Two unrelated things are being discussed about changes at Walmart regarding Visa gift cards. Not sure if these changes are nationwide, but seem to be affecting some/many people.
1) Green Dot Visa gift cards are now hardcoded by the system to only allow cash or debit as payment, not credit card. (Tip of the hat to Milestomemories.) Interestingly, some people are still be having success with a credit card so it varies by location, but it’s dead for most.
Ordinary Visa gift cards (Sunrise, Vanilla, etc) might still work with a credit card, though from what I recall that’s always been YMMV.
2) Two readers reached out with the news that the Walmart system now rejects Visa debit gift cards when using them to buy money orders. The demise of Walmart/MO has been proclaimed literally dozens of times – it’s probably just regional changes, temporary changes, or changes with certain cards not working, but I figured it’s worth mentioning since it might be a broader issue.
Let us know your experiences in the comments.
My Metabank VGCs from Staples.com don’t load in BB and were denied as an unauthorized transaction at WM to purchase MOs. Not sure what’s going on, but I’ll have to find a way to liquidate them now.
Same routine, new issues. New Policy?
I have used VGC and similar cards for years for MOs at Walmart and faced many of the issues discussed below by others and overcame them. About 4 months ago when WM started the 2k/ID I decided to exiperiment with Blue.and have had good success loading $1000,-$4000 each time,no issues. Recently I have experienced a new situation.
Issue #1 Earlier in the month I sucessfullly loaded my Blue card with $4000 in 8-$500 transactions. When I started the 4th card I was asked to give the cashier ID. I did not argue and handed it over She wrote all my DL info down on a scrap of paper. I completed the transaction and cheerfully told her “Don’t lose that piece of paper” “Don’t worry, I won’t” she replied.I was curious why she asked for ID (2k/Id MO issue?) I did ask her if system prompted her…she indicated “no”, she prompted herself.
Issue #2 Bought a hanful of $500 VGC (US Bank)the other day. Same cards I have bought previusly. Tried to load Blue in amount of $500 at a WM I had not used before. Computer declined it. “Debit not avaialable… Call authorizer…” I tried my other VGC ards, same outcome. Thinking it was either Blue had blocked due to higher load earlier in minth or because VGC cards not registered in online (this had happened before) I registerd cards and tried at my usual WM. Same issue…declined. So I tried to buy an MO…declined. Issuing card company is showing balance of $500 on all cards.
Has anyone had similar prpoblems? Has WM coded their machines not to accept? Is US Bank somehow blocking use?
Any experiences?
I tried to unload $500 Visa Vanilla GC issued by Bancorp Bank to my GoBank card and it did not go through. I think only visa GCs issued by MetaBank are woking at WM.
This is a US Bank GC issue. I experienced the same issue today (02/10) but did not experience it in the first week of January.
Apparently they are blocking debit-pin transactions for the entire $500 value of the card.
You then have to call in and they generally will try to register the card for you over the phone. After that, you have 24 hours to wait — they call it a fraud block.
I will update after the 24 hours but I suspect to have more problems for $500 debit-pin transactions. I think they see it as indirectly getting cash off the card and a high fraud risk.
I should probably mention that my attempts were almost immediately after initially purchasing the cards but that hasn’t been a problem in the past.
Hopefully it’s just an extra step of protection taken for cards that are purchased with CCs and then immediately, exact $500 amount debit-pin transactions are attempted.
Perhaps they’ve taken it in the shorts from stolen CCs being used to purchase their GCs and then the typical MS liquidation procedures used.
Additionally, I tried not only getting MOs but also loading a Walmart Card — both ended in the same situation (24-hour fraud block on the GCs).
Again, I will update when this has played out…
I normally buy Walmart Visa with 4.94 fee for msr, after hearing hardcoded story, I went NC Asheville area super Walmart to try one the go dance Walmart Visa card, sure enough, it was rejected after I inserted my credit card for payment, I was ready to walk out, but cashier stopped me, said let’s try again, then went through smoothly. He further told me its system glitches and most cashiers just give up, but he says it works if try again. I went to small Walmart loaded to my serve today. All good, so it’s a ymmv for now I think.
Glad it worked for you. When I ran into it recently, I tried to run the transaction 2-3 times with one card and then I pulled out another card and tried that card one more time. The register spitted out the same short receipt/tab stating debit or cash only. This was at the more friendlier Walmart Neighborhood. Might be they’re rolling out the change and it isn’t quite sticking at supercenters or the system rolling out is causing a glitchy mess. Have no clue, but I’ll just rotate between Simon and Kroger for now. I had plans on cutting back on MS anyways since the SPG AMEX went from 1 SPG to 2 “Marriott” Points as of 8/1 (i.e. a 33% devaluation!).
Went to 4 different Walmarts (2 supercenters and 2 neighborhood markets) this week on 8/1 and 8/3 and all denied my single $500 VGC purchase with a credit card. Tried with Samsung Pay at 2 of them but with same results. Registers were hardcoded to request cash or debit card only. I’m in Arizona. I acted like I was not aware of restriction, stated I needed to go get my debit card, and left the line empty handed. This must have been a recent change as I purchased VGCs with no issue back in late June / early July.
I was able to unload some WMT and Simon GCs though to purchase money orders so it looks like they just won’t sell them to you (with CC) but they will still allow purchase of MO with GC. A slight difference occurred where they asked me for DL info and SSN to buy 2 $950 MOs. I just gave it since they already have that info since I use the WMT app. Guess my new purchase options will be driving 50 mins to Simon Mall or paying about $1 more each to buy at grocery stores.
Oh and back in January my go to Neighborhood market that sold $1000 MOs (1 of the 2 in town out of the 20 or so Walmarts) stated they won’t allow multiple swipes anymore. So basically they would sell me a $500 MO only. That was a bummer since the entire staff knew me and it was close to my home!
System denied visa giftcards purchased at aaa. Other metabank giftcards worked so I’m not sure what’s going on. Anyone else have a similar experience?
MORE BAD NEWS FOR ALL
Kroger grocery unit to ban Visa credit cards – Fox News
They specifically said they were not banning pin based visa debit…so no change to MS. Also, it’s just a negotiation tactic, so it won’t be for long. It’s an awfully big IF anyway that they do it chain wide.
I don’t often do MO, but I ran into something some might find useful. My local Kmart does MO, accepts VGCs (I ran one to check), and the fee was less than WM’s. I do not have DPs for split tender or Max, but it’s something for our MOers to look into if WM is being a pain. I am sure it is YMMV. And for the curious, I am in Fresno.
had a terrifying experience where I stopped at 3 different walmarts in 3 different states (southern CA, Denver-area, Wyoming) to try to buy MO with the normal Meta VGC I had been using forever and got denied on all of them. Then I went to 2 in IL and the cards both worked fine. no idea why!
Chuck,
Will posted a thread on issue #2 (for purchasing MO’s w/ GC’s in general, not just Visa GC’s) earlier this month:
https://www.doctorofcredit.com/issues-with-walmart-money-orders/
Just loaded serve with a grocery everywhere at wm in nc