should have been issued by now.

Shauneille Conner

I placed 3 orders for several gift cards for Christmas. Paid over $1,600 dollars and they were sent priority with FedX. Per FedX tracers, all 3 orders arrived in Brownsville, my hometown, on 11/23/2022. None of those items have been delivered to my address. Can get nowhere with customer service. They keep saying they will get back to me, but that has not happened.

On 11/15/2022 I purchased a Vanilla Visa Gift Card at a Walmart Store and put $400.00 on it. The very first time that I went to use the card it was declined, even after several attempts but the clerk. When I went to Customer Service they spent 1 1/2 hours on the phone waiting for Vanilla's C/S. The information that I received was that someone else tried to use the card. I was told to send a copy of my ID, Front and Back of the card, and receipt, which I did right away. I called 10 days later for an update and instructed that the issue had been past on to GIFT DISPUTES and to forward the same information to their E-Mail Address, which I did that day. I called Vanilla today and was lucky to only wait 45 minutes then was put on a 4 minute hold and when C/S came back she told me that not to call back until after the 60 to 90 period that it will take to resolve. The timing of this BS comes at the worse time of the year with Christmas and to some $400.00 is not a lot but to me it means no Christmas for some children from me. I will NEVER buy another Vanilla Card of any kind. It is a F****** Farse. The card was ceiled. How could the card possibly be in someone elses name?

I was told that I would get an email to complete and return. It was never received. I called a week later and waited on the line for over an hour. I told them I did not get the email. She didn't say anything but that it is in for review and someone would call me after 90 days. I asked her what that meant - 91 days - 200 days? She reiterated 90 days. I'm quite concerned based on the number of gift cards I've purchased. I sent an email to the address that was given - it got returned as undeliverable. I fear the 90 day thing is to buy them time. I don't know what to do next. This one card had a value of $500.

Hello,

I purchased a $100.00 Vanilla gift card from a local store on 11/09/2022. (See attached files of card and receipt.)

Before I even got home to use this card, it was hacked and there was no way for me to use it. Now, when I try to check the balance, it tells me the card is invalid.

I have made numerous attempts to contact customer service and go through their website, (vanillagift.com), which constantly gives an error saying “A system error has occurred. Please try again later.” As of the date of this email, I have received absolutely no response from anyone associated with the companies listed below.

After a great deal of research, it appears this is a longstanding and ongoing issue with Vanilla Cards and InComm Financial Services, Inc.

I have copied a representative from the Better Business Bureau in hopes this will be resolved in a timely manner.

Regards,

Brendan J. McKenna

[protected]

[protected]@comcast.net

On 9/9/22 I was shopping in Austin, TX at a boot store, I had received a gift card from my employer on 4/27/22 in amount of $250.00 for Administrative Professionals Day. I bought some boots and the clerk informed me that my card was declined, she tried 4 times to put in and was declined. We looked online and to see when it was used and it was used at a Walmart (I never shop there and a random gas station) on May 7, 2022. I immediately called the gift card company waited 45 minutes for a live person who told me to email details to website which I did, the email said do not inquire about your case or you will be pushed back to beginning. I did not inquire about the case, I got a letter on 11/25/22 telling me that my dispute was denied because it was not reported 60 days from when the charges occurred. First of all, I did not try to use card until 9/9/22 so how on earth would I know. How did someone get my gift card number so easily? How are they protecting the consumer with these cards? I am very upset and think the company is mis handling all the cases. The clerk at boot store said she had the same problem with her gift card with same company. Anything you can do to help.

I was given a $100 gift card. The balance says there is $100 on the card. Every time I have tried to use the card to make a purchase it is denied. Not one amount has been over $100 and still gets denied. This is a horrible product and company. It's a total scam. They take your money with no intention on letting you redeem it. You'll never be able to use the full amount, if you can use it at all. They keep the remainder of the balance after a certain time. They should be shut down for being a fraudulent company. Buyer beware. Do not purchase.

I was given two cards totaling $190 as recognition for coaching I'd done. I used about $47 from one of them. A couple of days later I went to use them and found that they had been charged out. I printed the name of the vendors and called in to open a case with Vanilla Visa Customer Care. I completed the paperwork and submitted it via email according to the instructions.. When I didn't receive a reply I called again (long wait on hold). I was told I needed to wait 45-60 days while they researched the case. When I didn't hear in 60 days I called again and they asked if I'd received a confirmation of my submission. I said that I wasn't aware that they provided a confirmation. I submitted the forms again. When I didn't receive a confirmation I called again. Long wait, same story. After submitting the forms three times (hours on the phone) I submitted the form by registered mail. I have confirmation that the completed forms were delivered and picked up at the post office on 11/21. Still no confirmation.

Ok I bought a $400 vanilla bean gift card on Nov 15 2022 I spent about a $100 maybe anyway I'm 74 my husband just died from brain injury and we had too many grandchildren need more love my babies so I had $300 left for Xmas went online said I had $4 left I called right away they said they had to do a search takes 45-90 days I was mad so I found out that was 3 $100 charges all on 22nd of Nov 2 were Amazon and one steamgames.com each was a $100 I called Amazon no charges on my Amazon nor on the games worth I'm so depressed that all I had saved for a year from looking at complaints not to many got it back

Here is case #[protected] this was at 11;15 at night I talked to Cara on Nov 22 2022 if u can help me ID appreciate it more than you know

Jean Agbisit

[protected]@yahoo.com

[protected]

xx

Was given a Vanilla gift card for 50.00 on the 23rd of November 2022. Tried to use it on 26th and already was declined. I contacted customer service. Needless to say it was no help at all. Only told me it had a hold for 50.00 on it and that it would be refuned the 30th. Seriuosly you put a hold on a card that was declined and I can't get use of it until 3 days later. These cards are not dependable at all as that was given to me to use for gas to get to and from work. Guess I will just not work until funds are retuened and maybe it will work. Any time I tried using this card it gets declined then it says it was used at Walmart. Wrong! I think it is just a scam thing that thbis company has going on. You put the mon ey up for the card and it is never used agian.

My boss purchased a GiftCard on 4/4/22, he gave me a Vanilla Gift card on 4/7/22. On July 31 2022, i went to use it, took out of the package and was declined. i ran a balance on it and the amount of $100 was stolen on 4/5/22. Two days before i got it. This is some real fraud going on with these cards.

i sent in my dispute and they are denying me a refund because it has passed their 60day Transaction rule.

How was i to know that?! Until July when I went to use it. Obviously its passed 60 days. However, It's in my possession, in the package, it's my money until I choose to use it. I have rebuttabled their answer and they won't refund it. They should look at the scope of what happened and not just a 60 days protocal.

Hi,

I got a 500$ Vanilla Visa Gift Card from my Friend. I used it for couple of items to buy from Walmart and Macys after spending 100$. All of sudden there was transaction around 400$ which was not done by me. And when I tried to reach customer care it was very very long period waiting. Informed them and asked them to refund but they said to call back after 7 days to provide us the status.

Its really bad customer service experience. Not sure how we get this amount back.

I received a Vanilla Visa Gift Card from Gamestop in exchange for a Samsung Phone I sold to them. Gamestop had it activated and I used it a few times with no problems. I was able to check the balance online in the Vanilla Gift website, and it said I still had a balance of $70 in it. Later when I tried to use it in several places, it declined each time. I checked the balance on their website again and I keep getting an error message saying "system error please try again". Ive been trying over and over and still keep getting the same message. Then I called Vanilla Gift customer service [protected] and tried to check the balance with the automated system, and it keeps telling me my card number is invalid. I tried to connect with a CS agent, and I can never go through, Ive been on hold each time and up to 30 minutes once. I've contacted Gamestop and they said there is nothing they can do. I even tried to get in contact with The Bancorp Bank, where the card is issued from, their phone number refers me to the same Vanilla Gift customer service number I've called numberous times. Needless to say I've tried EVERYTHING. I want my $70! I KNOW I have $70 in there. I feel frustrated and cheated.

11/21/2022 I tried to use a Vanillagift Visa card and the site I was using wouldn't accept it. I thought I needed to activate the card on their site before use . Evidently when I did this someone fraudulently with no authorization from me went in and spent the whole amount in a totally different site that I have never used. This morning 11/22/2022 I called Vanillagift 3 different times and each time was told the purchase was pending and I would have to wait until the transaction cleared to turn in a claim. That makes just no sense why the card couldn't be deactivated and the purchase cancelled but was told this each time. This was a gift to me and it's very upsetting that no one could actually do anything. I would not purchase one of these gift cards