Originally Posted by Jatan

If you try to check the balance before activating the cards then the cards will be blocked so avoid that if you can

First you need to activate it so the funds are loaded in 1-2 hrs (activation letter comes separately) — you can call Staples activation support @ 877-233-4633 if you don’t want to wait for activation letter (they’ll look up the cards by Staples order number)

Then you can call the number on back of card and ask if there’s any block on the card — they’ll tell you its “inactive” to prevent fraud since someone tried to login online before activation. Let them know that was you — you bought the card online and didn’t know that the card had a separate activation process so you tried logging in first. They’ll get another dept to reactivate the card while you wait on the phone — they’ll tell you it’ll be available for use in 10 mins but it’ll probably take a few hrs

I unblocked 2 cards yesterday and tried logging into one after 30 mins but it gave an error and now its blocked again — the 2nd card I waited a few hrs to login and it was working fine