Amex gift cards are prepaid payment cards issued by American Express. They differ from most retailer gift cards by virtue of working more like a regular debit card as it’s accepted by a significantly wider range of companies.
Additionally, they also have a PIN, card number, and many other associated details, meaning they can be used for online purchases just like a debit card. You cannot, however, use an Amex gift card to withdraw money from an ATM and it’s also not linked to a checking account.
Setting Up Your Amex Gift Card
Most websites will accept your American Express gift card during the checkout or account registration process. Whenever you have to input your payment method, that’s where you can use your American Express gift card.
The steps to follow are as with any debit card. Here’s how card information works:
- First name and last name. Sometimes the field may also be called “Cardholder name”. Your personal be visible on the front of your American Express gift card.
- Card number. A 16-digit unique number assigned to your American Express gift card, which is found on the front.
- CVV (or security) code. A 4-digit PIN, usually found on the back of your card.
- Expiration date. Usually shown in a MM/YY format on the front of your American Express gift card.
These details are necessary to make any online purchase with an American Express gift card. You may have also received a few more important bits of information such as issuer (if it wasn’t purchased through a third party) and activation instructions.
Amex gift card activation is done either through their website or by calling a special number (1-888-846-4308). In both cases you’ll need all of the above details to activate your Amex gift card.
Remember to have a second payment method ready. If your purchase exceeds the Amex gift card balance, you’ll need something else to cover for the difference, regardless of whether you’re purchasing online or offline.
Amex Gift Card Fees, Reloads, and Expiration
An unfortunate aspect of American Express gift cards is that they have a purchase fee. If you acquire an American Express gift card through their website, the default purchase fee is $3.95. Physical retailers may have different ones, depending on their own decision.
Luckily, there’s no maintenance or service fees, so if you received a gift card as a present, no fees will apply to you. If you receive a gift card for free as part of some activities like filling out surveys, the payment will also be likely covered.
There’s also a technical expiration date, however, it’s rather meaningless for consumers. All Amex gift cards are valid until a specific date and are deactivated after it passes. Yet, you can get a replacement gift card with the same balance upon request, so the only real drawback is having to replace them every few years.
Finally, you cannot reload American Express gift cards, so once the balance is used up, it becomes worthless.
Online Shopping—Keeping Your American Express Gift Card Safe
An American Express gift card is quite a treasure for all sorts of scammers and other ill-intentioned individuals. They can be used in many stores and online, so you should always take precautionary measures to avoid someone else gaining access to your funds.
As such, never share any of the important details, especially the CVV code with third parties. These details are necessary to make payments, so if anyone gets access to all of the details, they can make online purchases with your gift card.
Additionally, if you intend to check your American Express gift card balance, make sure to only use the official website. There are numerous third party websites that supposedly offer the same service, but many (if not all) of them may be scams that intend to steal your information.
If you notice fraudulent activity or unknown charges in your American Express gift card transaction, be sure to report it as soon as possible. The company may be able to reverse some charges or block the card and issue a new one to you.
Maximize Online Shopping Benefits with Amex Gift Cards
Since you cannot reload American Express gift cards, it’s best to use them strategically to maximize the value of each dollar. There are many ways you can optimize your online purchases.
First, you should always search for websites that provide cashback rewards for purchasing through them. You’ll be able to redeem points or receive a small amount of additional money for each purchase, making each dollar you spend a little more valuable.
Additionally, you should take advantage of price comparison websites, which will let you quickly compare prices from numerous online retailers. Since most retailers accept American Express gift cards, you won’t have to look for highly specific websites.
Another option is to look for American Express promotions. You can sometimes find special deals or discounts for gift card users (or any American Express customers) that can be redeemed with specific retailers.
Finally, using various extensions or websites that scan the internet for coupon codes is another popular option. These tools usually work only with major and medium-sized retailers, but you can save quite a lot of money by applying those discounts.
Combining these options into one package is the best possible option as it’ll let you get a lot more mileage out of your American Express gift card. While it may not always be possible to get everything in one go, even one option will bring you great benefits.
