Vanilla GC fraud and "system error" messages
Nov 11, 2022, 3:58 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
Vanilla GC fraud and "system error" messages
What's going on with Vanilla GC guys? Every card I check gets "system error" message. I have about 50 cards with small balances on them, from $50 to $0.50, and half of them got suspended and had to be re-issued by vanilla. Also noticed they do some secret spy verification over the phone "press second number in 2737" ? Did they get hacked or what? Looked at reviews and wow ! https://www.consumeraffairs.com/cred...gift-card.html
Nov 12, 2022, 12:56 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 235
What's going on with Vanilla GC guys? Every card I check gets "system error" message. I have about 50 cards with small balances on them, from $50 to $0.50, and half of them got suspended and had to be re-issued by vanilla. Also noticed they do some secret spy verification over the phone "press second number in 2737" ? Did they get hacked or what? Looked at reviews and wow ! https://www.consumeraffairs.com/cred...gift-card.html
Jun 2, 2023, 1:29 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,007
Anyone else having problems today with Vanilla VGC? Bought one at CVS yesterday, tried to liquidate today at both FD (Serve) and 2 grocery stores for MO...declined at all. Even declined for a 19˘ purchase at CVS. Web site also does not load when I type in the card number.
Never had this issue before (last Vanilla I bought at WM earlier this week I liquidated with no issues) but I haven't done a lot of MS since pre-Covid. Back in the game for a while trying to meet a couple of SUBs.
Never had this issue before (last Vanilla I bought at WM earlier this week I liquidated with no issues) but I haven't done a lot of MS since pre-Covid. Back in the game for a while trying to meet a couple of SUBs.
Jun 2, 2023, 1:45 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 369
Also noticed they do some secret spy verification over the phone "press second number in 2737"
That's just to verify you're a person and not an automated bot.
Jun 2, 2023, 1:58 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 235
Anyone else having problems today with Vanilla VGC? Bought one at CVS yesterday, tried to liquidate today at both FD (Serve) and 2 grocery stores for MO...declined at all. Even declined for a 19˘ purchase at CVS. Web site also does not load when I type in the card number.
Never had this issue before (last Vanilla I bought at WM earlier this week I liquidated with no issues) but I haven't done a lot of MS since pre-Covid. Back in the game for a while trying to meet a couple of SUBs.
Never had this issue before (last Vanilla I bought at WM earlier this week I liquidated with no issues) but I haven't done a lot of MS since pre-Covid. Back in the game for a while trying to meet a couple of SUBs.
Jun 6, 2023, 4:11 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: 787
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,306
I have a lot of old vanilla cards with few dollars left to use for trials. All of a sudden, I had most of them locked. Called them and of course they asked me million questions about last 5 transactions etc. Wanted some sort of paperwork done so they can re-issue card with 2.09 on it. Clowns.
Jun 7, 2023, 4:52 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 13
Anyone else having problems today with Vanilla VGC? Bought one at CVS yesterday, tried to liquidate today at both FD (Serve) and 2 grocery stores for MO...declined at all. Even declined for a 19˘ purchase at CVS. Web site also does not load when I type in the card number.
Never had this issue before (last Vanilla I bought at WM earlier this week I liquidated with no issues) but I haven't done a lot of MS since pre-Covid. Back in the game for a while trying to meet a couple of SUBs.
Never had this issue before (last Vanilla I bought at WM earlier this week I liquidated with no issues) but I haven't done a lot of MS since pre-Covid. Back in the game for a while trying to meet a couple of SUBs.
Jun 7, 2023, 5:03 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 126
Anyone else having problems today with Vanilla VGC? Bought one at CVS yesterday, tried to liquidate today at both FD (Serve) and 2 grocery stores for MO...declined at all. Even declined for a 19˘ purchase at CVS. Web site also does not load when I type in the card number.
Never had this issue before (last Vanilla I bought at WM earlier this week I liquidated with no issues) but I haven't done a lot of MS since pre-Covid. Back in the game for a while trying to meet a couple of SUBs.
Never had this issue before (last Vanilla I bought at WM earlier this week I liquidated with no issues) but I haven't done a lot of MS since pre-Covid. Back in the game for a while trying to meet a couple of SUBs.
Jun 8, 2023, 12:49 pm
#9
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,007
All is clear now with my $500 Vanilla VGC. I called the number on the back of the card and they said they had declined the card due to "suspicious activity." After verifying the merchants I attempted to use the card at, they unblocked it and I was able to liquidate with no problem. Never had this happen before.
Jun 8, 2023, 3:43 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 126
All is clear now with my $500 Vanilla VGC. I called the number on the back of the card and they said they had declined the card due to "suspicious activity." After verifying the merchants I attempted to use the card at, they unblocked it and I was able to liquidate with no problem. Never had this happen before.
Jun 8, 2023, 6:32 pm
#11
Join Date: Nov 2021
Posts: 68
Are you checking the balance online/changing the pin online? I was, and ended up getting these fraud locks. Now I literally open the package and liquidate 1hr later. No checking the balance or changing the pin. Oddly enough now I have zero issues.
Jun 9, 2023, 3:04 am
#13
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 369
I always check my cards activation and balance either online or by phone after an hour has passed, and I've never had an issue. All the branches I do MOs and BPs at believe I'm utilizing a bank debit card, so I must be sure they're going to work without any problems, as it would be difficult to explain why my "legit" bank debit card failed.
Why are you messing with the PIN anyway, as there is no preset PIN, the very first PIN you utilize auto becomes the PIN.
Jun 9, 2023, 5:51 am
#14
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 126
That makes no sense.
I always check my cards activation and balance either online or by phone after an hour has passed, and I've never had an issue. All the branches I do MOs and BPs at believe I'm utilizing a bank debit card, so I must be sure they're going to work without any problems, as it would be difficult to explain why my "legit" bank debit card failed.
Why are you messing with the PIN anyway, as there is no preset PIN, the very first PIN you utilize auto becomes the PIN.
I always check my cards activation and balance either online or by phone after an hour has passed, and I've never had an issue. All the branches I do MOs and BPs at believe I'm utilizing a bank debit card, so I must be sure they're going to work without any problems, as it would be difficult to explain why my "legit" bank debit card failed.
Why are you messing with the PIN anyway, as there is no preset PIN, the very first PIN you utilize auto becomes the PIN.
Jun 9, 2023, 7:47 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 249
I frequently encounter Vanillas that always decline on the first swipe, but the 2nd always goes through, as if it's some half-assed attempt at a fraud block. But I've never had one (that is otherwise activated) permanently decline where I had to call in.