Verizon Gift Cards Can No Longer Be Used to Pay Bills?

Last January, I purchased for my sister two $100 gift cards as she said she might want to replace her phone or get a smart watch. It turned out her wireless service was AT and T and not Verizon and she did not want to change, so I wrote her a check and she gave me the two cards yesterday. I then tried to put them in as credit for my account for future bills (I sometimes pay more in the past), but it wouldn't show up as voluntary payment method and when I tried to pay ahead as a bill I got the message "gift card payments restricted." How can I get reimbursed for purchasing these two gift cards (which I did through the my verizon and had mailed to me?)

I already scratched for the numbers.

Thanks,

Norman

Accepted answers

Verizon_Support

Ah, thnak you so much, Waldnorm, yes you must have a balance to have this option open:

How do I apply a Verizon Gift Card to my Verizon mobile bill?

Gift cards can be used to pay your Verizon mobile or home bill through your My Verizon account (website or My Verizon app) or by phone.

Important: You must have a balance due to be able to add a Verizon Gift Card as a bill payment option.

To add a Verizon Gift Card as a payment option for your mobile bill through My Verizon:

Go to your Payment Options.
Choose an amount to pay (i.e., pay in full, pay another amount, make a split arrangement) and choose Continue.
Choose add/edit payment method. Select Gift card and click Add method. Follow the prompts.

When the gift card is added, you can select it as a payment option for your bill.

To apply your gift card to your bill by phone call #GIFT (#4438) from your mobile phone or 800-876-4141 from any phone.

Learn about using a Verizon Gift Card when you have Auto Pay on your home account.

https://www.verizon.com/support/gift-card-faqs/#mobile-bill

-Melissa

All comments

Verizon_Support

Thank you for bringing this to our attention! We'd be happy to help find out what's going on with the gift cards you purchased, waldnorm. The good news is that gift cards do not expire, and will not be impacted by inactivity. Please tell us, are you using the app or the website when you encounter the error message after trying to pay with the gift card? Are you signed in to your My Verizon account when attempting the payment?

~Izzy

waldnorm

My Verizon account on the web via a desktop.

I have tried Bill-Payment Options- enter an amount ($100) and then "Add or Edit Payment method." Gift card is not highlighted followed with an i and then says "gift card payments restricted."

Verizon_Support

Thank you for those additional details, Waldnorm. Have you had an opportunity to confirm the balance through the back of the card?

-Melissa

waldnorm

I purchased these two cards myself. Each should have $100 on the card. But that's not the issue why that appeared. I never even had an opportunity to put in numbers for the gift card, etc., I just could not select gift card as an option. I tried to put this in as credit for future payments or to pay ahead. Should I wait until I receive my next bill and then try again? I never had to do that before when I paid ahead with my credit card beforehand.

Verizon_Support

Ah, thnak you so much, Waldnorm, yes you must have a balance to have this option open:

How do I apply a Verizon Gift Card to my Verizon mobile bill?

Go to your Payment Options.
Choose an amount to pay (i.e., pay in full, pay another amount, make a split arrangement) and choose Continue.
Choose add/edit payment method. Select Gift card and click Add method. Follow the prompts.

https://www.verizon.com/support/gift-card-faqs/#mobile-bill

-Melissa

waldnorm

I did as before and this is what comes up.

Screenshot 2024-03-02 101642.png

When I click on "i."