Ebay issues?

Bram · Jan 6, 2011

If this is in the wrong spot feel free to move it, I just want more traffic.

Alright so I won this prepaid visa at work the other day, and I thought HEY! I'll go to ebay and buy me a wireless trigger, now I bought lens caps for my first ebay purchase and it worked with the card. I tried to order wireless triggers with the SAME card, and it says sorry this card cannot be used. Now I checked the balance on Vanillamastercard.com and the card "doesn't exist" so What in the world is going on? Is this card now invalid or what's going on? I've comitted to buying these triggers but my card won't work.

Any input?

myfotoguy · Jan 6, 2011

Is there a web address on the card where you can go and look for FAQ's regarding that particular card? Or better yet, a phone number on the card you can call?

It does seem odd that after one use it can't be used again, that's not how my Visa cards have worked that I recall, but maybe some cards are different.

Dao · Jan 6, 2011

Is there a phone number listed on the card you can call?

Robin Usagani · Jan 6, 2011

look at the back of the card and call the toll free number

Bram · Jan 6, 2011

Yeah I called the number and it asks you to type in the card number (just like the site) and it says it doesn't exist, (just like the website). I see a pattern here.

Dao · Jan 6, 2011

After you called the number, can you press "0" few times and see if the system will forward you to a live person?

Stradawhovious · Jan 6, 2011

I would call the number on the back of the card. My guess is that the card is either not activated, or drained.

ETA never mind.20 people seem to have beat me to the punch.

myfotoguy · Jan 6, 2011

Bram said:
Yeah I called the number and it asks you to type in the card number (just like the site) and it says it doesn't exist, (just like the website). I see a pattern here.

Press another number once you have called in to the number. Sometimes zero brings you to a live operator.

If you know where the card came from in your company, maybe they have a contact from where the card was purchased that could help.

Bram · Jan 6, 2011

Tried but the line was busy. 3 times on 2 days! I guess I could stay on hold for 20 minutes. Come on though. Shouldn't it work?

Bram · Jan 6, 2011

Well it was $35 card. I bought lens caps for $6.32, I don't think the card is drained. Yes it was activated therefore I was able to buy the lens caps.

KmH · Jan 6, 2011

Sounds like your lens caps actually cost you $35, and your issue isn't with eBay.

MichiganFarts · Jan 6, 2011

I wouldn't recommend this normally, but it should be a case where you can explain what happened to the ebay seller you commited to buy from, and release yourself from the items, if you need to.

It's only a slight inconvenience to them, as it's incredibly easy for an ebay seller to get their fees back in circumstances like this, and it takes multiple offenses like this for it to prove negative in any way to your account.

As far as the card goes...I don't think it's possible for us to tell what's up with it.

Bram · Jan 6, 2011

I'd be chapped if I could only use it for one purchase, but the card says it's reloadable. Like WTF.

Studio7Four · Jan 6, 2011

Hate to be a cynic, but was the seller from whom you bought the lens cap reputable? It's possible that they drained the full $35; without a statement (like with a credit card or personal account debit card) you have no way of checking the actual amount charged until you can get ahold of a real customer service person.

I just had another thought. Sometimes when you make a purchase with a debit card a hold is placed on a chunk of money (I believe this is how it works when you reserve a car using a debit card instead of a credit card, for example). Perhaps the block will be taken off once the transaction fully clears. Even my personal account debit card often lists a temporary amount immediately when a transaction is recorded then posts the proper amount once the transaction clears.