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

[waldnorm]

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 

[vzw_customer_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."

[vzw_customer_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.

[vzw_customer_support · Accepted solution]

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:

1. Go to your Payment Options.
2. Choose an amount to pay (i.e., pay in full, pay another amount, make a split arrangement) and choose Continue.
3. 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

[waldnorm]

I did as before and this is what comes up.

When I click on "i."

[waldnorm]

Okay, I may follow up next time I have a balance due as I just paid my last bill on Feb. 27th (as I did not know when my sister would get the cards back to me).  I did find in one of the FAQs that there has to be a balance due, so hopefully that is why.  I will hold onto these two cards until the next bill comes along and if that does not work, I will follow up here.  Thanks for your help.

[vzw_customer_support]

You are very welcome, it was our pleasure.

We want to take this moment to promote our My Verizon application: m.vzw.com/m/myverizonapp. It is the quick, easy and convenient way to monitor and manage your account. Anything, from device updates to plan / feature changes to usage / invoice / payment details, is available in the palm of your hand.

Thanks for being the best part of Verizon.

~Gilbert

[dgoingsjr]

Hello, 

Were you able to resolve your issue ?   I was able to use 2 out of the 4 cards the last couple of months and today I ran into this issue.  I called verizon and the agent was clueless.  This is unacceptable because I have $400 dollars just sitting here, which I had planned on using towards the bill for the next two months.   

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello, being on top of your service is crucial, especially if you are managing your Gift Cards. Verizon is here to help.

Please elaborate, what exactly happens when you attempt to use them (error/alert message)?

~Gilbert