Activating MasterCard gift card may be quite confusing, as the term ‘activation’ is used in different ways, based on where the gift card is bought. However, activating gift card is clear and the steps are direct. At the same time, activation is necessary, otherwise, the gift card will not work.
Gift cards may be likened to temporary bank accounts. For instance, when you open a checking account at the bank, the bank issues an account number and a debit card that allows you easily access the money in the account. When you purchase a gift card at the store; be it a retailer, restaurant, Visa or MasterCard gift card, the gift card issuer creates a temporary account to keep the money loaded on it, gives you a plastic that gives you access to the funds. This card needs to be activated, to allow the account to be set up before you can make withdrawals or even deposits, in some cases. If a card is not activated, payment transactions will be declined because this temporary bank account has not been set up or has not been linked to the card number you have.
Activating Your MasterCard Gift Card
Even though some consider the process of activating gift card quite stressful, activating gift cards helps the issuer run fraud prevention checks and make sure, it was not purchased with a stolen credit card. You activate it by taking it to the cash register and ask that they load money on the gift card. The cashier activates the card and loads the requested amount on the gift card.
If the gift card is bought online, the recipient may be required to activate the card when it is received. The card is valid with funds loaded on it, but the card may still need to be activated before it works.
MasterCard gift cards and other bank-issued gift cards come with guidelines for activation. They most times include a website link to click on or a number to call. To activate a gift card, you will need the account number of the card and the verification number (CVN).
What Next After I Activate My Gift Card?
After activating your gift card, it can be used to make any kind of transaction. However, some gift card issuers give a waiting period post-activation, and the card may not be ready to be used for a day or more. This allows the issuer to ensure it was not purchased with a stolen credit card.
Do I Need to Register My Gift Card?
You are not required to register a gift card. You may register it if you want to update the name or address on it, to enable you use it for online transactions. Also, registering it helps track it if lost or if it is stolen.
