Allgo Mastercard – Top 10 FAQs
Q1. Can Allgo Mastercard gift cards really be spent anywhere?
A. Yes, everywhere that accepts Mastercard worldwide, with just a few exceptions.
For legal, regulatory and anti-fraud reasons, the cards cannot be used for – gambling transactions, recurring payments (eg monthly subscriptions or utility bills), charity donations, or any payment or banking services that can result in cash being withdrawn from the cards (eg ATMs, Paypal etc). There are also a small number of merchants who cannot process pre-paid cards – these include Three Ireland Stores, Vodafone Ireland Stores, and some Circle K, Applegreen and Maxol stations.
Q2. What is the difference between physical and digital?
A. The physical Allgo Mastercard gift cards are single-load, prepaid gift cards that can be spent in-store by swiping through the card machine at checkout or online by first registering the card on our Mastercard portal for 3D Secure. They can’t be added to Google Pay or Apple Pay (yet).
The digital Allgo Mastercard gift card can be spent online on any e-commerce site worldwide. When you order digital cards from us, you have the option of upgrading your order to Digital+ to enable the cards to be added to Google Pay and Apple Pay, allowing them to be spent in-store as well as online.
Q3. Can physical cards be added to Google Pay / Apple Pay?
A. No, not currently. Only our Digital+ gift cards can currently be added to Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Q4. How do the physical cards work?
A. The physical card can be spent in practically any business premises that accepts Mastercard by swiping the card through the card machine and signing for your purchase – there’s no PIN required.
To spend online, you first register the card on allgogiftcard.com and enable 3D Secure by entering your mobile number. You then simply use the card numbers on any e-commerce website with a verification code sent by SMS to your mobile number to confirm your purchase.
Q5. How does Digital+ work?
A. Allgo Digital+ can be spent online AND can be added to Google Pay or Apple Pay. When you receive your card by email, there is a link to download the EML Rewards App app to your mobile (Android or iOS) – this allows your card to be verified by Google Pay or Apple Pay. You can also use the card numbers online on any e-commerce website once you have registered for 3D secure here. You can check your card balance and view your transactions in the EML Rewards app on your phone.
Q6. How does Online Only work?
A. You receive an email with your Allgo Mastercard gift card numbers, which you can then use on any e-commerce site worldwide. To avoid any security issues, we recommend that you register the card on allgogiftcard.com and enable 3D Secure. Registering your card will also allow you to view all your Online Only transactions.
Q7. Are all the cards tax-free?
A. Yes, both the physical Allgo Mastercard gift cards and digital gift cards are tax-free in Ireland under the €1,000 Small Benefit Scheme, as long as you only award each employee a maximum of two cards per year up to a total combined value of €1,000.
Q8. How secure are the funds on the cards?
A. The Allgo Mastercard Gift Card is an e-money product, issued by EML Money DAC and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. All card funds are fully secured in a Settlement Account in the Bank of Ireland. Funds in this account can only be accessed to settle card transactions and to pay Allgo for order charges and card fees.
Therefore, in the unlikely event of either Allgo Rewards or EML Money DAC becoming insolvent, your card funds are secure and the cards will continue to work as normal.
Q9. Do the cards depreciate?
A. There is no charge to use the Allgo Mastercard Gift Card for the first 12 months after the card is loaded. After 12 months, there is a €3 charge per month on any unused balance. This charge pays for the costs of providing and maintaining the card.
These costs include bank charges, payment processing fees, card funds safeguarding, anti-fraud measures, regulation & compliance, technology platform costs, customer service for cardholders, and company salaries and overheads.
Q10. How long does it take to order cards?
A. We can only process card orders once we have received the funds to load onto the cards. So lead times depend on how quickly the invoice is paid. Standard orders are processed and ready for dispatch within 4 working days of invoice payment receipt. Express Orders are processed and ready for dispatch within 24 hours of payment receipt.
For physical cards, delivery of both standard and express orders is by overnight courier for bulk orders or by post for individual delivery. For digital cards, delivery is to the individual recipient by email.
