How To Add Money To A Mastercard Gift Card

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Gift cards make excellent presents that create some fun anticipation about shopping and help you get exactly the items you're looking for. But before you run out to the mall and start filling your shopping basket with goodies galore, it's a wise idea to know how much is on your gift card. This can help you stick to a budget and come up with a plan. And, in the case of an old gift card that you don't remember shopping with, it can also help you learn whether the card is even good to use anymore. Learn how to check your gift card's balance so you don't encounter any surprises at the register.

Call Up the Card's Customer Service Line

If you have a physical gift card, it most likely has a phone number listed somewhere on the back that you can call if you need customer service help. This may be the number you'll call to check your balance, or there may be a separate number listed that's reserved solely for balance inquiries. Look for any information printed on the back of the card specifying which number to call.

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When you dial the number, you may reach an automated system that allows you to input your card's information, which includes its number and, if it has one, a provided PIN or security code. The security code may be covered by grey scratch-off ink that you need to remove first. After using your phone keypad to type this out, the system should be able to access your card information and tell you your balance. If you speak to a customer service representative instead, you'll need to provide the same information so they can access the card details.

If you'd rather check your balance online, this may be an alternative option instead of calling a toll-free number. Your card may include a note on the back, likely near the phone number, telling you the website to visit to obtain information about your card and balance. Again, you'll need the card number and the PIN or security code, and you'll type in this information and submit it so the online system can access the details about the gift card.

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Want to see what your options are when it comes to various methods for checking your balance? This database includes entries for more than 1,000 companies, and each link has specific instructions about how to check the balance on a card from that particular company. Along with these options, where possible the site also provides the number to call and website to visit to find out your balance.

Visit in Person

If you're already out shopping and remember you want to check your gift card, you can try calling the customer service number on the card or bringing the website up on your smartphone. But it might be easiest to head to the store that the gift card came from if it's nearby. An employee can run the card at the register to check the balance that's on it, and you can jump right into your shopping spree from there.

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Checking Amounts on Digital Gift Cards

If someone emails you a digital gift card and you've used it to shop online but aren't sure what the remaining balance is, you can usually find out this information online. To complete this process, you'll need the original email that you received that includes the gift card number or serial number for the transaction and the PIN if one was included.

Although you may be able to call the company's regular customer service number for assistance, it's likely that you'll be able to take care of this task totally online. Finding information about gift cards by navigating your way around the company's website can take some time, though. Instead, try running a search online for "check [company name]'s ecard balance" or a similar phrase. The search results for this are likely to include the specific page you need to visit to check your balance. Once you're on the page, fill out the fields for the requested information, like the number and PIN, and submit them to find out your balance.

If you're having trouble accessing your balance this way, contact the company's customer service department by phone or via the live chat option on its website, if available. A representative can walk you through the process or even run your information and tell you what your balance is.