Vanilla Reload activation issues including "new" website.
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: MKE
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 205
Vanilla Reload activation issues including "new" website.
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.
#2
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 104
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.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
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.
Anyway, how safe do you guys feel holding on to an activated VR before loading it into your BB? The $5K/month and $1K/day limits of the BB can potentially force someone to have active VRs in hand.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,408
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.
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,408
Why would you need to scratch the numbers? The receipt has the last 4 digits of the bar code on the bottom (below the "scratch zone"). Just look for the card with the matching 4 numbers.
Anyway, how safe do you guys feel holding on to an activated VR before loading it into your BB? The $5K/month and $1K/day limits of the BB can potentially force someone to have active VRs in hand.
Anyway, how safe do you guys feel holding on to an activated VR before loading it into your BB? The $5K/month and $1K/day limits of the BB can potentially force someone to have active VRs in hand.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 104
Didn't know this back then + I tried matching numbers on the receipt but didn't find a match (the correct card was locked in the managers office).
#7
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 104
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: MKE
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 205
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.
We tried to buy 3 cards in total, but we had some issues getting the cards to ring up properly. The Walgreens in town had a $500 limit on all transactions, so ringing up 3 x $503.95 probably set off some alerts with Chase.
He does have the receipt, but he said there doesn't look to be anything on the card with last 4 digits of the pin number. I'm 3 hours away, otherwise I would drive over and verify.
I'm just really hoping that the 'activated' card didn't get put back into the rack and we walked out with a truly 'unactivated' card.
#9
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Fairfield County, CT USA
Programs: AA PLT+2MM / DL DM+1MM / A3 *G / Fairmont LT Plat / Ritz Gold / SPG Gold
Posts: 4,077
Check the serial numbers first.
If store stonewalls you, go to corporate and also dispute the charge on your CC.
If you paid and have your receipt, be firm and you will prevail.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
You're only allowed to load $1K/calendar day and $5K/calendar month. I was only partially successful during the VR/BB craze, but OD cashiers told me of folks walking out with $10K worth of VR. Whoever was lucky (err... greedy) enough to do that couldn't load it all onto a single BB card. Assuming an empty BB (which is doubtful), that much worth of VR has to be distributed over 2 calendar months.
#12
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,879
He does have the receipt, but he said there doesn't look to be anything on the card with last 4 digits of the pin number. I'm 3 hours away, otherwise I would drive over and verify.
I'm just really hoping that the 'activated' card didn't get put back into the rack and we walked out with a truly 'unactivated' card.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: MKE
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 205
Two receipts printed for $503.95, therefore I'm assuming that he was charged for both.
Again, I'm not there to verify anything first hand, but he is checking.
My purchases from CVS show the last 4 of the pin and the status of each card. I'm not sure if the Walgreens cards are as detailed in terms of showing the pin information and card status.
Again, I'm not there to verify anything first hand, but he is checking.
My purchases from CVS show the last 4 of the pin and the status of each card. I'm not sure if the Walgreens cards are as detailed in terms of showing the pin information and card status.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: WoH Globalist, AA Platinum Pro, HHonors Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver, Hertz Prez's Circle
Posts: 421
I'm Now Worried
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 Cee 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 Cee 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)?
Last edited by Yarhead; Dec 2, 2012 at 10:57 pm