3V Gift Card Rip Off!!

nickem

I was given a £25 3v gift card for Xmas, but where I tried to purchase something off of play.com for £24.50 there were X3 £1 varyification charges applied during the transaction, which usually goes straight back on to your card during the process. However looking at my V3 gift card balance its down to £22 I also got an email back from Visa saying there was insufficient funds to cover the £24.50 purchase. I will investigate this further and make sure I get the £3 credited back to either my V3 account or my current account, total rip off!! Play.com are looking into the charge but couldn't tell me if they actually accept these cards online. https/www.3vprepaid.com Quote: -
"3V is the easy way to get a prepaid Visa number for online shopping. All you need to do is purchase a 3V Activation Code to the value you want and then enter it on this site to view your unique 3V Prepaid Visa Number. You can then use this Visa number to make purchases anywhere online that accepts Visa. It's that simple"

I'm not sure at this point where the problem lies, it's either Play.com for taking the £3 varification amount and not transfuring it back on the gift card, or https/www.3vprepaid.com for stating that the card can be used anywhere? Maybe Im expecting to much to purchase something for £24.50 with my £25 gift card

Has anyone else had the same issues with their gift cards and were they resolved?

Elle7

With a normal debit card, these charges aren't actually claimed, so they return to the card within a few days.

I'm not sure if this could happen with a 3v card, as I've never heard of them, but it's possible in a few days the money will be back.

The same would occur if you used the card for online shopping, such as Tesco etc, which used to be why they didn't accept pre-paid cards - although this might have changed now.

It could be a problem anywhere, to be honest...I think I'd rather just get given £25!

nickem

According to their website the gift cards can be obtained from the following places

• Morrisons
• Boots
• The Co-Operative
• WH Smith
• Clinton Cards
• Martin McColl

I would advise people to stear clear of V3 gift vouchers if possible! I did see on the gift card you can pay £3.50 to transfer it to another credit card. I might choose this option once I get my refund from Play.com...perhaps this is what 3V bank on!!

nickem

I'm going to attempt to contact 3V Giftcards about this issue I will post their response ASAP

System

is this a gift card or a front loaded visa card ?

nickem

The card is a gift card in association with Visa

shaftingham

Right, I would AVOID 3v for the following reasons:

Like the poster above, I received a £25 visa voucher for xmas. I found it useless at most retailers so frustrated, I opted to cash it in. They offer a facility whereby you supply all your personal details plus your IBAN number to get paid by BACS. I did this Boxing Day. They deduct the princely sum of £3.50 for the privilege. So, I completed the process and it said 'approved' under my visa number.

I have still not received the cash, 15 days later. I know there have been a few Bank Hols, but this is ridiculous. According to their smallprint, they only process w/d's on MONDAYS! So, do I assume that because just perchance that the last 2 Mondays prior to yesterday were Bank Hols, that is was not processed until yesterday, or do they do them on Tuesdays in the event of Bank Hol. Mondays?

I ask because this joke outfit has NO CUSTOMER SERVICE PHONE NUMBER and instead invites you to e-mail them to which they 'will usually respond in 24 hours'. Errmmm NO. I have waited 4 days and still heard nothing. I would urge you all NOT to burden somebody with one of these as a gift.

The fees are outrageous, the customer service non-existent and most sites don't like them. If you do give one as a present, add a little 4-pack of Anadin Extra.

shaftingham

nickem wrote: »

I'm going to attempt to contact 3V Giftcards about this issue I will post their response ASAP

Good luck my friend, I still haven't had a response after 4 days...:mad:

MamaMoo_2

I've used the gift cards lots without any issue.
Although it says it is a gift card, it is actually a front loaded visa card. I usually use them with PayPal, Ticketmaster, Mothercare etc and have never had a problem.
Any time a verification amount has been taken, it's been refunded within a few days (PayPal took 2x £1 charges)
Similar to a debit card, the funds are held but never collected, so the amount is deducted from your card's available balance and will reappear soon

nickem

I for one will never use them again and would never send one as a gift. If you can't spend up to the stated amount because of the verification process, which could potentially leave insufficient funds. In most if not all cases people are going to be left with small amounts of money on their cards, which they can't transfer because it would cost them more than the remaining balance in charges. If I receive a gift card I expect to be able to spend the total amount stated and not be ripped of with additional charges!!!

System

MamaMoo wrote: »

Although it says it is a gift card, it is actually a front loaded visa card.


thats what i was thinking because that type of card seem to charge you for everything