Prepaid gift cards - foreign transactions prohibited?

Okay, so here's some bullshit...
I typically use pre-paid gift cards (Visa) to order things from overseas (including seeds). I have never had an issue with it previously. The packaging explicitly says "Use at millions of merchants worldwide, including online". But this time my card kept getting declined, even though there should be just enough funds, including a 2% foreign transaction fee, to complete the purchase.
I called the customer service number on the back of the card and was told that my card was fine, and that there were sufficient funds available. The problem, according to the representative, was that Visa blocks foreign transactions as of Aug 17th. So I called Visa, and the rep told me he had never heard of such a thing and referred me to the issuing bank. I call the bank, another rep tells me they know nothing of it and that they only market/back the cards while this other company services them and draws up the regulations. I am given the same number that was on the back of the card.
Today I called that number again, and this time I was told it was actually a federal law that prohibits foreign transactions with the cards as of August 17th. I ask why the packaging hasn't been updated to reflect the changes and am told the same "we're very sorry, we understand, blah blah blah" bullshit over and over again. Of course, I know I am being transferred to customer service reps in India, but even so. I ask for a manager, same BS.

I call Visa again, the rep (nice lady) does some research but comes up with nothing. So what the fuck gives? I know that I am not the only one using these cards for overseas purchases. I was thinking maybe the Visa currency exchange rate was a bit higher, and with the 2% fee perhaps the funds actually were insufficient, but they tell me it is federal law.
Has anybody else used a gift card recently and had similar problems or success? If it worked, what brand card did you use? I have to get something pronto to complete my purchase.

try western union cards, they are specialized in international trading and should offer you a solution.
good luck

it depends on the gift card. i promise you this is not for all visa gift cards. if it was one of those vanilla ones just forget it because they suck. does your card say "domestic use only" anywhere? it could also be that the card needs to be registered or re-registered. i just used my visa gift card to order seeds and had no issue. if you have a mall near you that is run by simon properties you can get a simon visa gift card and these are bulletproof as long as they are registered.

I've found that visa works for nirvana seeds, but attitude doesn't. I don't know about the other brands

I alllways hated prepaid cards.

Too much BS

That's Uncle Sam trying to keep the money at home. Money orders will still work and all reputable seed companies are happy to take them.

I've used this exact type of card before with no problems at all. There is a stack of these cards (with no remaining balance) sitting here on the desk in front of me, and they all have the Visa and Gift Card Mall logo and were issued by the same bank. Card was registered as always and everything should have been good. I even tried another seed bank to be sure it wasn't a problem with my first choice, and still declined.

I called the service number on the back to verify everything, and see if it had to be specifically allowed for international use and they told me I can't because of a federal law as of August 17th. So much for global commerce.
Now I'll have to use this gift card and cash to purchase another gift card and pay another BS fee (if this is even possible). I was looking into GreenDot or Netspend which have to be registered with my personal info, but at this point whatever. Whether it is going to be GreenDot, Netspend or Western Union I am not sure if they can give you the card same day or if it has to be mailed.

I recently made my first order from the attitude, I figured those pre-paid cards were the way to go. I looked all over town for one that you could use overseas and couldn't find one. I looked at pre-paid visa, mastercard and a couple different kinds of american express. They all said on the back in the fine print that you could only use them in the US and that you couldn't use them online. I finally just used my regular debit card from my bank. I didn't have any problems, but I was trying to keep my name out of a seed banks data base. So much for that.

If you have a regular debit or credit card, there is no reason to get one of those greendot cards. I got one of those as a christmas gift a few years ago and it was a pain in the ass. I thought it was just like a gift card, but then I had to call them and give them all of my info in order to use the card. All for a $25 gift card.

Wait till they take money away.

another bonus of purchasing the card at a mall is the clerk can tell you EXACTLY what the card is good for, unlike a pharmacy where it's just some random pimple face who doesn't know shit. it's best to buy from a real person whose only job is to sell those cards. some malls for example have the amex gift card (useless) or the visa "mall" card which is specifically there for unobstructed purchasing.