| One of the most popular gift card questions | | | | The Expanded Use verification process is |
| online is whether one can link prepaid gift | | | | designed to protect you against fraud by |
| cards like the Visa gift card to a PayPal | | | | verifying that the person attempting to use |
| account. The short answer is Yes and No. | | | | the credit card actually owns the card. |
| | | | PayPal will later credit the amount charged |
| Now, the long answer: Yes, it is possible to | | | | to your card to your PayPal account. |
| link a prepaid gift card like the Visa or | | | | |
| American Express gift card to a PayPal | | | | Now, here lies the problem with using prepaid |
| account but for this to happen, you need to | | | | or bank issued gift cards. If PayPal is |
| pray and hope that PayPal does not require | | | | unable to verify your address with the gift |
| you to go through their Expanded Use | | | | card issuer, then you may be asked to go |
| verification process. To better understand | | | | through the Expanded Use process. Since most |
| why, you first need to be familiar with the | | | | prepaid gift cards do not issue monthly |
| process for linking a credit card to a PayPal | | | | statements or provide online access to gift |
| account. When you link your credit card to a | | | | card transactions, it will be impossible to |
| PayPal account, PayPal will attempt to | | | | complete the Expanded Use process. Also, it |
| confirm your address with your credit card | | | | is not a good idea to call the credit card or |
| company. If the credit card company is not | | | | gift card issuer to get the 4-digit Expanded |
| able to confirm your address, then you may be | | | | Use code. If PayPal receives a complaint from |
| asked by PayPal to complete their Expanded | | | | your card issuer that you called them to get |
| Use enrollment process in order to activate | | | | the 4-digit code, PayPal will close your |
| your credit card. | | | | account permanently. |
| | | | |
| Expanded Use verification means PayPal will | | | | So, the first step to attempting to use a |
| charge your credit card a small about. Next | | | | prepaid gift card on PayPal is to make sure |
| to the charge will be a unique, randomly | | | | the name and address (billing address) on |
| generated 4-digit Expanded Use code. If you | | | | your PayPal account matches the name and |
| have online access to your credit card | | | | address on file with the gift card issuer. If |
| activity, the charge and code will appear on | | | | you just purchased your prepaid gift card, |
| your card activity in approximately 2-4 | | | | call the card issuer and add your name and |
| business days. If you do not have online | | | | address to the card. If your information |
| access, you must wait until you receive your | | | | (name and address) has changed since you |
| statement in the mail to get the 4-digit | | | | registered your card, call the card issuer or |
| code. If you are adding a debit card to your | | | | go online and update your information before |
| PayPal account, your 4-digit Expanded Use | | | | you use the card on PayPal. |
| code will be printed on your bank statement | | | | |
| next to the charge. | | | | Once this is done, you just have to hope that |
| | | | PayPal is able to successfully verify your |
| Once you get the 4-digit code, you have to | | | | address with the gift card issuer. If they |
| return to your PayPal account to enter the | | | | are able to verify your address, then you are |
| code per instructions from PayPal. Once | | | | all set. If they cannot verify your address |
| completed, and PayPal confirms that you | | | | with the card issuer, then you probably will |
| entered the correct code, you will now be | | | | not be able to use that gift card on PayPal. |
| able to use the card for PayPal transactions. | | | | |