iCARD Visa Gift Card FAQs

What is an iCARD Visa Gift Card? The iCARD Gift Card is a prepaid Visa card. It's the perfect gift for every occasion - it lets the recipient buy what they really want! Use it to make purchases at thousands of retail locations or use it online wherever Visa debit cards are accepted. Can't find what you're looking for? Just withdraw your cash from any ATM displaying the Visa® or Cirrus® brand.

How do I qualify to place "Corporate" orders? "Corporate orders" may be personalized or non-personalized. Cards may be sent in bulk and to 3rd party addresses. Corporate customers are emailed an invoice and have the option to pay by credit card (up to $5,000), check, ACH or wire transfer. To qualify for "corporate orders", you must be a duly organized company in "Good Standing" in one of the 50 states with a valid Federal Tax ID Number. You may also qualify to place corporate orders as a "dba" sole proprietor having a SSN or EIN and you must fully complete our online account set up and receive approval from iCARD.

What dollar amounts are available? Corporate buyers may order cards in any denomination from $10 - $2,500.

How much do iCARD Visa Gift Cards cost? Corporate orders are priced at $5.95 per card for less than 100 cards and $4.95 per card for more than 100. A 2.5% service surcharge is applied to the total order on all corporate orders. This additional fee is necessary to cover our costs related to payment processing, and in particular, the cost associated with the acceptance of credit cards.

Are there additional shipping charges? Standard shipping via first-class mail is $0.50 per card on Corporate orders. Bulk shipping on Corporate orders is $50 per each 250 cards or fraction thereof.

Why is there a fee in addition to the face value of the card – retailer gift cards don't charge fees and can even be purchased at a discount. Unlike retailers who profit from significant mark-up on the sale of their products, iCARD relies on the fees it charges to properly service your iCARD VISA gift card. Retailer gift cards are also less costly to issue (there is no personalization), manage, and deliver, and they do not require live phone customer support.

Why would I want to pay a fee for a gift card? Retailer gift cards may not charge fees, but you can only use them at the retailer that issues them. The iCARD Visa Gift Card can be used wherever Visa debit cards are accepted. Studies show, most individuals would rather receive a $75 Visa Gift Card, than a $100 retailer gift card. Moreover, our fees include card personalization, a customized letter, and delivery of the gift card.

What form of payment do you accept? Corporate customers may pay by credit card (up to $5,000), check, wire or ACH upon receipt of an emailed invoice.

Is the iCARD Visa Gift Card personalized? Corporate card orders may be personalized or non-personalized.

What is a personalized card order? For Personalized card orders, you supply a recipient's name, address, and telephone number. Cards are embossed with the recipient's name and the card's initial value is printed in the upper right hand corner of the card. In addition, the "Gift Amount" and "Sender" is specified on the card carrier. You may also select a unique 35 character message to be printed on the card carrier. Cards are mailed within 2 - 3 business days from the receipt of payment and usually sent directly to the recipient via first class USPS mail, although bulk shipping via FedEx to a single location is also available. Personalized cards require recipient activation by dialing the toll-free number on the back of the card. The PIN assigned to the card is the last 4-digits of the recipient's telephone number as provided on the order form. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE RECIPIENT. To ensure the security of the funds which you have provided the recipient, our customer service representatives will not be able to assist the cardholder with their activation if they do not know PIN.

What is a non-personalized card order? For Non-Personalized card orders, you simply indicate the number of cards you want and the dollar amount to be placed on the cards. All cards in the order are identically embossed (use our default embossment or select your own) and mailed to a single location. Upon receipt of payment, your order is prepared within 2 - 3 business days then sent overnight via tracked carrier. Non-personalized iCARD Gift Cards require activation by dialing the toll-free number on the back of the card. The PIN assigned to the card is the last-four digits of the purchaser's telephone number as provided when setting up the user account. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM THE RECIPIENT OF THE PIN WHEN GIVING THEM THE CARD. To ensure the security of the funds which you have provided the recipient, our customer service representatives will not be able to assist the cardholder with their activation if they do not know PIN.

Which is right for me - Personalized or Non-Personalized?

Choose Personalized if you want the following:

- Card embossed with recipient's name

- Card mailed directly to recipient (Note: It is also possible to bulk ship a personalized card order to a single location.)

- Activation by recipient's telephone #

- FREE replacement for misdirected cards

Choose Non-Personalized if you want:

- All Cards to be identically embossed

- Cards to go to a single location

- Bulk shipping via FedEx

- Activation by purchaser's telephone #

How does the iCARD Visa Gift Card work? Unlike a credit card, purchases are deducted from the card's available balance rather than being made on credit. When the card balance reaches zero or the card expires (whichever comes first), the card may no longer be used.

How do I activate my card? Personalized iCARD Visa Gift Cards must be activated before use. To activate your card, call the toll-free number on the back of your card and follow the directions on the letter that came with the card. If you cannot activate your card, you may call 1.636.536.6897 for live assistance. Please note, for security, you will be locked out from activating your card after three failed attempts.

Can I change my PIN? No, you may not change your PIN.

What if I lose my PIN? You will not be able to make cash withdrawals at ATMs or check your balance. You may, however, continue to use your card to make purchases.

Can lost or stolen cards be replaced? If your card was never received in the mail and has not been activated, we will replace it without charge. Otherwise, a card replacement fee of $5.95 will apply.

What kind of card is this (i.e.: credit, prepaid, stored value, smart, chip)? The iCARD Gift Card is a host-based stored value card. Host-based stored value cards are also known as "dumb" smart cards. Smart cards or "chip" cards utilize an integrated circuit to store value on the card itself. They require a special reader to read the integrated circuit - very few retail locations in North America deploy this technology. On the other hand, host-based stored value systems maintain account values on a host - the cards themselves do not hold value. They utilize magnetic stripe technology that nearly all retailers already have in place. The card simply holds only the information required to call into the host. The iCARD Gift Card is good only for the amount of funds loaded onto the card at the time of purchase; therefore it is "prepaid". No credit is extended on the account.

Can you deliver orders overseas? iCARD Visa Gift Cards are not authorized for export. iCARD Visa Gift Cards are not delivered to international addresses, nor may they be forwarded by the purchaser to individuals overseas. Violators are subject to prosecution.

Can I give the iCARD Gift Card to someone under 18? Yes, you can give the iCARD Gift Card to anyone of any age.

How many iCARD Gift Cards can I order at a time? You may order multiple cards however approved Corporate orders are subject to possible restrictions.

How are iCARD Gift Cards mailed? Card order can be mailed via US first-class metered mail and will arrive in approximately one week. Each card is affixed to a personalized letter and placed in a 4 1/8" x 9 1/2" envelope. For Corporate orders we also offer bulk delivery (i.e. cards mailed together in a single box) via FedEx.

How long does it take before I receive the iCARD Gift Card? Cards are processed within 2 - 3 business days. Depending on mail delivery to your area, you should expect to receive your card in about a week. Please send an email to support@icardsytems.com should you have a problem with your order. Be sure to include your order number in the subject header.

Can I cancel a card after it has been ordered? No. Orders may not be cancelled. Please review your order carefully prior to submitting.

Can I change the address where the card is being mailed to after its been ordered? No. You may not change the address of where the card is being mailed to after you have placed your order. Please review your order carefully prior to submitting.

Do you have a return policy? Yes. Returns will only be accepted on non-activated cards within 60-days from the date of purchase. In such event, iCARD will refund 95% of the original load amount. Any card fees paid will be forfeited. If your cards have expired, they will be subject to our card expiration policy which can be reviewed by clicking on the Cardholder Agreement link found at the bottom of the page.

How can I use the iCARD Gift Card? You can use the card to make retail purchases at store locations or online, wherever Visa debit cards are accepted; or you can make cash withdrawals at ATMs displaying the Visa or Cirrus brand.

How do I know how much money is on the card? You may check your balance online or by calling the toll-free number on the back of your card. You will need your card account number and PIN to check your balance. You may NOT check your balance at the checkout, nor do store receipts print your available balance. Be sure you have available funds prior to making your purchase.

How do I use my iCARD Gift Card for making purchases at retail locations? When making purchases at retail locations, tell the merchant to process your purchase as a "credit" transaction. You do not use a PIN to make a purchase.

How do I use my iCARD Gift Card for making purchases over the Internet? To make an online purchase, use the address information printed on the card carrier. To ensure proper authorization, be sure to include all mailing information including "c/o" instructions, if any.

How do I use my iCARD Gift Card to make cash withdrawals at ATMs? To withdraw cash from an ATM, enter your PIN and choose "Checking Withdrawal". Be sure you have enough funds on the card to cover the $2.50 issuer fee and any ATM surcharges added by the ATM. There is a daily withdrawal limit of $250 (Note: some ATMs may have a lower limit in place –in such cases, the ATM owner's limit will override our limit).

What if my purchase amount is for more than the value on the card? If your total purchase is for more than the card's value, tell the merchant to split the ticket. Place the card's balance on one ticket and use another form of payment for the other. Not all merchants may accept split transactions.

Can I use my iCARD Gift Card to buy gas? Yes. However, when making a gas purchase, please present your payment to the cashier.

Can I use my iCARD Gift Card to get a cash advance at a bank? No. Your card may not be used for Cash advances.

Can I use my iCARD Gift Card more than once? Yes. You can use your card as often as you like, as long as there are available funds.

Why are holds being placed on my account? Balances reflect the amount of all transactions that have been processed. Some locations (i.e., restaurants, hotels, etc.) impose temporary holding fees. This is particularly prevalent at restaurants that often send in an authorization request for not only the total ticket, but an estimated tip as well. Once actual charges have been authorized, these holding fees are removed and your balance and available funds will be updated accordingly. Generally this process occurs within a couple of days after the hold has been placed.

Why are my purchase transactions being declined? Is my card working properly? Most likely your card is working as it should. Most transactions are declined because the purchase transaction is greater than the value on the card. The merchant does not know your card's balance. You must tell them to "split" the ticket, placing only the card's value on one ticket and using another form of payment for the other. Also, cards are frequently declined at restaurants because the restaurant automatically adds an anticipated tip amount to the card authorization. When using your card at a restaurant be sure your card has enough value to cover the ticket plus up to a 20% or more tip amount - even if you don't plan to tip that much or want to leave your tip in cash.

Do the cards expire? Yes. The cards expire six months from the month following the time they are issued.

Do my funds expire? No. After the card expires, the funds on your card do not expire. However, so long as there is a remaining balance on the card, they are subject to a maintenance fee of $25 per six-month period, beginning in the 7th month from the day the card was purchased. This fee will be charged every six months until the balance is depleted or a refund request has been made in accordance with the Cardholder Terms and Conditions that came with the card.

Are there any fees for using the card? There are no fees for using the card at a point-of-sale. Nor are there any fees for making a telephone or Internet balance inquiry or for calling live customer service. If applicable, we do charge $2.50 for ATM use.

Can I get a refund for the remaining balance on my card? Yes. You are entitled to a check refund of the remaining balance on your card at any time - before or after expiration. Refund requests must be received in writing to Attn: iCARD Gift Card, c/o Refund Administration Service, P.O. Box 634, Chesterfield, MO 63006. Your request must include the following: 1) your Card 2) reason for refund 3) your name, address, telephone, and email address. Refunds may take up to 90 days to process, and in addition to a Maintenance Fee (if applicable), are subject to the following fees: a) $25 if within one year of the date of purchase b) $50 if within two years of the date of purchase or c) $75 if after two years of the date of purchase.

Are my funds FDIC insured? No. The FDIC has ruled that host-based stored value cards are not FDIC insured deposits, nor do they represent an asset account of cardholder.

Who is the issuer of the iCARD Gift Card? The iCARD Visa Gift Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A., Inc. The Bancorp Bank: Member FDIC. Card orders are processed by iCARD Gift Card, LLC, an iCARD Systems company.

Download a sample card image together with the card carrier and envelope.

View the cardholder agreement.

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