Prepaid gift card for recurring charge
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 247
Prepaid gift card for recurring charge
I recently discovered that my landlord waives the transaction fee for lease payments with debit cards, but only if set up as a recurring charge. My plan was to buy $500 VGCs every month and cancel the auto-payments after one transaction on each card. Blackhawk/metabank denied the transaction because they say prepaid gift cards can't be used for recurring transactions. Are there any other brands of VGC/MCGC that won't deny recurring charges?
If not, I'm OK eating the transaction fee once, but then I'd need a way to combine the balance of several VGCs so I can process only one payment and I haven't heard of a way to do that.
If not, I'm OK eating the transaction fee once, but then I'd need a way to combine the balance of several VGCs so I can process only one payment and I haven't heard of a way to do that.
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,439
I recently discovered that my landlord waives the transaction fee for lease payments with debit cards, but only if set up as a recurring charge. My plan was to buy $500 VGCs every month and cancel the auto-payments after one transaction on each card. Blackhawk/metabank denied the transaction because they say prepaid gift cards can't be used for recurring transactions. Are there any other brands of VGC/MCGC that won't deny recurring charges?
If not, I'm OK eating the transaction fee once, but then I'd need a way to combine the balance of several VGCs so I can process only one payment and I haven't heard of a way to do that.
If not, I'm OK eating the transaction fee once, but then I'd need a way to combine the balance of several VGCs so I can process only one payment and I haven't heard of a way to do that.
If you already have a demand account (traditional checking or even BB) that will permit your landlord to access it, then why don't you simply set up a recurring charge on the demand account for your rent and fund that account with MO's obtained from your VGCs?.
It does require one extra step (buying a MO using the VGC and depositing it into the demand account) but otherwise will permit you to pay your landlord and still use a CC to get your points.
It only cost one MO more than if you could do what you wanted, which I do not believe you can with VGCs.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 247
This isn't quite MS'ing in the tradition sense, but
If you already have a demand account (traditional checking or even BB) that will permit your landlord to access it, then why don't you simply set up a recurring charge on the demand account for your rent and fund that account with MO's obtained from your VGCs?.
It does require one extra step (buying a MO using the VGC and depositing it into the demand account) but otherwise will permit you to pay your landlord and still use a CC to get your points.
It only cost one MO more than if you could do what you wanted, which I do not believe you can with VGCs.
If you already have a demand account (traditional checking or even BB) that will permit your landlord to access it, then why don't you simply set up a recurring charge on the demand account for your rent and fund that account with MO's obtained from your VGCs?.
It does require one extra step (buying a MO using the VGC and depositing it into the demand account) but otherwise will permit you to pay your landlord and still use a CC to get your points.
It only cost one MO more than if you could do what you wanted, which I do not believe you can with VGCs.
#5
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,446
I haven't yet ventured into more traditional MSing with MOs; I was hoping to avoid the extra steps (and eyes on my activities) required there. Usually I purchase VGCs to top up the bonus categories on my CC and use them for everyday spend. I guess if there isn't any other way I can read up on various MO purchasing options and the recommended demand accounts these days.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: Continental Onepass, Hilton, Marriott, USAir and now UA
Posts: 6,439
#9
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,446
And what kind of proprety accepts cash??? Sounds like a place waiting to get robbed on the last of the month.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 247
Nice reviving my old thread Payment is through an online portal, so no MOs, checks, or even cash accepted. It's a ~$7 fee per debit card payment, since the fee-waived recurring charge will get declined by the GC issuer. Simon Mall GCs half the number of debit payments needed. $0.88 is cheaper than $7 (if you weren't aware), it's just a bit of a drive to get to a friendly WM which I've visited a few times since starting the thread. With a 2% back card, I'd still be up ~$9 per $1k of rent without visiting a WM. It's better than an ACH from my checking account, I was just hoping there was a magical GC on the shelves that would work.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 317
Nice reviving my old thread Payment is through an online portal, so no MOs, checks, or even cash accepted. It's a ~$7 fee per debit card payment, since the fee-waived recurring charge will get declined by the GC issuer. Simon Mall GCs half the number of debit payments needed. $0.88 is cheaper than $7 (if you weren't aware), it's just a bit of a drive to get to a friendly WM which I've visited a few times since starting the thread. With a 2% back card, I'd still be up ~$9 per $1k of rent without visiting a WM. It's better than an ACH from my checking account, I was just hoping there was a magical GC on the shelves that would work.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,446
Nice reviving my old thread Payment is through an online portal, so no MOs, checks, or even cash accepted. It's a ~$7 fee per debit card payment, since the fee-waived recurring charge will get declined by the GC issuer. Simon Mall GCs half the number of debit payments needed. $0.88 is cheaper than $7 (if you weren't aware), it's just a bit of a drive to get to a friendly WM which I've visited a few times since starting the thread. With a 2% back card, I'd still be up ~$9 per $1k of rent without visiting a WM. It's better than an ACH from my checking account, I was just hoping there was a magical GC on the shelves that would work.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, National Executive Elite
Posts: 247