The Vanilla Prepaid card is a gift card that works just like cash to buy what you want at any store that accepts it.
It makes for a perfect gift to loved ones and colleagues. As it is not reloadable, it is crucial to know how to check the balance.
Find out more about the Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard, how to determine card balance and prepaid Mastercard options.
What is the Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard?
The Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard is a prepaid card that you can redeem at millions of locations where Mastercard is accepted, including at retail stores and online.
Issued by Peoples Trust Company, the card is available in denominations of $25, $50, $100, $200, and $20-$500.
You can buy the cards at the following retailer locations:
- Walmart
- 7-Eleven
- Petro-Canada
- Jean Coutu
- Shell
- London Drugs
- Giant Tiger
- Corner Store
- Express Mart
- Ultramar
- Best Buy
When you purchase your Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard, the cashier will activate it for a fee. The fee will depend on the card’s total monetary denomination.
| Card Denomination | Activation Fees |
| $25 | $3.95 |
| $50 | $4.95 |
| $60 (3 x $20) | $8.95 |
| $100 | $5.95 |
| $200 | $6.95 |
| $20-$500 (Variable load card) | $7.95 |
The card does not have value if it is not activated. The funds on the cards do not have an expiry date.
When you receive the card, make sure to sign the back. Take note of the card number and the customer service phone number. The information will be crucial if your card gets lost or stolen.
The preloaded gift card requires no PIN to use. You can use it like a credit card for various transactions online or in-store.
Use the card anywhere where Mastercard is accepted. You can use it to pay for travel, dinner, souvenirs, beauty items or even appliances.
How To Use the Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard
Use the Vanilla prepaid card to pay for in-store and online purchases. Before shopping, it is a good idea to check the balance first.
In-store
- To make a purchase in-store, present your Vanilla Prepaid Card to the cashier at the point of sale.
- Unlike credit cards and debit cards, the Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard does not support chip and PIN technology. This is why the cashier will ask you to sign a receipt.
- When finalizing your purchase as a Signature transaction, choose “Credit” and sign the receipt.
Online
- Merchants may require a Postal Code during checkout as a security feature.
- Assign a Postal Code to your card by logging in to your account. Go to the “Assign Postal Code” page and register your Postal Code.
- Upon checkout, simply enter your card details in the credit card fields. No personal data will be linked to your card.
- When you pay for online transactions using the Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard, provide the required mailing address. The merchant will use the information for any purchase-related problem.
For every purchase using the card, the full amount (including taxes and charges) will be deducted from the card balance. Keep using the card until you max out your balance.
If the total of your purchase exceeds the card balance, use it in combination with another payment method, such as cash or credit/debit.
Not all merchants, however, accept “split” transactions. Notify the merchant or cashier first before completing the transaction.
How To Check Your Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard Balance
Checking the balance on your Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard is essential to avoid problems at the register or during checkout.
When your purchase total exceeds the amount on your prepaid card, the register will decline your card because it cannot check balances.
There are two ways to check your Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard balance: online and by phone.
Checking the Balance Online
To check your card balance online, go to the Vanilla Prepaid website.
On the Gift Card Balance page, enter your card number and expiration date to verify your balance.
Checking the Balance Via Phone
To check your Vanilla balance by phone, call a customer care representative:
- For cards beginning with 520356, call 1-833-502-6535.
- For cards beginning with 533621, call 1-800-652-9174.
As an alternative, if you want to spend more than the card balance, inform the cashier before finalizing the transaction that you will be using another payment method to pay for the rest of your items.
Related: Credit Cards vs. Prepaid Cards.
Can You Reload the Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard?
You cannot reload the card because it is non-reloadable. Once you max out your card balance, you simply buy a new one.
Does the Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard Expire?
The prepaid cards expire, but the funds loaded onto them do not. The holder of the prepaid card can use it for several months or years in the future.
If you have a card nearing its expiry date with an existing balance on it when it expires, call Customer Care and ask them to send you a replacement card.
Vanilla Prepaid Card Alternatives
Below are three Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard alternatives worth considering.
EQ Bank Card
The EQ Bank Card is a prepaid reloadable card you use to pay for online and in-store purchases and earn cash back.
Unlike most prepaid cards, the card earns up to 4% savings interest on your entire balance until you withdraw it. ATM withdrawals are free anywhere in Canada.
Use the card anywhere Mastercard is accepted to get 0.5% cash back on everything you spend. It also comes with unlimited debit and Interac e-Transfer transactions.
To apply for an EQ Bank Card, open an EQ Personal Account online. Fund the reloadable card by transferring money onto it from your savings account.
EQ Bank Card
Earn up to 4%* interest on your balance
0.50% cash back on purchases
No monthly account or FX fees
Free ATM withdrawals
Neo Money Card
The Neo Money card is a prepaid Mastercard that offers unlimited cash back when you use it for spending and gives high interest on your savings.
It offers an average of 5% cashback at over 12,000 partners across Canada, while the interest on deposits is 2.25%.
The card requires no monthly fees and has no minimum balance requirements. Domestic and foreign ATM cash withdrawals are free anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
To get the Neo Money card, complete the application form on the Neo website ($20 bonus) and provide an ID for verification. Load the card via an e-transfer or direct deposit.
Neo Money Account
Monthly fee: $0
Free transactions: Unlimited debits, Interac e-Transfers, bill payments, and deposits.
Sign-up bonus: $20 welcome bonus (after funding and making your first purchase), up to 15% cash back on your first purchases at partner stores.
Interest earned on deposit: 2.25% for spending account. Earn average of 5% cash back on purchases using the Neo Money card.
On Neo Financial’s website
KOHO Prepaid Mastercard
The KOHO Prepaid Mastercard is a reloadable prepaid card that you can use to pay for purchases online, in-store or abroad.
Issued by KOHO Financial Inc., the prepaid card works like a credit card. You can use it at millions of locations worldwide where Mastercard is accepted.
Earn up to 1% cash back on your purchases. The card also has a free budgeting app to track your income and expenses.
To apply for a KOHO Mastercard Prepaid card, go to the KOHO website and click the “Open Account” button. Complete the application form and submit it.
KOHO Prepaid Mastercard
Top prepaid card in Canada
Annual fee: $0* monthly for Essential card.
Rewards: Earn up to 5% unlimited cash back on debit purchases and earn 5% savings interest on your entire balance.
Welcome offer: $20 welcome bonus after your first purchase (use CASHBACK promo code when signing up).
Interest rates: 0%
Minimum income requirement: None
Recommended credit score:
None
On KOHO’s website
Conclusion
The Vanilla Prepaid Mastercard is an excellent gift idea that family members, friends and colleagues can appreciate.
Using the card to purchase online and in-store is as easy as presenting the card to the cashier in-store or entering the card details online during checkout.
Before using your prepaid card to pay for purchases, check the prepaid card balance to avoid problems at checkout.
With two ways to verify your balance, you can prevent instances of having your card declined.
FAQs
The Vanilla prepaid card is non-reloadable. When you have emptied your prepaid card balance, you will need to purchase a new card. On the other hand, the MyVanilla prepaid card is reloadable at thousands of Vanilla Direct Load locations nationwide.
Visa gift cards do not expire. Federally regulated financial institutions in Canada are not allowed to set an expiry on funds loaded onto their prepaid cards. Only the prepaid card can have an expiry date. Funds on expired prepaid cards can be transferred to a new card for a fee.
To check out online using your Vanilla gift card, enter the card number, the expiry date and the 3-digit code (CVV) found on the back of your card. When the payment goes through, the checkout amount will be deducted from the current balance on your Vanilla gift card.
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