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Re:

Why Won’t Amazon Let Me Use My Gift Card Balance?

An Amazon gift card balance may not apply because of order eligibility, the account or country store where it was redeemed, Amazon Pay checkout, or Amazon Business payment settings.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
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If Amazon won’t let you use your gift card balance, the issue is usually the order or checkout type, the account or country marketplace where the card was redeemed, or—on Amazon Business—a shared payment setting. First check the balance and its activity in the correct Amazon account, then confirm that the purchase is eligible. Amazon gift card funds do not work at every checkout, including Amazon Pay purchases at third-party merchants.

Start by checking your balance and account

  1. Open the Gift Cards section of Your Account. Confirm that the card was redeemed and that a balance is shown. Amazon staff guidance says a claim code can be redeemed in Your Account or entered during checkout; redeemed funds are then applied automatically to eligible orders. Amazon staff guidance, January 3, 2021.
  2. Review the balance activity. Look for a transaction that could explain where the funds went. Amazon’s UK help page explains how to view balance and transactions in Your Account and advises checking the gift-card terms if the balance is not offered at checkout. Its interface guidance is UK-specific, so use the equivalent help information for your country’s Amazon store. Amazon.co.uk: Check Your Gift Card Balance.
  3. Make sure you are signed in to the right account and storefront. A code reported as “already redeemed” may have been added to this account already or redeemed on another account. Amazon staff guidance says redeemed balances cannot be transferred between accounts or to an Amazon store in another country. Amazon staff guidance on gift-card redemption issues.

Check whether this checkout accepts the balance

Amazon Pay on another merchant’s website

Amazon.com Gift Cards cannot be used to pay third-party merchants through Amazon Pay. If the checkout is on another company’s site and uses Amazon Pay, choose a payment method that merchant accepts. Amazon gift-card funds are for eligible purchases on Amazon.com and certain related sites, not a general-purpose Amazon Pay balance. Amazon Pay: Using Amazon Pay.

An item or transaction that is not eligible

A balance can appear in your account without being available for a particular order. At the payment step, check whether the gift-card balance is offered and review the gift-card terms for your marketplace. Eligibility depends on the applicable store and its terms; the public help guidance does not establish every current product-specific exclusion. Amazon.co.uk: Check Your Gift Card Balance.

Amazon Business with a shared pay group

Amazon Business says gift cards require Individual Payment Methods. If the purchase uses a shared pay group, the gift-card balance will not appear at checkout. Ask your organization’s administrator whether the purchase can use Individual Payment Methods instead. If the balance is less than the eligible order total, another individual payment method can cover the remainder. Amazon Business Help: Payment method options.

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#1 Best Overall
Amazon eGift Card - Amazon Logo
  • Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
  • Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
  • Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
  • Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.

Match the symptom to the likely cause

What you see Likely explanation What to check
No balance in the account The code may not have been redeemed, may be on another account, or may be a different type of credit. Check Gift Cards balance and activity, then verify the signed-in account and storefront. Amazon staff guidance; Amazon.co.uk help; Amazon staff guidance.
Balance appears, but is not offered for this order The item or transaction may fall outside the gift-card terms. Review the applicable marketplace’s terms and the payment step. Amazon.co.uk help.
You are paying another merchant with Amazon Pay Amazon.com Gift Cards are not accepted as payment through Amazon Pay at third-party merchants. Use a payment method accepted by that merchant, or use the balance for an eligible Amazon.com purchase. Amazon Pay help.
Amazon Business checkout uses a shared pay group Gift cards are not available with shared payment methods. Ask the organization’s administrator about Individual Payment Methods. Amazon Business Help.
The card says it was already redeemed It may already be in this account or may have been redeemed to another account. Check balance activity; contact Amazon if the transaction is unfamiliar. Amazon staff guidance.

Contact Amazon if the checks do not explain it

If the balance, account, storefront, and order eligibility all look right but the payment still fails, only Amazon can investigate the transaction on your account. Use the support flow while signed in and provide the order details and card information support requests. Do not send your claim code to a third party.

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Protect your claim code

Amazon warns customers not to give gift-card claim codes to people or businesses requesting payment outside Amazon. Treat requests from strangers, merchants, government agencies, or callers claiming to be support as suspicious. Legitimate gift-card transactions should be completed through Amazon checkout, not by sharing a code off Amazon.com. Amazon Customer Service: Common Gift Card Scams.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Amazon eGift Card - Amazon Logo
Amazon eGift Card - Amazon Logo
Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.; Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
$50.00
Bestseller No. 2
Amazon eGift Card - Happy Birthday
Amazon eGift Card - Happy Birthday
Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.; Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
$50.00
Bestseller No. 3
Amazon eGift Card - Birthday Wishes
Amazon eGift Card - Birthday Wishes
Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.; Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
$50.00
Bestseller No. 4
Amazon Physical Gift Card in a Gift Box - Better than Gold - Black
Amazon Physical Gift Card in a Gift Box - Better than Gold - Black
Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com; Gift Card has no fees and no expiration date
$50.00
Bestseller No. 5
Amazon Physical Gift Card in a Mini Envelope - Candlelight Celebration
Amazon Physical Gift Card in a Mini Envelope - Candlelight Celebration
Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com; Gift Card has no fees and no expiration date
$50.00
Best Value
Amazon Physical Gift Card in a Mini Envelope - Candlelight Celebration
  • Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com
  • Gift Card has no fees and no expiration date
  • Gift Card is affixed inside a mini envelope
  • Free One-Day Shipping (where available)
  • Scan and redeem any Gift Card with a mobile or tablet device via the Amazon App
Rank #4
Amazon Physical Gift Card in a Gift Box - Better than Gold - Black
  • Gift Card is redeemable towards millions of items storewide at Amazon.com
  • Gift Card has no fees and no expiration date
  • Gift Card is nested inside a specialty gift box
  • Free One-Day Shipping (where available)
  • Scan and redeem any Gift Card with a mobile or tablet device via the Amazon App
Rank #3
Amazon eGift Card - Birthday Wishes
  • Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
  • Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
  • Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
  • Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.
Rank #2
Amazon eGift Card - Happy Birthday
  • Amazon.com Gift Cards never expire and carry no fees.
  • Multiple gift card designs and denominations to choose from.
  • Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites.
  • Available for immediate delivery. Gift cards sent by email can be scheduled up to a year in advance.
  • No returns and no refunds on Gift Cards.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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