How To Use An American Express Gift Card Online

Don’t feel like going to the store to use your AMEX gift card? Well, you’re in luck because you can use your gift card online instead. But before you shop, it is important to be aware of common issues that could pop up while you try to make purchases with your prepaid gift card. Prepare yourself for any unforeseen circumstances by getting to know your AMEX gift card and learning how it operates. This will help you prevent potential problems, ensuring you have a smooth shopping experience. 

How To Use an American Express Gift Card Online

Before making a purchase, card owners are required to register the card. Want to know why? When an online order is placed, e-commerce stores often use a security process called Address Verification System (AVS) to confirm the card is linked to a billing address. Since your American Express gift card did not have your address associated with it when you received it, any attempts to make a purchase online before registering the card will likely result in a rejected order.

In order to avoid running into this problem, we’ll give you the information you need so you can successfully register and activate your American Express gift card. Once you are finished, you will be able to make all kinds of purchases from a variety of retailers using the funds on your AMEX gift card. 

Register your AMEX gift card 

To register your AMEX gift card for online purchases, you must call their customer service line at 1-888-846-4308. You will be asked to enter the 15-digit card number, security code, and the valid thru date located on the back of your card. Follow any on-screen instructions to finish the registration process. The American Express gift card will then be activated and ready for use. 

You can check your AMEX gift card balance at any point by going here on the American Express website. This page is where you can manage your gift card and see the amount of funds remaining. You must enter the gift card number along with the expiration date and security code before seeing any card information.  

AMEX does not charge an inactivity fee and funds do not expire. If your card expires, American Express’ customer service will reissue a gift card replacement with the remaining balance.

How does AVS work? 

AVS (Address Verification System) is widely used by merchants to verify authenticity among customers. By using this tool, businesses can detect potentially fraudulent credit or debit card purchases and prevent certain transactions from being processed. AVS works to ensure that the address entered by the customer is actually associated with the credit card holder’s account. AVS authentication is typically used as part of a multilayered fraud protection system that works to approve valid transactions and decline suspicious ones. 

During the transaction, the customer will enter their mailing address which is then compared to the address on file with the issuing bank. After the addresses are compared, the bank will return an AVS code to the merchant. This code can be used as a guide so you may determine whether to proceed with the transaction or not. 

AVS is only applicable to cardholder addresses in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom. 

Gift cards offer a convenient way for shoppers to make purchases both online and in-store at their favorite merchants. 

Recommended Gift Cards 

Don’t think an AMEX gift card is the right fit for you? There are many gift cards for specific brands and retailers that you could get instead in order to pay for transactions at those stores. Gift Card Granny sells a variety of gift cards for all sorts of merchandise and activities that you can earn cash back on and save with future orders. 

It is important that you purchase gift cards in a safe and secure manner so that you do not fall victim to a scam. Learn what is safe and what’s not when it comes to buying gift cards and steer clear of falling for fraud. When you use Gift Card Granny, you are accessing a secure website that will not disclose any sensitive information to other sources, keeping you protected from suspicious activity. 

The types of gift cards available on Gift Card Granny include a broad range of categories like entertainment, travel, sporting goods, department stores, grocery stores, restaurants, and office supplies. There are Walmart gift cards, Staples gift cards, Home Depot gift cards, Uber gift cards, Red Robin gift cards, and dozens more that will pique your interest as a shopper, whether you are buying for yourself or for others. 

Visa gift cards and Mastercard gift cards are both readily available on Gift Card Granny as well. Customers can build and customize their gift cards to make them personal for whoever they are for. Like AMEX gift cards, Visa and Mastercard gift cards can be used as a payment method at various retailers that accept those brands. They are much more adaptable when it comes to shopping than typical retail gift cards you will see in stores and online. 

Always make sure you go with a gift card option that makes sense for your needs for the best experience!