Originally Posted by SkiAdcock

I received a $25 Vanilla Visa debit card for Xmas from a relative. Tried using it at grocery store. Didn't see the part about picking a PIN first use, then tried using it as credit card, then as debit with a PIN. All declined. So used my normal CC to pay for it.

Note, the amount was larger than the $25, but I've used other Visa debit cards gotten as gifts & the grocery store system charges up to full amount of the Visa & then asks me to pay the balance with a diff CC.

Tried using it at another grocery store where the amount was under the $25. Got a do you want cash back, is this amount ok, yes, type in PIN, declined. Grr. Used CC to pay for items.

Did a search on this thread, saw Mary's situation & advice given, so called customer service # on the back of the card. Was on hold for about 10 minutes. The service rep said there was a hold on the card. I said can you unlock the hold, he said no. So I'm getting another $25 Vanilla card - via mail, which is expected within 10 days.

I know $25 isn't a large amount, but hey $25 is $25.

Going to recommend to relative that next year she just buy me a grocery store gift card like she normally does, or a non-Vanilla Visa card.

So my 2 bits.

* Pick a PIN (you can do online)
* Don't use when amount is greater than purchase, as Vanilla doesn't like that
* Don't buy Vanilla cards but other Visa cards
* If you do want to use the Vanilla when the amount is larger than the Vanilla at a grocery store (or any place that accepts split payments), you'll need to get a grocery store clerk involved to do the one Vanilla payment for (in my case $25) & the other for remainder. With Vanilla it won't work automatically.

And thanks for the heads up on not using Vanilla for Amazon. I've used other Visa gift cards on Amazon with no problem, but not Vanilla.

Cheers.