Jun 22, 2013, 10:42 am
Last edit by: ChrisFlyer66
There is a new thread for 2017: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manufactured-spending/1819569-pin-available-now-visa-mc-prepaid-debit-cards-2017-a.html
Federal Reserve interpretation of Dodd-Frank financial reform regulations has resulted in Visa/MC gift cards getting PINs as of April 1, 2013.
Setting PINS
At Walmat, many MCs default to credit(and fail) and require pressing a button to change the payment type to debit. Here are the workarounds:
Old POS systems (monochrome black on green terminals and replacement color terminals):
1a. Screen shows "Insert or Swipe Card Quickly" with "Espanol" button in lower right (note if your screen blinks)
1b. Swipe card
1c. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..." with with working animation in lower center and "Cancel" button in lower right
2. Press "Cancel" on the screen or red button on pad (if your screen blinks, do not hit button until after blink)
3. Press "ATM/DEBIT" from upper left
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5a. Enter PIN
5b. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..."
6. Cashier hits blue (not green) Debit button on their side.
New POS systems (color terminal):
1. Swipe GC
2. Press "Change Payment" on screen (Yellow button on pad should also work, but screen works better for some. Timing is critical.)
3. Press "DEBIT"
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5. Enter PIN - Screen showing another 'Waiting for cashier...'.
6. Ask Cashier to hit blue color Debit button on the screen
When splitting transactions among multiple cards at a Walmart register, make sure to have the cashier hit the debit button on their physical keypad. If they hit the debit button on the touchscreen, it will not work. If your transaction got declined, try having the cashier hit 'Debit' using the physical keypad on the right of the screen.
As of 6/19/2014, Walmart rejects Debit attempts above $49.99 on all cards issued by InComm/ITC Financial Services, namely all Vanilla VISA and OneVanilla. There is no workaround.
Error Messages
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Not enough funds available to cover whatever amount was typed in, or most likely NOT typed in.
DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.
HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again.
Federal Reserve interpretation of Dodd-Frank financial reform regulations has resulted in Visa/MC gift cards getting PINs as of April 1, 2013.
Setting PINS
- MetaBank VISA or Sunrise VISA -use the last four digits of the card number (or to set personal PIN call 888-524-1283)
- US Bank VISA and Mastercard - Newer cards come with a PIN printed on cardstock inside the package. To set/reset PIN, call 866-952-5653. One person reports: VISA that has pre-set PIN locks PIN on first use if not previously reset; always call to set PIN before use. If you forget to reset the pin and you can't unload the funds to your BB, call the toll free # and ask rep. to "reset" the card and they will do some magic and you should then be able to unload the funds at WM.
- Vanilla VISA and OneVanilla(not MyVanilla, etc) - selection of 4 digits on the first transaction becomes the PIN
At Walmat, many MCs default to credit(and fail) and require pressing a button to change the payment type to debit. Here are the workarounds:
Old POS systems (monochrome black on green terminals and replacement color terminals):
1a. Screen shows "Insert or Swipe Card Quickly" with "Espanol" button in lower right (note if your screen blinks)
1b. Swipe card
1c. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..." with with working animation in lower center and "Cancel" button in lower right
2. Press "Cancel" on the screen or red button on pad (if your screen blinks, do not hit button until after blink)
3. Press "ATM/DEBIT" from upper left
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5a. Enter PIN
5b. Screen shows "Waiting for cashier..."
6. Cashier hits blue (not green) Debit button on their side.
New POS systems (color terminal):
1. Swipe GC
2. Press "Change Payment" on screen (Yellow button on pad should also work, but screen works better for some. Timing is critical.)
3. Press "DEBIT"
4. Press "No Cash Back"
5. Enter PIN - Screen showing another 'Waiting for cashier...'.
6. Ask Cashier to hit blue color Debit button on the screen
When splitting transactions among multiple cards at a Walmart register, make sure to have the cashier hit the debit button on their physical keypad. If they hit the debit button on the touchscreen, it will not work. If your transaction got declined, try having the cashier hit 'Debit' using the physical keypad on the right of the screen.
As of 6/19/2014, Walmart rejects Debit attempts above $49.99 on all cards issued by InComm/ITC Financial Services, namely all Vanilla VISA and OneVanilla. There is no workaround.
Error Messages
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Not enough funds available to cover whatever amount was typed in, or most likely NOT typed in.
DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.
HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again.
PIN available now for Visa/MC prepaid debit cards(2013-2016).
Jun 21, 2013, 4:32 pm
#1772
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
Right now, I'm sitting with about $250 of WM GC, and I was debating if I should load another $250 and convert. I'll do it tonight and report of success/failure if I get a chance.
Oh, yes, I discovered that I can buy University VISA GCs using straight CCs. Until recently, all of the cashiers denied me to use CCs to buy VISA GC when I tried at a nearest WM. They didn't even want to try...but this cashier didn't care when I visited the WM @ a super busy hour.
Jun 21, 2013, 4:46 pm
#1774
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
At my nearest WM, worked fine. Last time I did it was 2 weeks ago or so. There is a catch though. On the self checkout, you can only load up to $250. I think it's $250 per day per card. So, you might have to carry multiple WM GCs...although at the full register, you can combine cards upto $1k/card, I believe. If you want to load more than $250, you need to go to a full register.
Right now, I'm sitting with about $250 of WM GC, and I was debating if I should load another $250 and convert. I'll do it tonight and report of success/failure if I get a chance.
Oh, yes, I discovered that I can buy University VISA GCs using straight CCs. Until recently, all of the cashiers denied me to use CCs to buy VISA GC when I tried at a nearest WM. They didn't even want to try...but this cashier didn't care when I visited the WM @ a super busy hour.
Right now, I'm sitting with about $250 of WM GC, and I was debating if I should load another $250 and convert. I'll do it tonight and report of success/failure if I get a chance.
Oh, yes, I discovered that I can buy University VISA GCs using straight CCs. Until recently, all of the cashiers denied me to use CCs to buy VISA GC when I tried at a nearest WM. They didn't even want to try...but this cashier didn't care when I visited the WM @ a super busy hour.
This is a good idea too. Although I will personally limit myself doing this since I like buying GCs at grocery stores and walmart because it looks "normal". Does anyone know if banks can look at itemized receipts?
Jun 21, 2013, 5:46 pm
#1775
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 1,153
I had to run an errand and WM was near by, so I confirmed it.
6/18/2013 Load $238.06 from one CC (self checkout)
6/21/2013 Load $249.98 from another CC (self checkout)
Bought $488.04 University VISA GC @ a full register
While on my way out of the WM, rip the packaging off, stopped by at a kiosk. GB load with default PIN for $483.10
Well, actually, no that's not exactly what happened. At first, I spiced up a little bit after I loaded the WM GC for $249.98. I tried a split-tender with a WM GC & a CC to buy VISA GC (VISA GC = 504.94, WM GC = $483.10, the rest of $21.84 in a CC) but that didn't go well. I thought, humm...could this be a bad news? I turned around and grabbed another University VISA and went to another register. No problem with WM GC -> VISA GC conversion. I saw the MC GC...since another member seemed interested in finding out if it's possible, I thought I should give it a try...then I didn't want to deal with a liquidation problem if there would be any.
Good luck
Last edited by vagrants; Jun 21, 2013 at 6:17 pm
Jun 21, 2013, 5:55 pm
#1776
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: CA
Programs: BA, AA, United
Posts: 429
I know for sure Amex does. When they did a FR on my wife's account, they were able to tell me exactly how much gift cards were purchased (she had 3 accounts, 2 SPG and 1 Amex PRG) and the cards were purchased in CVS, Safeway etc.
Jun 21, 2013, 6:11 pm
#1777
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,818
And if Amex can do that, I am pretty sure any bank can....
Jun 21, 2013, 6:19 pm
#1778
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: LAX/SNA
Programs: AA, Hilton Gold
Posts: 3,887
Jun 21, 2013, 9:35 pm
#1781
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 67
However, if you call the number on the back of the card to set the pin, they do work at the walmart money center express kiosk. Load to your hearts content at the machines. Thankfully for me, there are 2 walmarts within 10 miles of me that have the kiosks. Note you MUST set the pin first; maybe I just couldn't figure out the default pin (it is NOT the last four of the gift card). In any case, as Staples keeps running out of the Visa (Meta Bank) GCs, I think I will be buying more of these.
Note, the variable load up to $500 US Bank MC gift cards that they sell at grocery stores I have had no problem with. Granted I have only used them to buy MOs at the grocery store. These are the gold MC gift cards that just say gift card on them and no special picture or anything.
Lastly, I want to comment on the number of transactions on a walmart money center express machine. I have heard reports that the machine crashes after 4-5 swipes, are you splitting the transaction? Because when I go into WM with 2 BB cards, load $2000 off of 10 $200 GCs and never have any problem with the machine (as long as the machine is operational to begin with, which it is not always). Takes about 15 minutes for all the swipes, and lots of receipts, but it is much easier than dealing with employees who I have found make up the rules as they go along and can be a pain in the but for no reason.
Jun 21, 2013, 11:13 pm
#1782
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SF Bay area
Posts: 269
All US bank GC requires calling to set pin.
Jun 22, 2013, 1:41 am
#1783
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: Hyatt Platinum, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 290
After calling and setting the PIN, no problems with Walmart Kiosk. I also earned 500 fuel points. Used AMEX preferred blue and got $30 cash back ($24 after fees, but fuel points cancel out the fees for me)
Jun 22, 2013, 2:44 am
#1784
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
THe GC with the gift on the front are OK to use, the "celebrate" card has dots and or says "celebrate" on the front.
Jun 22, 2013, 2:46 am
#1785
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
I will buy 2K worth of GC at Fry's (krogers) each month to get the fuel discounts with my freedom card, this will give me money back, this will offsent the spend plus I usually save roughly $34 in my fuel bill/month.