CVS Vanilla Reload: Alternate Form of Payment Required?
 

OK so I go into the CVS on the other side of town where my girls do ballet. They always seem to have more VR cards - while the stores on my side of town are often out of cards. I've always been able to buy VR cards at this store - but not today.

I try to buy 2 cards, $500 each. I try this twice with my AMEX Delta card. Both times to computer tells the clerk that an alternate form of payment is required. No further explanation given.

Anyone else experience this?

Fraud alert on your Amex?

This happened to me two days ago, then I instantly got an fraud alert from Amex and a soon as I spoke to them I was able to purchase the cards.

Whenever I get that message it means my card issuer isn't allowing the transaction and I have a "fraud alert" on my account.

As the previous posters have stated. It's a fraud alert. Call Amex and tell them it was you. No need to mention what you were trying to purchase. I have actually had to have Chase on the phone during a purchase due to the card being new. I just muted the phone so they couldn't here the cashier ask how much to load.

Thanks all for the quick reply. AMEX cleared it up.....I hope to get some more VRs this week when I am back on that side of town.

Did anybody buy Vanilla reloads today from CVS. I got the same error today
after having bought these upteem times and was told by the manager that it has nothing to do with my card . ALso there was no block on my card CVS has probably made a change on their end and VR's have become cash only. He said he can confirm tomm morning.

If card issuer denied transaction would decline or ask to call for authorization.

I purchased 3 today from 1 store using 3 different CCs, no problem at all

The only times i have seen this is while purchasing MoneyPak and register does not accept the form of payment. Its possible this has started happening region wise. I didn't call my issuer to avoid attention but checked online and over the phone automated system, Then i made a small transaction at Kmart and the CC went through.

On another note recently while buying these most cashiers seem to know what people are upto with these VR's. it seems customers have been fully educating cashiers on how they make points/miles using these

It is a different error when you purchase MoneyPak with CC.

IIRC, it was "tender not allowed", not "alternate tender required"

I was flat out denied purchasing Vanilla Reload w/ CC by the manager. They said it was 'cash only'. I told the manager that I've purchased before at that very store as recently as a week ago, but they said it should not have been allowed and that the Point of Sales clerk is risking their job by selling them to purchase with a CC. When I pressed the manager on the issue I was told that it was an order from above that any prepaid cards described as 'reloads' must be purchased with cash only. This happened yesterday afternoon - I'm going back again today and hopefully a different group will be working.

I bought 5k yesterday from the manager of the local store. More of the same: meh - every store does it different.

Can confirm that this block is caused by your card's fraud protection. My Citi sends me a text instantaneously after the fraud system triggers and I am able to try again within a minute and complete the purchase.

I sure hope you didn't get any of the clerks on other shifts in trouble. I think it has been said many, many times on the forum. You can be right or you can continue to play the game, but usually not both. I am down to only 2 CVS stores that continue to take cc's and then only on specific shifts. When I see the Middle Eastern mgr is manning the registers I just turn around and leave. I come back when my two favorite gals are there and they know what I am doing. Sunday morning there was a substitute, so I attempted my 1k VR purchase and she automatically said "cash only". I gently pressed with "would you try it?" She was surprised when it went through and said she learned something. That's as much pushback as I'm ever going to attempt, lest I lose my last 2 stores.

Quite frankly I'm a bit of a n00b at this but I've been reading a lot. I didn't want to rock the boat, so when the manager (who happens to be Middle Eastern) said it was from above I just nodded and walked out. Interestingly, a different mgr rang me up a few weeks ago for 1k VR and aside from a bit of scrutiny due to my card not being signed on the back everything was smooth.
Anyways, I went back today to test the waters with $500 VR and it was quick and painless, but I certainly don't want to get anyone fired over this. . .

EDIT// To avoid any confusion the person who denied my previous attempt was not a 'manager' they were a 'shift supervisor', at least according to the name badge.

CVS cashier said "cash only" for VR
 

So I've been buying VR's at CVS's and the clerks have never blinked at accepting a CC.

However, today, when I visited one, the cashier told me that it was "cash only". I think it's just lack of training but I didn't feel the need to have her pull up her manager, especially since there was a line behind me.

Is there something quick I can tell her to try or some code she can type in?

I just say thank you and come back later

Thousands of hearts here must have skipped a beat for a sec ;) Anyways just go out and come back after 4-6 hours when the personnel change happens I guess. If not then it might be a local store policy. Well if it is country wide, then we will soon know with a Master Thread about CVS not accepting CC anymore :)

Agreed. Some stores have a local policy to not allow credit. Happened to me today where the manager had to come and void the transaction. POS still took it just fine, he even scanned my ID when asked. It was at a store near the airport where I'd never been.

when they tell me "cash only," i make them earn it.

Just bought one with a cc. Must be the store or the cashier didn't know better.

Best advice when this happens.

Was almost certainly an ig'nant cashier.

Unless this is a new store for you, you can safely assume this is a new cashier. Usually I say, no, I'm pretty sure that you can buy these with a credit card, or I've done it before. Then they ask another cashier and problem solved. I think the advice of coming back in a few hours is stupid...unless this cashier got a Make a Wish reward to work in the store for a few hours, you are just going to have this problem again. No reason not to get a 2nd opinion. You aren't doing anything illegal.

This has happened to me about a dozen times. Each time, I say "Really? Uh, I've bought on credit before". I say this in a nice and calm, slightly perplexed manner. (It never pays to act annoyed.) Each time, there is some hesitation and the cashier says something like "I think it's a new policy" or "I think someone said these were the cash only ones". Then, I say "Oh, can we double check or give it a try". Everytime the cashier gives it a try or calls over a manager. Most of the time it goes through, but a few times the manager also says "cash only". I never try to override the manager. I just thank you and leave.

Those are places I previously bought on C.C. There are some places, like my local Walgreens, that the cashiers clearly know its "Cash only". When I say "Really, I bought on CC before". They roll there head and eyes and say for certain cash only. Its obvious in this case they have been through this many times and it is for sure cash only.

It's most definitely not a store policy as I'd bought some VR's at that exact same store the previous day. I'm going to cough it up to a new employee. I'll just try to see if they can try it anyway next time.

the store near where my girls do ballet is better than the store near where your girls do ballet

:D

Just purchased my first VR @ CVS and sent it to BB. Didn't realize these things were 3.95 a pop.

3.95 a pop is nothing. !

No complaints here! Just envisioned this card that I can throw in my wallet and add to it again. I'll pay 3.95 all day. ALL DAY.

The problem is that there are too many days in a month.

I always have trouble finding them in stock at CVS's here in ATL but has anyone ever tried paying with Google Wallet or ISIS mobile wallet from the phone in CVS?

Could this potentially cut down on the cashier hero factor jumping in front of the no CC bullet? May not code as directly from CVS for card bonuses, idk.

Popped my Vanilla MS cherry. Barclays security
 

Hey guys, so was on way home today and popped my MS cherry.

Have a couple of cards coming that have a $10k spend in 3 months that might need a hand. Decided to test it now before I get those cards with my Barclays Rewards that gives 2% cash back @ CVS.

Got the VR card on the wall (and there were tons of them), found some Fiji water on sale, and went to cash register. Cashier was friendly, did not even blink. Total bill was $508 (water, $500 reload, and fee). Gave her card and bam... came up with a security check at register that she needed to call in.

the system gave her some issues, so I just handed her my Cap 1 Quick Silver for the 1.5% and that went through no problem.

Has anyone had this happen before?

Is Barclays just really on this?

Edit: Loaded to blue bird no problem. Also used my CVS card, got some $1 off extra bucks coupons that I figure can use in the future to reduce the cost even more.

I figure $7.50 in rewards for $3.95 is not bad to try it out.

Happened to me once about a month ago.

After the cashier went through all of the processes (It took like 5 mins IIRC), no problem ever since.

So I called Barclays... they blocked the transaction. Wanted to verify. Will try again a purchase tomorrow or in next few days.

Yeah, it's the card issuer. It's happened a bit if you read the main CVS thread.