square reader to get money gift/debit cards

[bjammin]

I have a stack of vanilla visa gift/debit cards that I have been thinking about taking to the gas station and just using up. But, that seems like it would take a few gas station trips, and I want to get rid of them in one go around. Has anyone tried using a square card reader to get funds off gift/debit cards onto their regular account?

Just a thought!

[slokor]

Wont work.
If you try to get too many of them your account will get locked.
I believe there were a couple of threads that discussed the topic a year or two ago as well so search for those for more details.
I myself just do as you said - gas stations, grocery stores etc. Works well enough and youll be amazed how fast you go through them.

[ilcarletto]

Would this be a viable solution for you?

Sell Your Gift Cards for Cash at Card Hub®

other options in here:

http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/...929/index.html

[pr0wake]

spark pay may not mind gift cards. I just signed up

my square up was also closed for this

[rsot]

1. Square can work but you need to sparse the cards out AND use real cards intermittently.

2. You would be surprised but...if you can deal with the fees, PP can be used to cash them out (<--- tried and tested)

[miketyson]

There's plenty of options. You can now add pins to gift cards. So you can buy money orders, moneypaks. Load bluebird or even google wallet if you have both cards. Add the pin so you can use debit and pay at the pump. Using square or anything else will get you shut down. Last trick is to add them to amazon buyer account by sending yourself amazon egift buying with gift cards.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by rsot

1. Square can work but you need to[b] sparse[b]the cards out AND use real cards intermittently.

2. You would be surprised but...if you can deal with the fees, PP can be used to cash them out (<--- tried and tested)

Just to clarify for others sparse is actually an adjective meaning

thinly dispersed or scattered..

So think of using SPACE instead.

That will then make sense of the assistance offered by rsot.

You are welcome.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by miketyson

There's plenty of options. You can now add pins to gift cards.

Pins to which gift cards miketyson? Interesting idea

[miketyson]

Originally Posted by rsot

Pins to which gift cards miketyson? Interesting idea

Every gift card.


Gift Card PIN Number | Million Mile Secrets

[rsot]

Interesting miketyson - doubt it works up in Canada but worth checking

[GreenBean]

Bluebird getting a mention there.

[davevjr]

Originally Posted by bjammin

I have a stack of vanilla visa gift/debit cards that I have been thinking about taking to the gas station and just using up. But, that seems like it would take a few gas station trips, and I want to get rid of them in one go around. Has anyone tried using a square card reader to get funds off gift/debit cards onto their regular account?

Just a thought!

I use paypal, invoice myself on a different email address and pay using the gift card. this will work provided you didn't verify paypal with this giftcard.

[slokor]

Originally Posted by davevjr

I use paypal, invoice myself on a different email address and pay using the gift card. this will work provided you didn't verify paypal with this giftcard.

I prefer not to link my accounts in this way. I find that nothing good can come out of it - especially if one single account out of those you used ever gets into trouble. The domino effect that can result out of that is just not worth it.
It also depends on how many Prepaid credit cards youre trying to cash out. I myself need to go through quite a few per month so doing things that way is ineffective.
I find that spending 4 at a time at grocery stores and gas stations is pretty effective. Especially if you requesnt the same places all the time. Theyre familiar with the prepaid credit card gift cards and after you tell them your cover story ("I use them for my work bla blah bla") they never look at you when you use them.
Bottom line - I would avoid using paypal whenever possible. Too risky doing it on a regular basis as they tend to notice trends like that.

[Dmshark25]

I purchased green dot money pack before with a visa vanilla, that had over $200

Your allowed to use debit they just recently killed the last remaining stores that were accepting CC for GreenDot

for Vanilla cards , when u purchase Greendot money PAC just swipe your vanilla card and any 4 digits you use is your pin , so they work for any debit transactions

[miketyson]

Originally Posted by Dmshark25

I purchased green dot money pack before with a visa vanilla, that had over $200

Your allowed to use debit they just recently killed the last remaining stores that were accepting CC for GreenDot

for Vanilla cards , when u purchase Greendot money PAC just swipe your vanilla card and any 4 digits you use is your pin , so they work for any debit transactions

What store was that?

[Dmshark25]

Rite Aid, in June I was able to buy green dot money PAC with my CC, and than I went back to the same store and they said no we can't accept CC for money PAC , and I was like u sure I just did it a couple days ago and they looked at me like I was lying

I than went to another rite aide and they said the same thing but they allowed me to buy the vanilla cards with a credit card and than I was able to cash them out after by using them for a debit purchase buying Money PAC

So it seemed like the system would allow it but it depended on what employee you went to

Other stores like Walgreens and 7 eleven there machines are hard coded and no matter if the employee allows you or not when u swipe the card it won't work

But towards the end of July all three stores that I would be able to buy vanilla cards with a credit card would not allow me, but I was still able to buy money PAC with a debit card

Anyway, I haven't tried again to buy vanilla cards at rite aide with a CC, but I have used a visa Vanilla as a debit transaction at a rite aide 3 weeks ago

It's only worth it if u have a card with value but if there's $17 I'll use it for Gas, but once in a while I'll get one that is $200+ vanilla card and I'll buy moneypac at rite aid and put it right in a prepaid card

Just don't show them the card and say I have a gift card here.

They will usually ask you credit or debit, if you say credit they say we can't but once u say debit, they say slide the card, so swipe put any 4 digits in

[miketyson]

Alright. You know Walmart is still good. For both gift cards and moneypaks using debit. I like to use the walmart atm kiosk less questions.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by davevjr

I use paypal, invoice myself on a different email address and pay using the gift card. this will work provided you didn't verify paypal with this giftcard.

risk of linking unless you are 1000% careful.

[Dmshark25]

Originally Posted by miketyson

Alright. You know Walmart is still good. For both gift cards and moneypaks using debit. I like to use the walmart atm kiosk less questions.

Debit transactions are always easy because they don't require the cashier to make a match on ID and the CC

Debit cards security is all in the 4 digit pin, so just swipe and dial in the digits. I'm not sure if they would say u can or can't use a gift card but , I'm just saying they don't need to see a debit card so don't cause a problem when there isn't

That's good to know Walmart is good

Walgreens is totally shut down and 7 Eleven both do not work, cash only

[rsot]

Originally Posted by davevjr

I use paypal, invoice myself on a different email address and pay using the gift card. this will work provided you didn't verify paypal with this giftcard.

I verify the recipient pp with bank and a valid cc (not gift)

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by rsot

I verify the recipient pp with bank and a valid cc (not gift)

And invoice yourself?

[rsot]

I vary up activity between invoicing and just sending straight up payments - NEVER getting eB involved