We appreciate the thought behind a gift card, we really do, but we have to say it out loud: the Vanilla Visa Gift Card has been the most frustrating gift we have ever been handed. The most recent one came with a $35.00 balance on it, and it was the final straw that made us sit down and write this. The people who gifted these cards all meant well. It's the card itself we have a problem with.

It costs the giver money before you spend a dime
When someone buys one of these, they pay a purchase fee on top of the face value. The cardholder agreement lists that fee at about $2.95 for cards in the $10 to $75 range, though it can vary depending on where the card is bought and the type of card. Either way, whoever gave you the card is already a few dollars in the hole before you even try to use it.

Strike one: the card that faded away
One card we received did not have physically punched or embossed numbers, and the printed numbers on were faded away. We could not use it, and when we contacted Vanilla, it was a waste of our time. Because the number was not visible, they told us there was nothing they could do.

Strike two: the sealed card with nothing on it
Another card was still sealed in its package when we got it, but when we went to use it, the balance was $0. We contacted Vanilla and they told us the card had already been used, and they gave us the name of the vendor and the amount that was used. We still don't know what actually happened there.

Strike three: the one that broke the camel's back
The latest card is the one that pushed us over the edge. We tried to use it on Amazon 5 times after activating it. When we went to the website on the back of the card, it said the card was on hold for security reasons, and keep in mind we had just activated it a few days earlier. We called, and the automated system was able to clear the hold using nothing but the information printed on the card. We never spoke to a person, so we aren't sure how much of a security feature that really is. Since then we have tried to use it 4 more times. Every one of those attempts was within the balance on the card, and every one was declined.

When we finally got a customer service rep on the phone, we was told we would have to enter the card information as a one time transaction instead of adding it to my Amazon account. Amazon doesn't give you that option, so that advice didn't make sense for what we were trying to do. The rep wasn't very friendly about it either, and basically told us to go use the card at a different retailer.

A few things worth knowing if you end up with one
To be fair, we did some digging after all of this, and there are a few things that can trip these cards up that aren't obvious when you're handed one.
- The balance has to cover your entire purchase including tax and shipping, and Vanilla's own help page says some transactions place a hold of up to 20% above the purchase amount, so give yourself some cushion
- Online stores like Amazon run an address check on cards, and a mismatch is one of the most commonly reported reasons for declines, so check the card's website to see whether you need to register a billing ZIP and use that same address at checkout
- Check the balance the day you get the card and take a photo of both sides so a faded number doesn't turn into a mystery
- If you're the one buying, look over the packaging for any signs of tampering before you take it to the register

Honestly though, if a gift needs this much homework before you can spend it, that's kind of the problem.

What other people are saying
I'm clearly not the only one. If you want to see what other cardholders have run into, check out the Vanilla Gift Card page on the Better Business Bureau. In fairness, it currently shows an A+ rating, although the company is not BBB accredited. The most recent reviews we looked at were mostly people describing cards they received as gifts that kept getting declined, which sounds awfully familiar. Take a look at the Reviews and Complaints tabs and decide for yourself.

What we would do instead
If you're thinking about giving one, go with a gift card for a specific store or restaurant the person actually likes, or just send cash or a digital payment. It takes a little more thought, but there's no purchase fee, no decline roulette, and nobody ends up on hold with customer service over a birthday present. If you want a place to start, you can browse store and restaurant gift cards on Amazon and pick something the person will actually use. Just steer clear of the Vanilla ones. That's one of our affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The Good
- Accepted at most places that take Visa debit in the US, when it works
- No monthly or dormancy fees after the purchase, and the funds don't expire
- Easy to find at most retailers, and the recipient gets to pick what they want


The Bad
- The giver pays a purchase fee before you ever spend a cent
- If the numbers fade or can't be read, you are out of luck
- Customer service is not very helpful
- Can't reload it, can't use it for recurring bills
- Leftover change is hard to spend most of the time leaving value on the card that can't be used


Bottom line, we wouldn't waste your hard earned money on this type of card. We aren't saying it's a scam, but after these experiences it sure felt like one.