US Bank Visa Debit Card Activation Issues
Dec 15, 2014, 12:54 pm
#46
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
US Bank Gift Card Activation Issues
Hi All,
I know this is probably an isolated incident but I figured I would post my experience so that other folks know what to expect if they run into the same issue.
I bought 2 US Bank issued Visa gift cards at a local grocery store around the end of last month. I went to load them to my Bluebird / Serve account (I can't remember which one) and it would not work (debit not available). I've never had a problem with these particular cards, but figured it was an issue with Wal Mart. I figured I would use these cards on Evolve this month when a couple of bills come due. When I went to do that, they also would not work with Evolve.
Finally, this weekend I called the number on the back of the card - and was informed that while they can see the attempted load, the card was not properly activated. They asked me to fax (no way to e-mail) 1.) the receipt 2.) the front and back of the card 3.) the packaging (I no longer have this) 4.) My name, phone #, and e-mail.
The first rep told me that this department only works weekdays, but that I can fax the info over and then call with a follow-up and they will process it on the immediately. Of course, when I went to do that the person that I spoke with told me that was not possible, and was also not able to tell me how long it typically takes to activate a card like this. She said she could send in a request for them to contact me, and within 48 hours they will either call or send me a letter.
So far, I have no sense that anything has gone "wrong" in this process other than the initial failed activation - just figured I would report on the potential problem and that it is important to get the official "activated" report from the receipt. Luckily I still have the receipt!
I'll update this thread when I get a confirmation that the card has been activated.
Edit to add: Thanks for appending this to the established thread. I tried a search, but didn't come up with this!
I know this is probably an isolated incident but I figured I would post my experience so that other folks know what to expect if they run into the same issue.
I bought 2 US Bank issued Visa gift cards at a local grocery store around the end of last month. I went to load them to my Bluebird / Serve account (I can't remember which one) and it would not work (debit not available). I've never had a problem with these particular cards, but figured it was an issue with Wal Mart. I figured I would use these cards on Evolve this month when a couple of bills come due. When I went to do that, they also would not work with Evolve.
Finally, this weekend I called the number on the back of the card - and was informed that while they can see the attempted load, the card was not properly activated. They asked me to fax (no way to e-mail) 1.) the receipt 2.) the front and back of the card 3.) the packaging (I no longer have this) 4.) My name, phone #, and e-mail.
The first rep told me that this department only works weekdays, but that I can fax the info over and then call with a follow-up and they will process it on the immediately. Of course, when I went to do that the person that I spoke with told me that was not possible, and was also not able to tell me how long it typically takes to activate a card like this. She said she could send in a request for them to contact me, and within 48 hours they will either call or send me a letter.
So far, I have no sense that anything has gone "wrong" in this process other than the initial failed activation - just figured I would report on the potential problem and that it is important to get the official "activated" report from the receipt. Luckily I still have the receipt!
I'll update this thread when I get a confirmation that the card has been activated.
Edit to add: Thanks for appending this to the established thread. I tried a search, but didn't come up with this!
Last edited by CFFrost; Dec 15, 2014 at 1:20 pm
Dec 18, 2014, 10:58 am
#47
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
Update for anyone curious:
One card was activated about 24hrs later. The second card I never received any response from. Every time I called I was told they could "submit a form" and an "escalation specialist" could call me back. I finally received that call, but was told by that specialist that they could not help me and that someone else would call me back. After waiting another day for that call back, I finally called in and demanded to speak to a supervisor. The supervisor was able to look through the old faxes and get the card activated on the spot.
Long story short - speak to a supervisor immediately if things don't go properly. They can actually resolve things. Front line CSRs cannot do a thing.
One card was activated about 24hrs later. The second card I never received any response from. Every time I called I was told they could "submit a form" and an "escalation specialist" could call me back. I finally received that call, but was told by that specialist that they could not help me and that someone else would call me back. After waiting another day for that call back, I finally called in and demanded to speak to a supervisor. The supervisor was able to look through the old faxes and get the card activated on the spot.
Long story short - speak to a supervisor immediately if things don't go properly. They can actually resolve things. Front line CSRs cannot do a thing.
Dec 18, 2014, 1:46 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,396
However, I don't think I actually got an "activation" confirmation receipt. At this particular store, the activations print separately - so you get one receipt that shows payment information, and another small slip for each card that shows confirmed activation. I never really paid much attention when they handed me these small slips, since I had never had any sort of problem like this. In this case, while I was able to find the receipt for the purchase - the activation slips were not with them.
Just curious - how would opening and re-gluing the packaging lead to activation issues?
Dec 18, 2014, 3:43 pm
#50
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Posts: 1,929
fraudsters clone the card and sporadically check to see if it has been activated, which can lead to US Bank preemptively freezing that/those cards such that they will not automatically activate.
Apr 19, 2016, 7:51 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
Aug 21, 2018, 9:54 am
#55
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 72
Help! I purchased two US Bank MCGC from OD in one transaction. One of the GC did not activate immediately - in the receipt it is written "Card will be activated within 24 hours" - and I am unable to register. The other card was activated and I was able to register on the mygiftcardsite .com.
Any advice on this? I am not too willing to go to OD as the receipt shows the recent OD glitch discounted price.
Any advice on this? I am not too willing to go to OD as the receipt shows the recent OD glitch discounted price.
Aug 24, 2018, 7:34 pm
#56
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 102
Help! I purchased two US Bank MCGC from OD in one transaction. One of the GC did not activate immediately - in the receipt it is written "Card will be activated within 24 hours" - and I am unable to register. The other card was activated and I was able to register on the mygiftcardsite .com.
Any advice on this? I am not too willing to go to OD as the receipt shows the recent OD glitch discounted price.
Any advice on this? I am not too willing to go to OD as the receipt shows the recent OD glitch discounted price.
Aug 25, 2018, 6:39 pm
#57
Suspended
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 233
Help! I purchased two US Bank MCGC from OD in one transaction. One of the GC did not activate immediately - in the receipt it is written "Card will be activated within 24 hours" - and I am unable to register. The other card was activated and I was able to register on the mygiftcardsite .com.
Any advice on this? I am not too willing to go to OD as the receipt shows the recent OD glitch discounted price.
Any advice on this? I am not too willing to go to OD as the receipt shows the recent OD glitch discounted price.