Reports surfaced yesterday on Reddit that the $1,000 Simon Mall Visa gift cards are no longer working with a PIN at many grocery stores where they used to work, such as Kroger, Food Lion, etc. The block is not from the grocery store, rather from the gift card issuer, Metabank.
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Does anyone know if these are limited when paying taxes? I havent paid since these new transaction limit seems to be in place but i’m unsure if its just for grocery spend of if its hardcoded into the card for any purchase.
Just for funsies, had some leftover MCGC from the Staples sale that I wanted to consolidate to speed up liquidation:
– Run1: Rang up $500 VGC from my normal spot that usually auto-drains when running as debit. No other items in transaction (total of $505.95 with fee). Card did not auto-drain. Had to specify amounts ($200/card) and run them as credit–specifying the amount and running the first card as debit resulted in another decline. Remainder was purchased with CC.
– Run2: Rang up $500 VGC from another location that usually auto-drains when running as debit. No other items in transaction (total of $505.95 with fee). Card did not auto-drain. Noticed that POS terminals were new, so I suspect that might be the primary cause. Unable to specify amount for cards (or cashiers did not know how/want to), so left without purchasing.
– Run3: Rang up $500 VGC from same chain as Run1. No other items in transaction (total of $505.95 with fee). Specified amount for first card ($200) and ran as credit. Ran second card as debit out of habit and was able to auto-drain. Remainder was purchased with non-Meta MCGC as credit (did not want to run as debit since value on card was more than remainder in transaction, and I’ve been having issues with this particular card when using PIN transactions).
Definitely need to do some more experimenting, but I ran out of cards. To be clear, I didn’t think about running the second card in Run1 as debit since I was thrown off from the first card. But, seems to me that the block for auto-drain can be alleviated if the first card in the transaction series is run as a credit. Seems to mirror some DPs on reddit that reference an illegal transaction/card wanting to run as credit.
If true, this is a genius move from BHN as it still allows multiple cards to be used in a transaction with minimal impact to most consumers while severely limiting their ability to liquidate.
Tried to use my meta non Simon $500 vgc for a 498 MO and was denied. Went to another location and was successful getting an MO for 480.
Went back to first location and bought one for 481.75 and was successful
We should all call into MetaBank to complain about the spending limits. Their cards have become significantly less useful and effectively moved further away from cash. I spend quite a bit on MetaBank Cash Cards and give them to employees as a way to manage their spending. I’ll probably have to find another Cash Card in the future unless the restrictions they’ve placed are removed.
MetaBank Visa 1-888-524-1283
MetaBank MasterCard 1-877-524-1283
Are you joking?
1) They don’t care
2) Pay your employees in cash. SMH.
Thanks
Daniel for your considered comment. The cards are used by employees for expenses. It isn’t their pay.
Everyone should drop in a call and leave a message telling them their customers are not happy.
What’s the new limit? $99 or just anything under $499
Kroger did not work at all for any amount just 2 days ago. I just got a MO for $300 at the Kroger store with a $1k Simon. Not sure if it’s an error they are having temporarily, not sure if it’s related to the amount. This is what worked for me today.
$498.5 was denied today. Tried $484 from a different gebit at a different store and it was approved.
499 +fee denied for me today. So the new limit is 485 ? Anyone know?
Somewhere between 485.99 and 490.99 (including fees). Not sure exactly where it falls.
Of course, it’s all subject to change. I’d bet my bottom dollar that it will end up at $99. Liquidate ASAP if you can.
It may be dependent on the chain as well. It seems that the limits are different at different chains.
Reports surfacing that people are now failing under $500 (single MO for 495, single swipe with a fresh card). Looks like the limit has already dropped.
I can confirm this in true for NW (Portland area). Starting yesterday single MOs under 499 failing in all grocery stores that used to work for Simon VGCs.
Not only simon, almost all meta/pathway gibits are failing today …pretty sure next stop is at $99/swipe….
my DP：on the same store
1. buy 499 with simon 1k visa card first (1 swipe). Success.
2. but 499 with vanila visa gc (500 face value) (1 swipe). Success.
Question: looks the new limitations only for simon card? vanilla visa or OD everyday visa still works as before?
Vanilla & Everywhere still works as before.
Thanks. I know people are talking about velocity limit. Anyone know if such velocity limit only apply to simon 1K visa?
I had a $500 Meta VGC and was denied when trying a second transaction. I had two $500 VGC.
I’ve never used the vanilla Visa gift cards. Do they work for money orders the same way as the meta Visa gift cards?
It works on H-E-B.
What’s HEB?
Kroger’s no longer working in my area Midwest denies 1000 and under 500 yesterday it was working at Kroger for under 500 only now it’s saying unauthorized today