Visa Prepaid Card

sparky0138

Looking for some advise please. My mum's been sent a Visa prepaid card. It has £5 credit on it and today she tried to use it in Tesco and Asda - both refused saying they didn't accept them. Is this right and if so, does anyone know which shops WILL accept it?

jonesMUFCforever

Does the card need activating in any way?
A VISA card is a VISA card whether pre paid or not - I wonder if it failed because it was not (presumably) a chip and pin card?

sparky0138

The website says you don't need to activate/register it but I registered it for her anyway and yes, it is a chip and pin. The pin number is the last four digits on the card. Both times they tried swiping it and in Tesco she even got to enter the pin number before they said they couldn't accept it.

jonesMUFCforever

I wonder then if the pin is the last 4 dgits (not very safe is it ) whether the £5 has already been spent.
Can you check at all??

sparky0138

I think it said both online and on the leaflet that came with the card that the pin was the last four digits. It was how I was able to register the card online because they asked for it. After registering it provided the balance so there's definitely £5 on it. I think if it was something to do with the pin then Tesco would have said she'd entered the wrong number rather than just not accepting it.

It's weird that both shops refused as I've had a look around on the website and it says anywhere that accepts Visa debit/credit cards will take them. Just wondering if anyone else has managed to use them in supermarkets without any problems. Might have to try a different store. Maybe we just got two clueless till assistants.

bengalknights

It should just work as its visa, is it a chip pin or signature card

SnowTiger

sparky0138 wrote: »

It's weird that both shops refused as I've had a look around on the website and it says anywhere that accepts Visa debit/credit cards will take them. Just wondering if anyone else has managed to use them in supermarkets without any problems. Might have to try a different store. Maybe we just got two clueless till assistants.

I 'won' a couple of £20 pre-paid Visa cards a while ago and received PINs separately. I used them online.

Was you Mother trying to spend more than the £5 limit? Retailers might not be able to accept two forms of payment for the same purchase.

sparky0138

SnowTiger wrote: »

I 'won' a couple of £20 pre-paid Visa cards a while ago and received PINs separately. I used them online.

I think it must depend on who issues them. It was Citi who issued this one and they didn't mention anything about a separate pin.

Was you Mother trying to spend more than the £5 limit? Retailers might not be able to accept two forms of payment for the same purchase.

She was, yes. I don't know about Tesco but Asda definitely accept two forms of payment so I don't think it can be that.