Well, you’ve recently bought a Mastercard Gift card or received one from a friend—you’re eager to use it without wasting any time, right?
But before you splurge cash online or at shops, have you checked your balance?
Checking your balance is crucial to avoid transaction failure at checkout or plan your purchases so you can make the most of every cent.
That said, I’ve rounded up all the steps to help you check your Mastercard Gift Card balance smoothly. Also, I will walk you through other handy tips that may be helpful.
How to Check Your Mastercard Gift Card Balance/Transaction
Akin to any other gift card, checking a Mastercard Gift Card Balance is super convenient as it offers multiple ways to suit your needs.
So, if you prefer a more traditional approach or a technical way, there’s an option. So without any further ado, let’s jump right into the three main ways to check your balance.
Check Your Balance Online (Recommended)
If you’ve a phone and internet, this option is the best of all three options. It’s straightforward and doesn’t require any app.
Since most websites support Mastercard gift cards
Since most Mastercard gift cards are linked to a specific website, you can check your balance and transaction history with just a few taps. Here’s how to do it:
- Head to the website: Roll over your plastic gift card to check your card issuer or the website linked to your card. And if you’ve an eGift card, just click on the “Reveal info” to copy all your card details.
- Usually it’s www.mcgift.giftcardmall.com. Or if you’ve purchased it from the official website, the URL will be balance.mastercardgiftcard.com. Once you’ve found your website, you will see the “Check Balance” section.
- Enter card information: Next up, fill in all the boxes with your gift card number, CVV2, and expiration date. You can find your CVV2 on the back of your card and the number on the front.
- View your balance: After filling in the details, the website will display your current balance. Many sites also show recent transactions, which is great for monitoring your spending.
- Check balance/transaction: After filling in all the information without typos, you can view your balance and transactions.
Note: If you need to check a balance more often, you can bookmark the link in your browser or save it in a notes app for quick access.
Call Customer Service
If you prefer old-school ways of communicating, you can check your Mastercard Gift Card balance by calling customer support.
Since it doesn’t need the internet, you don’t have to scroll through browsers or navigate websites.
This method is great if you like to pick for verbal communication, rather than relying on the internet. Here follows the process:
- Locate phone number: The first step to contact customer support is to find the toll-free number printed on the back of the card. If you can’t find one, call the official number – 1-800-Mastercard (1-800-627-8372).
- Gather your card details: Don’t just call and ask for a balance, as it won’t help you. Ensure you’ve your card handy or write down your 16-digit card number, including other details like expiration date and CVV2.
- Follow the prompts: That’s the only drawback to contacting customer support. We’ve to go through a host of options before connecting to the customer executive. However, if you’re connected to a representative, you can answer all the queries to know your balance, and they’ll look it up for you.
If your only query is knowing the balance, then the online option is more convenient. However, if you want to understand fees or clarify recent transactions, human support is much better.
Check In-Store
If you’re already out and about, you can check your Mastercard gift card balance at a store that accepts Mastercard.
Another option to check your Mastercard gift card balance is at an In-store location that takes Mastercard.
However, it is the underrated option, but trust me, it’s the best bet if you’re making a purchase. Here’s how to do it.
- Visit a retailer: Reach out to the cashier or merchant who accepts Mastercard payments.
- Ask for a balance check: You can ask a staff member or a person who is taking a payment to check the balance on your gift card. They’ll swipe your card and show you the information.
- Get the receipt: The person will tell you the available funds and may even print a receipt.
You may like this option when you want to confirm your balance before buying something. However, not every cashier has this option, so you’ve to ensure.
Why You Should Check Your Mastercard Gift Card Balance?
As I’ve already mentioned, to stay in control of your spending, you should check your Cash in your card, as it can create a weird experience at checkout.
But there are a few more reasons to watch out for.
- Avoid surprises at checkout: Nobody likes to encounter insufficient funds during checkout. And especially when you’re using your gift card. So knowing how much cash is lurking can save you from that awkward moment.
- Maximize your card’s value: If you’ve a $200 card, you don’t want to leave a single cent in it for free, right?. Well, if you don’t track your spending and balance, a small proportion of money can go unused. So, checking funds, make sure you use every dollar.
- Track your spending: If you’re using the card for multiple purchases, checking the balance regularly keeps you on top of your transactions.
- Watch for fees: Don’t forget the fees; it’s a lot for inactivity after a certain period. So regular checks can fix this problem.
Keep everything aside, and be honest—doesn’t it feel amazing to know your shopping power? Whether you’re purchasing a gadget, grabbing dinner, or planning a vacation, keeping tabs on the balance is just an undeniable task.
Few things to consider
If you want to make sure your balance-checking process goes smoothly, I’ve laid out some
- Activate your card: You can’t view your funds right after purchasing the card, as you’ve to activate it first. Once you’ve activated your gift card, you can simply check your funds and last transactions through online or customer support.
- Don’t share credentials: Akin to a debit or credit card, Gift cards also carry sensitive information such as the card number or the CVV code. So, never share them with any untrusted sites or persons. You must stick to the card issuer or official Mastercard to protect your account.
- Watch for fees: Some gift cards have maintenance or inactivity fees that kick in after a period of non-use (often 12 months). Checking your balance regularly helps you spot any unexpected deductions.
- Save the contact info: Write down or save the balance check website URL and customer service number in your phone or wallet. This makes it easy to check your balance whenever you need
- Check before big purchases: If you’re planning to use your card for a large purchase, confirm the balance first to avoid splitting payments or facing a decline.
Troubleshooting Common Balance Check Issues
Running into a snag while checking your balance? Don’t stress—I’ve got solutions for the most common problems:
- Site isn’t loading: If the balance check website is down or not working, double-check the URL to ensure you’re on the correct site. Try again later or use the phone option instead.
- Card number error: If you’re getting an “invalid card number” message, carefully re-enter the 16-digit number. It’s easy to transpose digits or miss one.
- Balance doesn’t look right: If your balance seems lower than expected, check your transaction history online or call customer service to review recent purchases or fees.
- Card stolen or lost? You can book a replacement if you’ve registered your card. Simply contact the service team from where you’ve issued your card. In case your card isn’t registered, you may be eligible for a replacement, and your funds may be lost.
- Expired card: Sometimes, we forget to use our gift cards due to our busy schedules or other reasons. However, if your expiration date has passed, reach out to the customer support team – Maybe they can transfer the remaining funds to a new card.
Why Mastercard Gift Cards Are So Awesome
Well, opening a savings or current bank account is not as hassle-free as it’s registering a gift card. Similar to any other gift card, a Mastercard, which is widely accepted among retailers, is quite versatile.
You can take it almost anywhere where it’s accepted, think online, stores, restaurants, and to name a few.
Unlike cash, you can be a bit frugal when shopping with a Mastercard gift card, as you can only spend what’s on it.
What’s more intriguing is that you can gift it to someone special in occasions instead of cash. To know more ways to use it, here’s the way.
How to Use Your Mastercard Gift Card?
After activating your Mastercard gift card, it’s ready to use anywhere online or in stores. But here are a few creative ways to use it.
- Treat yourself: Splurge on something you love, like a new book, PlayStation games, or a luscious feast.
- Gift it forward: Don’t need it?. You can pass it to someone who needs it. Consider gifting it forward for your friend’s or family member’s birthday.
- Pay for subscriptions: Want to Netflix and chill? Try paying for your subscription with the card. Or pay for your favorite streaming service like Audible or Headspace.
- Support small businesses: Last but not least, you can shop from small ventures or local shops that may need your support.
