How to Use a MasterCard Gift Card

A prepaid MasterCard gift card is a convenient gift option for the difficult-to-shop-for friend. Although the gift card funds can be spent like cash, the purchase of a gift card has the presentation of a physical gift instead of transfer of cash from one wallet to another. A MasterCard gift card can be used at many locations, unlike a store-specific gift card that is good at only one location. Using a MasterCard gift card is similar to using a credit or debit card.

Activating and Using Your Card

Locate the toll-free phone number on the back of the gift card. Call to activate the card. This generally requires entering the gift card number using the buttons on your phone. The card is ready to use following activation.

Use your gift card as payment anywhere that MasterCard is accepted. Tell the cashier that gift card is the form of payment before he swipes the card. If self-swiping the card, press the gift card button. "Gift card" should also be chosen as the payment method for online purchases.

Continue purchasing until you exhaust the prepaid gift card balance. When the balance is not sufficient to complete a purchase, the amount remaining on the gift card will go toward the purchase and leave an outstanding balance to be paid with another method.

Read More: How to Activate a Pre-Paid Debit Card

Buying a MasterCard Gift Card

You can purchase a MasterCard gift card online from a website like GiftCards.com. In many cases, you can customize your card by uploading a photo or choosing a specific gift card design. You can add a dollar amount ranging from $10 to $500. Finally, you'll enter the recipient's name, along with an optional personal message that will be shown on the front of the card. MasterCard gift cards can be used everywhere MasterCard is accepted.

Other locations where you can buy a MasterCard gift card include gas stations and convenience stores, grocery stores, drug stores and shopping malls. However, you're less likely to be able to buy a customized card from one of these locations.

Read More: How to Use a Visa Gift Card at an ATM

References

• MasterCard: MasterCard Prepaid Gift Card
• GiftCards.com: MasterCard Gift Card
• National Retail Federation. "Holiday shoppers plan to spend 4 percent more this year." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• Research and Markets. "United States Gift Card and Incentive Card Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics (Databook) - Market Size and Forecast (2015-2024) - COVID-19 Updated." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• Audit Analytics. "Gift Card Breakage – (ASC 606)." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• Office of the New York State Comptroller. "DiNapoli: Read the Fine Print on Your New Gift Card." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• Visa. "Reloadable Visa Prepaid Cards." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• Amazon. "Gift cards." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• Cardpool. "Sell unwanted gift cards for up to 92% cash back." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• CardCash. "Sell your unwanted gift cards for up to 92% cash back or trade for more." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• Raise. "About us." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• St. Jude Children's Hospital. "How to donate your unwanted gift cards." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• CharityChoice. "Choose Gift Card Merchant." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• Internal Revenue Service. "Charitable Contribution Deductions." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• Office of the New York State Comptroller. "DiNapoli: Remember to Read Fine Print on Gift Cards This Holiday Season." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.
• KPMG. "Unclaimed property rules for gift cards, gift certificates in Colorado, Washington State." Accessed Aug. 6, 2020.

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Tips

Check your gift card balance by calling the phone number listed on the back of the card.

If you are asked for a PIN number when making a purchase, the cashier likely entered the transaction as "debit" instead of "gift card." Cancel the transaction and ask him to swipe the card again as a gift card.

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Warnings

Use MasterCard gift card funds before the expiration date listed on the front of the card.

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