How do you check the amount left on a Visa gift card?

To check the balance on a Visa gift card, visit the card issuer's website or call its customer service number, Visa explains. Some merchants, including Barnes & Noble, Kmart, Nordstrom and Target, have the ability to check the card's balance at the point of sale.

Some merchants, such as Bed, Bath & Beyond, Chevron, Exxon, Safeway and Kroger have the ability to apply the Visa gift card's available funds to a purchase, even when the cardholder is unsure of the remaining balance. If the funds are insufficient to cover the total sale, the cardholder can complete the purchase with a second payment method, Visa reports.