You just got a gift card. It's a Visa or a Mastercard from GiftCardMall, and honestly, it feels like free money until you try to use it and the cashier gives you that look. The "declined" look. Checking your balance should be the easiest thing in the world, but if you’ve spent any time on mygift giftcardmall com check balance pages lately, you know it can be a bit of a headache.
Between the website redirects and the weird errors, it’s easy to feel like your money just vanished into the digital void.
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The Real Way to Check Your Balance (And Why the Site Redirects)
Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way first. Most people just type the URL they see on the back of the card and hope for the best. Usually, that’s www.giftcardmall.com/mygift.
Don’t be surprised if the page looks different every time you visit. Recently, there’s been a massive migration. Blackhawk Network, the company that basically runs the show behind these cards, has been moving things around to improve security—or so they say. If you end up at a site like mygift.giftcardmall.com or even a redirect to giftcards.com, don't panic. It's usually just the system trying to figure out which "bucket" your specific card belongs to.
To actually see your balance, you’re going to need three things:
- The 16-digit card number (the long one on the front).
- The Expiration Date (MM/YY).
- The 3-digit CVV code (found on the back, usually near the signature strip).
Sometimes the site asks for a ZIP code. This is where people get stuck. If you haven’t registered the card with your home address yet, try using the ZIP code of the person who bought it, or sometimes a generic "00000" if it was never assigned. Honestly, though, it's better to just register the card the second you get it.
Why Does It Say $0 When I Haven't Spent a Cent?
This is the scary part. You go to mygift giftcardmall com check balance, type in your numbers, and the screen says $0.00.
There are basically three reasons this happens, and none of them are fun. First, the card might not be activated. If you bought it at a grocery store or a CVS, the cashier had to "swipe" it to activate it at the register. If their system glitched, the card is just a useless piece of plastic. You’ll need the original receipt to fix that, which is a total pain if it was a gift.
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Second, there’s the "pending hold" issue. If you tried to use the card at a gas station or a restaurant recently, they might have placed a temporary hold on the funds. Gas stations are notorious for this—they’ll put a $75 or $100 hold on the card just to make sure you can pay for the fuel. That money isn't "gone," but it won't show up in your available balance for a few business days.
The third reason is the one we don't like to talk about: fraud. Scammers have gotten really good at draining these cards before you even peel the sticker off. They use "bots" to guess card numbers or physical "skimmers" in stores. If you see transactions for "BETMGM" or some random online store in another state, you’ve been hit.
The "Unable to Process" Loop
If you keep getting an error message saying "We are unable to process your request at this time," you aren't alone. It's one of the most common complaints on sites like Trustpilot and Reddit. Usually, this is just the website being finicky.
Try these quick fixes before you lose your mind:
- Turn off your VPN. The GiftCardMall security system hates VPNs and will block your IP address immediately.
- Clear your cache. Or just open an Incognito/Private window.
- Check the URL. Make sure you didn't accidentally go to a "spoof" site. Scammers create sites that look exactly like the real thing but have one letter different in the URL. If you entered your info there, call cardholder services immediately.
Actionable Steps to Protect Your Funds
Don't just check the balance and walk away. If you want to actually use that money, you need a plan.
Register the card immediately. I can't stress this enough. Most people skip this step because it takes two minutes and feels unnecessary. But if you don't register it, you can't use it for online shopping (since there's no billing address attached), and if the card is stolen, you have zero recourse. Once it’s registered, you can at least dispute fraudulent charges.
Treat it like cash, but faster. Gift cards aren't savings accounts. With inactivity fees (usually kicking in after 12 months) and the high risk of digital theft, the best move is to spend the balance as soon as possible. If you don't have something to buy, just use the gift card to "buy" an Amazon reload or a grocery store credit. That way, the money is moved to a more secure account that you control.
Keep the physical card. Even after you've spent the balance, keep that plastic for at least 90 days. If you return something you bought with the card, the store will try to put the refund back onto that specific card. If you threw it in the trash, that money is basically gone.
If the website is totally down, your last resort is the automated phone line. The number is usually 1-877-202-5628 or whatever is printed on your specific card. It’s a bit tedious to type in those 16 digits on a keypad, but the phone system is often more stable than the web portal.
Check your balance, register the card, and spend it. That's the only way to make sure your gift stays yours.
Next Steps for Your Gift Card
- Visit the official portal: Head to
www.giftcardmall.com/mygiftand enter your details to verify your current standing. - Register your details: Use the "Register" or "Edit Profile" option to link your name and ZIP code to the card.
- Screenshot your balance: Take a quick photo of the success screen. If the card fails at a register later, you’ll have dated proof that the funds were there.