Vanilla Reload activation issues including "new" website.
Jul 27, 2013, 10:43 am
#196
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Plat/6MM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,240
Loading from outside N. America?
I'm leaving shortly for an eastern Europe vacation and want to do a few reloads in the new calendar month...
Are there any issues with using the vanillareload.com site from outside the U.S./N. America?
Are there any issues with using the vanillareload.com site from outside the U.S./N. America?
Jul 27, 2013, 3:28 pm
#197
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 97
Aug 1, 2013, 5:16 am
#198
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: DFW
Programs: AA Plat/6MM, Marriott Titanium, IHG Diamond
Posts: 3,240
Aug 1, 2013, 7:08 am
#199
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 84
I had the exact same issue in December 2012. This is most likely an issue with VR, not BB. I escalated the issue to a supervisor at Incomm (Vanilla Reload), who did a great job by following up for me and got the problem fixed in 2 days. The BB CSRs are outsourced and work in Manila. It is very time consuming to work with them and they won't be able to resolve the issue without Incomm getting involved. I highly recommend you call Incomm at the number on the back of the VR card and escalate this issue with a supervisor if they continue to ask you to call BB.
Aug 9, 2013, 1:10 am
#200
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: CRP
Programs: UA 1K and 1MM, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Gold, IHG Diamond
Posts: 300
Website seems to be down now, as also referenced in this thread.
Aug 9, 2013, 3:14 pm
#201
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: AA Plat, UA Gold, AS MVP Gold, HH Diamond, SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold, US
Posts: 956
It's not an activation issue but still an issue.
I was checking few of my old cards which I most probably bought few months ago to see if I missed reloading any or not. Whenever I enter the information on the vanilla website, I get "Card not Found error".
I even called the CS and they couldnt locate the card and tell me that it's not their product.
I am like, I know what a vanilla reload card looks like yet they cannot seem to find the information by the 10 digit pin or the 10 digit number under the bard code.. anyone else experienced something like this?
I was checking few of my old cards which I most probably bought few months ago to see if I missed reloading any or not. Whenever I enter the information on the vanilla website, I get "Card not Found error".
I even called the CS and they couldnt locate the card and tell me that it's not their product.
I am like, I know what a vanilla reload card looks like yet they cannot seem to find the information by the 10 digit pin or the 10 digit number under the bard code.. anyone else experienced something like this?
Aug 21, 2013, 8:08 pm
#202
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 171
I bought 5 cards in 3 separate transactions this week. I am in North Atlanta and the CVS stores carry the Vanilla Debit Visa, but I could not find the reload pack. It seems like I have to register each card to get a pin and use. The first three went through just fine and I unloaded the cards to MO. The last two have been blocked from activating and directed me to the CSR. She asked me to verify information that was completely not related to me and they told me they would send me a check as a refund. Did I get caught buying too many cards (5 for $500 each in 3 days) or is there simply an issue with their system attempting to activate?
Aug 21, 2013, 11:48 pm
#203
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: MR,UR, UA, BA, AA, Hotels
Posts: 581
I bought 5 cards in 3 separate transactions this week. I am in North Atlanta and the CVS stores carry the Vanilla Debit Visa, but I could not find the reload pack. It seems like I have to register each card to get a pin and use. The first three went through just fine and I unloaded the cards to MO. The last two have been blocked from activating and directed me to the CSR. She asked me to verify information that was completely not related to me and they told me they would send me a check as a refund. Did I get caught buying too many cards (5 for $500 each in 3 days) or is there simply an issue with their system attempting to activate?
Aug 22, 2013, 4:46 am
#204
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 170
I bought 5 vanilla reload cards in a single transaction from CVS- I could have as well bought 10 as per new rule and loaded to My Vanilla Debit back to back to increase balance by $2500. No issues.
One interesting observation was that while VR loading on Bluebird takes average of 7 to 12 seconds to show message that card is successfully loaded, my vanilla debit shows same message far quickly - within 2 to 4 seconds.
May be due to both being Green Dot products.
One interesting observation was that while VR loading on Bluebird takes average of 7 to 12 seconds to show message that card is successfully loaded, my vanilla debit shows same message far quickly - within 2 to 4 seconds.
May be due to both being Green Dot products.
Sep 9, 2013, 12:28 pm
#205
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 633
Another bad scenario for me at a Gas Station.
Went to purchase 3 VR. First two went fine, then error on 3rd. Manager came over to try to get it to work. In the mean time I am checking the #'s with the receipts and see the 2nd card they gave me did not match.
Manager says, oh, that is the # on third card we are trying to load. So they gave me the wrong 2nd card and were trying to load a loaded card and that is why the 3rd one didn't work.
She said, but I already voided this 2nd card in her attemps to load it, so it is no good. She gave me a credit slip instead for 503.95. After that and all the tries they had on the 3rd card, fraud protection kicked in, so I didn't get that one either.
So I ended up with one card. Called Discover from the Parking Lot to remove fraud and they said they show 3 charges, but they were just pending and the extra charges will go away. I thought one of the three was the rejected charge.
Four days later they all move from pending to charged. Called Discover again and they say 4 charges were made and the last one was rejected. So they show 3 valid charges. All I have is one credit slip for $503.95 and one VR. (They say it can take 15 days for the credit to come through.)
I suspect the manager who said she voided the 2nd card only voided the reload she tried to do on that card and in fact that card still had the $500 on it. They did not give me that card and instead gave me the credit slip. They likely threw that card in the trash as far as I know.
While I was trying to purchase these, I asked the manager to write a note on my receipt expaining what happened because this could cause trouble. She said no, that is not necessary because I have the credit slip.
In limbo until huncho manager comes in today. Still no call from her.
Went to purchase 3 VR. First two went fine, then error on 3rd. Manager came over to try to get it to work. In the mean time I am checking the #'s with the receipts and see the 2nd card they gave me did not match.
Manager says, oh, that is the # on third card we are trying to load. So they gave me the wrong 2nd card and were trying to load a loaded card and that is why the 3rd one didn't work.
She said, but I already voided this 2nd card in her attemps to load it, so it is no good. She gave me a credit slip instead for 503.95. After that and all the tries they had on the 3rd card, fraud protection kicked in, so I didn't get that one either.
So I ended up with one card. Called Discover from the Parking Lot to remove fraud and they said they show 3 charges, but they were just pending and the extra charges will go away. I thought one of the three was the rejected charge.
Four days later they all move from pending to charged. Called Discover again and they say 4 charges were made and the last one was rejected. So they show 3 valid charges. All I have is one credit slip for $503.95 and one VR. (They say it can take 15 days for the credit to come through.)
I suspect the manager who said she voided the 2nd card only voided the reload she tried to do on that card and in fact that card still had the $500 on it. They did not give me that card and instead gave me the credit slip. They likely threw that card in the trash as far as I know.
While I was trying to purchase these, I asked the manager to write a note on my receipt expaining what happened because this could cause trouble. She said no, that is not necessary because I have the credit slip.
In limbo until huncho manager comes in today. Still no call from her.
Sep 9, 2013, 2:49 pm
#206
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,060
Wow! I had a bad story as well, but not as bad. I bought 5 VGC at a gas station and then went to WM to do my thing and error 51! Well, I call back and the manager says - what I did was illegal - even though her lacky sold it to me, and they locked the cards to make sure I was not a thief!
AHH!!! I went back to the store and they traded my 5 cards in for 5 new ones (including a funky card called Vanilla Bill Pay, which is really Vanilla Visa Gift Card) and then they were all turned into paper successfully. So, I hope your story ends up as good as mine did!
AHH!!! I went back to the store and they traded my 5 cards in for 5 new ones (including a funky card called Vanilla Bill Pay, which is really Vanilla Visa Gift Card) and then they were all turned into paper successfully. So, I hope your story ends up as good as mine did!
Sep 9, 2013, 8:33 pm
#207
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 84
Got one receipt that says "PREPAID CARD ACTIVATION WILL OCCUR WITHIN 24 HOURS". And instead of "ACTIVATED", status is "ACCEPTED".
This happened on only 1 of 3 transactions - made with a new credit card I received today only. Hope it resolves within 24 hours!
This happened on only 1 of 3 transactions - made with a new credit card I received today only. Hope it resolves within 24 hours!
Sep 9, 2013, 8:59 pm
#208
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ORD, LAS
Programs: AA-EXP, BAEC Silver, Hyatt-Globalist, Hilton-gold, SPG-gold
Posts: 855
Just got off one hour phone call with incomm. My card did not properly load through the website and then they just kept repeating that their system showed that it loaded. I had to call bluebird with them on the phone to prove it. Now the want a copy of my license and for me to fill out a dispute packet to get my money back.
Sep 10, 2013, 12:50 am
#209
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Another bad scenario for me at a Gas Station.
Went to purchase 3 VR. First two went fine, then error on 3rd. Manager came over to try to get it to work. In the mean time I am checking the #'s with the receipts and see the 2nd card they gave me did not match.
Manager says, oh, that is the # on third card we are trying to load. So they gave me the wrong 2nd card and were trying to load a loaded card and that is why the 3rd one didn't work.
Went to purchase 3 VR. First two went fine, then error on 3rd. Manager came over to try to get it to work. In the mean time I am checking the #'s with the receipts and see the 2nd card they gave me did not match.
Manager says, oh, that is the # on third card we are trying to load. So they gave me the wrong 2nd card and were trying to load a loaded card and that is why the 3rd one didn't work.
Sep 10, 2013, 7:58 pm
#210
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 633
Issue resolved. They gave me two new cards and I already fed them to the birds. The manager apologized profusely. To tell the truth, it looks like it is a pain in the but system for them to earn a measly $3.95 and not worth their time and hassle, so I am glad they just don't throw up their arms and tell me to go away. Maybe the manager gets bonus or measurement on total revenue, not just profit. She is nice enough, cashiers not so much.