Confused by a Visa card that may look different? Or isn’t embossed? Visa Prepaid cards come in many different designs. The majority are unembossed, which means that they have no raised letters or numbers, and they may not have a cardholder name. Visa Prepaid cards are often part of ÒGift CardÓ programs and come in many different designs. Recognizing Visa Prepaid cards and knowing how to process them can be an important element for your business.

Getting It Right is Good for Business

Accepting and Processing Visa Prepaid Cards

Like all Visa cards, Visa Prepaid cards provide your customers with a payment option that's quick and convenient. Accepting Visa Prepaid cards can be just as secure and easy for your business, but it's important to get it right.

Here's what you need to know:

How to process a Visa Prepaid card transaction

  • Ask the cardholder how much to deduct from their Visa Prepaid card.
  • Follow the same procedures as you do for a Visa credit card – swipe the card, enter the amount and obtain an online authorization.
  • Ask the cardholder to sign the purchase receipt – check that signature matches the signature on the back of the card.
  • If the value of the purchase is greater than the card's balance, the transaction will be declined. It is the cardholder's responsibility to know the card's balance.
  • *A Prepaid card can only be used at electronic terminals that obtain an immediate online authorization.

Restaurants and Hotels – tips and other potential expenses

  • Cardholders should be made aware that many restaurants and hotels factor in an automatic tip or other potential expenses of up to 20% when authorizing card purchases.
  • If the total amount plus the estimated tip exceeds the balance on the card, the transaction will be declined.
  • To avoid this situation, the cardholder can ask to deduct the added amounts from the total and pay them separately.

When cardholder requests a split transaction

  • Split transactions can be done provided your store policy and/or transaction process allow(s) for it.
  • Ask the cardholder the amount to be deducted from the Visa Prepaid card, and the payment method they wish to use to cover the balance of the purchase e.g. credit card, debit card, or cash.

Returns

  • Cardholder should have the Visa Prepaid card they used for the transaction, and the purchase transaction receipt.
  • Please inform the customer that funds credited back to a customer's Visa Prepaid card may take three to seven business days to process.

Voided transactions

  • Void a Visa Prepaid card purchase as you would for any other Visa card transaction.
  • Let your customer know that it can take up to seven business days for funds to become available on the card.