Prepaid cards are stored-value cards that can be used at various payment portals—like credit and debit cards. Most prepaid cards can usually be used right after purchase, but those from Mastercard may require registration and activation. Show
Many users find it difficult to activate a prepaid Mastercard because there’s no singular set of rules to do so. Mastercard, like Visa, is a payment card network, not the actual card issuer, which can be a bank or any other merchant. Different issuers may list out different rules for the initial setup and activation of your card, leaving you thoroughly confused. In this guide, you can find the general steps necessary to activate prepaid Mastercards (including gift cards). We’ll also introduce you to Mode Mobile’s products that can help you earn free prepaid Mastercards, cash, and other rewards for using your phone!
SoFi RelayCheck your credit score with SoFi Relay and earn a $5 Mode Mastercard. Why Do I Have to Activate or Register a Prepaid Mastercard?One of the most distinguishing features of prepaid Mastercards is that they are not linked to a particular bank account and can be purchased without a credit check. This, unfortunately, makes these cards more vulnerable to instances of fraud and theft. When you validate your card through the activation or registration process, you essentially enable the card provider to offer you a certain amount of security for your funds. Once your card is registered with Mastercard, the company can monitor the transactions of your card and alert you if they detect any suspicious activity. Activating the card also helps you access the complete features of the card, including:
Registering your card usually means going to designated websites and entering info about the card as prompted. Upon registration, the system activates the unique identifier on the card, which in turn makes the card recognizable across all payment portals. Source: Giovanni Gagliardi Prepaid Mastercard Activation ExplainedWhen it comes to a Mastercard prepaid card registration and activation, the relevant instructions will vary for different cards. Prepaid Mastercards can be offered by a variety of card issuers, such as H&R Block, Walmart, and Revolut. Each merchant operates its own app or website for enabling functions like completing registration, checking card history, and reloading the card. Despite the differences, the basic process of activating prepaid Mastercards is more or less the same. To be able to set up any Mastercard with ease, you need to check out the following:
How To Activate My Prepaid Mastercard—General RulesYour prepaid Mastercard packaging will contain the name of the website (in certain cases, an app) necessary to initiate the activation. Follow these steps to complete the process:
When you complete the steps, you will get a notification that your card has been activated. Many websites will ask you to sign in again with the card to use features for online shopping and reloading, among others. Most cards are activated instantly, but certain prepaid Mastercards may take 24–48 hours to be activated. If you encounter any hiccup during the process, you can reach out to the customer support number provided on the card’s packaging. In case you don’t find the number, you may reach out to Mastercard support services for further assistance. Example–How To Register a Vanilla Prepaid MastercardVanilla prepaid Mastercards are popular because of zero monthly fees and low transaction charges. They are available at all major superstores like Walmart and Target. The ones available at these outlets are usually MyVanilla prepaid cards, which are referred to as starter or temporary Vanilla cards. You need to activate a starter card online until Vanilla sends you a permanent personalized card via mail. The permanent card also has to be activated separately before use. The table below contains instructions for activating MyVanilla starter and permanent cards:
If you struggle during any step of the registration process, call MyVanilla customer service at 1-855-686-9513. Note that these instructions are based on the website’s current design, which may change in the future. Source: ruxipen Do Mastercard Gift Cards Need To Be Activated?Yes, Mastercard gift cards do need to be activated because they are more versatile than single-store gift cards. Both plastic and digital Mastercard gift cards can be redeemed at different online and brick-and-mortar stores. The card essentially has to be activated for security reasons. It’s the same principle as with prepaid Mastercards—when you register your card, it becomes recognizable by payment portals. You can also use them as payment cards on e-commerce websites like Amazon. Besides shopping, activated Mastercard gift cards also enable other functions like:
How To Activate My Mastercard Gift CardMost Mastercard gift cards come with activation instructions on the package. Here’s how you do it:
After entering the verification code, your card should be ready to use. In case you’re not able to complete one of the steps, reach out to the customer care number printed on the front or back of the card. How To Get Prepaid Mastercards and Gift Cards for FreePrepaid Mastercard and gift cards are convenient for making offline and online purchases. If you want to get them for free, Mode Mobile offers you a tempting deal! We provide unique products that convert your regular phone time into real cash and rewards. With Mode Mobile, you earn by doing regular activities on your smartphone, including:
These are tasks that you do on your phone regularly—but do them with our products, and you can earn hundreds of dollars in free gift cards, prepaid Mastercards, and real cash! We currently offer:
Source: Mode Mobile Get Cash and Rewards With the Mode Earn AppThe Mode Earn App is a reward-based platform that helps you earn up to $600 a year in supplemental income. You don’t have to pay for a download or subscription. Once you download the app for free and set up your account, the app will start adding points for all eligible tasks you complete on your phone. We give you a high earning rate, so it won’t take you long to rack up enough points to exchange for exciting rewards. Check out some of the redemption options we offer:
Install the Mode Earn App today and explore the complete spectrum of our earning and redemption options! The Mode Earn Phone—A Next-Gen Device That Pays YouWe’re always brainstorming for new ways to help you earn some extra money. Our next-gen android-based phone—the Mode Earn Phone—features an earn-as-you-go widget along with the preloaded Mode Earn App and enables you can earn more than $1,200 in gift cards, cash, and other incentives! Our latest device is the Mode Earn Phone MEP2 which runs on Android 11 and has an octa-core processor. It comes with amazing features, such as:
Our phone is compatible with all major carriers. We offer you two options to enjoy the Mode Earn Phone:
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Featured image source: Paul Felberbauer Why is my Mastercard gift card not activating?The most common reasons are that the card hasn't been activated, the cashier is running the wrong type of transaction, the dollar amount being charged is greater than the card's balance or the credit card processing machine is bumping up the charge amount to either place a hold on the card or to allow for a gratuity.
Where is the activation code on my Mastercard gift card?Click here anytime to activate your card immediately, or continue reading for further instructions. To activate your card you will need: The 16-digit card number printed on the front of your Visa or Mastercard gift card. The 3-digit security code (CVV code) printed on the back of your card.
Is a Mastercard gift card already activated?If you receive a Visa gift card or a Mastercard gift card, you'll have to activate it before the card works.
How can I activate a gift card myself?Many gift cards are activated when they're purchased, so they don't need to be activated by the recipient. However, some do need to be activated by the recipient before they can be used. You can activate a gift card by calling the merchant or accessing the provided URL and inputting the correct activation numbers.
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