Amex Gift Card Register Problems

[Liamlumiere]

Hi,

I'm trying to register an Amex Gift Card. I have attached a billing address to it but each time I try to register it tells me that it cannot verify billing addres yet it also charges me a dollar each time it tells me!!

If it can't verify card how can PayPal still charge me for turning it down!?

Anyone shed light on this?

Thanks

[PayPal_Olivia]

Hi Liamlumiere,

Welcome to the Community! 🙂

The $1.00 item that you're seeing is an authorization. That is sent to make sure that the card exists. They're not exactly charges, but the card issuer will hold the funds in an authorization until they expire. Authorizations typically expire within a few days.

Making sure that a card exists is not exactly the same as making sure that the card is yours. A card may also be required to pass validation to determine ownership. A card not registered to your full name and address may not pass validation.

Prepaid and stored value cards frequently have this kind of problem. If the card issuer allows you to fully register the card with all of your information, that may resolve the issue. The name and address will have to be the same on your PayPal account as on the card. There may also be a delay time for the information to fully propagate to the validation servers, usually not more than a few days.

If you're interested in a prepaid card option that you can use with PayPal, I'd suggest taking a look at the PayPal Prepaid card. The cost is the same, and there's the added benefit that you won't run into the problem of accumulating an excessive number of cards on your account, the way you might with multiple third-party prepaid cards.

Please let us know how it works out! If this post resolved your questions, you can post a reply to let us know, or click the "Accept as Solution" button. 🙂

Olivia

[Liamlumiere]

Hi Oliva, 

OK, the card has been verified but yet to be confirmed. I've read that I need to find the 4 digit number in my statement that comes with the -$1.95 charge under 'Description'. I have checked my statement and rather than having a 4 digit number it says under 'Description' - PAYPAL PTE LTD - Purchase with AVS - There is a Ref number too but this is 12 digits long, not 4...

Do you know what's happening here?

Thank you,

Liam.

[PayPal_Olivia]

Hi Liamlumiere,

The code will show up when the $1.95 confirmation payment is fully captured, which may take a couple of days. Once the code shows up and you enter it into the PayPal system, the $1.95 is refunded and the card is confirmed.

I hope this helps! 🙂

Olivia

[Liamlumiere]

Hi Olivia,

Here we go again...

As I wait patiently for the code to pop up in my account I get this mail this morning (pasted below) I have replied by explaining that the card has already been accepted on my 3rd attempt and I'm waiting for confirmation number:

Thank you for contacting PayPal regarding add an Amex Gift Card to my PayPal account.

We have reviewed your account and it shows you have attempted three times to add your Amex credit card.

As a security precaution, when you add a card to your PayPal account, we cross-check the information that you've provided with the information your card issuer has on file, such as your billing address and CVV code. Your card has failed our cross-check on several occasions because the card information you provided to us didn't match those of your card issuer.

This is an irreversible decision. However, to fund your payments you can still:

• Add a different debit or credit card to your account. (Even prepaid cards can be used, but we only advise using a prepaid card on PayPal if it offers a statement service)
• Add and confirm your bank account.

I apologise for the difficulty you have experienced when attempting to use the card ending Amex <removed last 4> on your PayPal account. I have reviewed your account and can see that this card has been refused in the PayPal system.
 

When you add a card to your PayPal account, we check the information that you have provided against the information your card issuer has on file such as your address or CVV code. Your card has failed our security checks on a number of occasions, as your card issuer could not confirm that the information provided matched. Please be assured that this is not a reflection on your credit worthiness.
 

Unfortunately, I am unable to override this security setting to enable your card in the PayPal system. Please add another card to your PayPal account to continue making payments.

You can use prepaid or virtual cards. These can be obtained from banks or companies providing financial services. They don't have a credit balance but you can add money to the card before you make a payment.

Some prepaid or virtual cards may not be suitable for use with PayPal. If you want to use such a card, you should make sure that it's reusable. This means that you can add money to the same card multiple times and the card number doesn't change. If you have to add a new card number to your account every time you wish to make a payment, this service should not be used with PayPal. This is because the maximum number of cards that can be added to PayPal account throughout the lifetime of the account is 16.

It is my pleasure to assist you. Thank you for choosing PayPal.

Yours sincerely,

Juan

PayPal

[PayPal_Olivia]

Hi Liamlumiere!

Thank you for letting me know about that email. I apologize for any confusion. This is definitely an opportunity for coaching and I appreciate you bringing it to our attention.

Olivia