Vanilla Reload activation issues including "new" website.
#16
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 757
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,464
I purchased a Vanilla Reload today for the first time, but I'm worried that it isn't activated. Haven't scratched off the code yet to load BB; what should I do?
Went to See Vee Ess. Took VR card to self checkout machine. Scanned it. Specified the load amount of $500. Machine said employee needed to come help. She came and said gift cards generally have to be purchased at the register, but the machine gave me the opportunity to pay, so I paid the $503.95, she approved it, and I was on my way. I now just have the card that was available on the rack, and I paid $503.95 for it.
Is there a chance that it's not activated? Was I supposed to be given a different card (if I'd purchased at the register)?
Went to See Vee Ess. Took VR card to self checkout machine. Scanned it. Specified the load amount of $500. Machine said employee needed to come help. She came and said gift cards generally have to be purchased at the register, but the machine gave me the opportunity to pay, so I paid the $503.95, she approved it, and I was on my way. I now just have the card that was available on the rack, and I paid $503.95 for it.
Is there a chance that it's not activated? Was I supposed to be given a different card (if I'd purchased at the register)?
#19
Join Date: Sep 2012
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#22
#27
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Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
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Mike
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
Not sure if this is the right area (mods please move if not), but looking for some insight into a Vanilla Reload issue that I'm having with my father in-law:
I'm not entirely postive, but I believe he was charged for both cards. He is in process of verifying with Chase.
Say worse comes to worst, is Walgreens on the hook to refund the $500? Or would he be liable? Has anyone had any experience in a situation like this?
I realize I should have checked the cards immediately after leaving the store, but I've bought close to 20 cards and never had an issue.
- Father in-law bought 2 x $500 from Walgreens last weekend on his Chase Southwest card to help meet minimum spend (2 separate transactions)
- He got his Bluebird card in the mail today and activated it
- When trying to load both VRs to his Bluebird account, only one card worked
- The second card gave an error of 'Card is Deactivated (4002)'
- Called the Vanilla Reload CSR line and she said the card was never activated and to go back and talk to Walgreens to resolve the issue
I'm not entirely postive, but I believe he was charged for both cards. He is in process of verifying with Chase.
Say worse comes to worst, is Walgreens on the hook to refund the $500? Or would he be liable? Has anyone had any experience in a situation like this?
I realize I should have checked the cards immediately after leaving the store, but I've bought close to 20 cards and never had an issue.
It should give you the last 3 or 4 digits of the card(s) being activated, and has the wording - Activated next to it.
THAT is your proof of the card activated or not. If you tossed out the receipts then you really have very little recourse to prove anything.
I had the same issue a couple of weeks ago.
What had happened was that I had bought 2 cards to the register. Gotten 1 activated and decided not to get a second one.
When I walked out of the store, I went with the wrong card. Got home and got 4002 on trying to load.
Went back to the Walgreen. Store clerk was super helpful and even offered to let me scratch all cards they had in stock to figure out which one was mine. Was also told they had a bunch of cards locked in the managers office which I could check the next day. I declined scratching all they had and went back the next day. The manager had found mine (from the marks left by the swipe on the terminal).
Pretty sure they can't do anything more than that (let you scratch all cards, if at all). So you would be liable.
What had happened was that I had bought 2 cards to the register. Gotten 1 activated and decided not to get a second one.
When I walked out of the store, I went with the wrong card. Got home and got 4002 on trying to load.
Went back to the Walgreen. Store clerk was super helpful and even offered to let me scratch all cards they had in stock to figure out which one was mine. Was also told they had a bunch of cards locked in the managers office which I could check the next day. I declined scratching all they had and went back the next day. The manager had found mine (from the marks left by the swipe on the terminal).
Pretty sure they can't do anything more than that (let you scratch all cards, if at all). So you would be liable.
EXACTLY. This IS the mechanism for ALL Gift Cards sold at retailers. The receipt would show the last 4 digits of the bar code and the notation of Activated whether you bot a bean or a Shell or an Outback GC.
#29
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Washington D.C.
Programs: AA 1MM, AA Plat, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 448
i just bought two cards from CVS and one did not get activated. I went back to CVS with the receipt however they said they would have to open a ticket with the corporate office. I called the corporate office and they said I would have to wait 5 to 8 days until its resolved. Worse case I can always dispute the charge.
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: MKE
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 205
Just a quick update on my situation:
I called Walgreens to explain the situation. The manager said that their customer receipts do not print with any pin or activation information, but he would have to review the store camera tape to figure out what happened.
After taking a day to review everything and piece together the series of events, it turns out the cashier most likely gave my father in-law a blank card, while keeping around the activated card. They asked him to bring his receipts to the store and they would get him a new card without any issue.
The situation couldn't have been easier to resolve and the Walgreen's management handled everything better than I could have imagined. I am very impressed with Walgreens.
I called Walgreens to explain the situation. The manager said that their customer receipts do not print with any pin or activation information, but he would have to review the store camera tape to figure out what happened.
After taking a day to review everything and piece together the series of events, it turns out the cashier most likely gave my father in-law a blank card, while keeping around the activated card. They asked him to bring his receipts to the store and they would get him a new card without any issue.
The situation couldn't have been easier to resolve and the Walgreen's management handled everything better than I could have imagined. I am very impressed with Walgreens.
Last edited by tyfabes; Dec 7, 2012 at 5:44 pm