How to Check Gift Card Balance Before Selling in Nigeria: A Step-by-Step Guide

Why Checking Your Balance First Is Non-Negotiable

Before you sell any gift card in Nigeria, you need to know exactly how much is on it. This sounds obvious, but a surprising number of people skip this step and run into problems: the card has already been partially used, the balance is less than expected, or the card has been redeemed entirely without their knowledge.

Checking the balance protects you in two ways. First, you know the exact value you are selling, so you can calculate the correct naira payout. Second, you confirm the card is actually valid before entering a transaction. Discovering a zero balance after you have already committed to a trade wastes everyone's time and can damage your reputation on trading platforms.

Apple (iTunes) Gift Card Balance

Method 1: Through the App Store (iPhone/iPad)

1. Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
3. Your current Apple ID balance is displayed at the top. If you see no balance listed, your balance is zero.

Note: this only works if the card has already been redeemed to your Apple ID. If you have not redeemed it yet, this shows your existing balance, not the card's value.

Method 2: Through iTunes (Mac/PC)

1. Open the iTunes application or the Apple Music app.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
3. Go to Account > View My Account.
4. Your Apple ID balance appears at the top of the account information page.

Method 3: Redeem page (without actually redeeming)

Go to the Apple gift card redeem page. You can enter the code to check if it is valid. However, be careful: on some versions of the redeem flow, entering the code will immediately redeem it to your account. If you plan to sell the card, do not redeem it to your own account.

Important for sellers

If you are selling an unredeemed Apple gift card, you cannot check the exact balance without redeeming it. The card's value is whatever denomination is printed on it ($25, $50, $100, etc.). If you received the card as a gift and are unsure of the amount, the only way to verify is to redeem it, which then ties it to your Apple ID and makes it unsellable as a code.

For unredeemed cards, verify the denomination from the receipt, email confirmation, or the card itself.

Amazon Gift Card Balance

Method 1: Amazon website

1. Go to amazon.com and sign in to your account.
2. Navigate to "Gift Cards" in your account menu.
3. Click "Redeem a Gift Card."
4. Enter the claim code from your gift card.
5. Amazon will show the card's value before you confirm redemption. You can cancel at this point if you just want to check the value.

Be very careful with this method. On some versions of the Amazon interface, clicking "Apply to your account" is very close to the balance check. If you accidentally redeem it, the balance is locked to your Amazon account and cannot be transferred or sold.

Method 2: Amazon app

1. Open the Amazon app.
2. Go to your account and find the gift card section.
3. Follow the same redeem flow. The balance will display before final confirmation.

Important for sellers

Once an Amazon gift card is redeemed to an account, it cannot be un-redeemed. The balance stays on that Amazon account permanently. If you are selling the card, do not redeem it. Verify the denomination from the card or purchase receipt.

Google Play Gift Card Balance

Method 1: Google Play Store app

1. Open the Google Play Store on your Android phone.
2. Tap your profile icon.
3. Tap "Payments & subscriptions."
4. Tap "Budget & history" or "Payment methods."
5. Your Google Play balance is displayed here.

Again, this shows your account balance, not an unredeemed card's value.

Method 2: Google Play website

1. Go to play.google.com.
2. Click on "Redeem" in the left sidebar.
3. Enter the gift card code.
4. Google Play will show the value before you confirm. You can back out without redeeming.

Important for sellers

Google Play gift cards are region-locked. A US Google Play card only works on a US Google account. If you are selling to someone in Nigeria, confirm the card's region matches the buyer's Google account region.

Steam Gift Card Balance

Method 1: Steam client or website

1. Log in to your Steam account at store.steampowered.com.
2. Click your account name in the top right and select "Account Details."
3. Your Steam Wallet balance is displayed at the top.

Method 2: Redeem page

1. Go to store.steampowered.com/account/redeemwalletcode.
2. Enter the code from your Steam card.
3. Steam will show the value. Be careful not to click "Continue" if you do not want to add it to your wallet.

Important for sellers

Steam wallet codes are also region-specific. A card purchased in the US may not work on a Steam account set to a different region. Verify the card's region before selling.

Visa and Mastercard Gift Card Balance

Method 1: Card issuer's website

Every Visa or Mastercard gift card has a website printed on the back (usually something like mygiftcardsite.com, giftcardmall.com, or a bank-specific URL). Visit that website and enter the card number, expiry date, and CVV to check the balance.

Method 2: Phone

Call the number on the back of the card. Follow the automated prompts to check your balance. You will need the card number and possibly the CVV.

Important for sellers

Visa/Mastercard gift card balances can change between when you check and when you sell. Unlike store gift cards where the full balance is used at once during redemption, prepaid cards can have partial transactions. Check the balance as close to the time of sale as possible.

Common Mistakes When Checking Balances

• Accidentally redeeming the card to your own account. Once redeemed, the card is worthless to a buyer. Always stop before the final confirmation step.
• Trusting third-party balance checker websites. Many websites claim to check gift card balances but are actually phishing sites that steal your card codes. Only use official channels (the retailer's own website or app) to check balances.
• Sharing your card code with someone who offers to "check the balance for you." This is a common scam. Once they have the code, they redeem it immediately.
• Not checking at all and assuming the printed denomination is the actual balance. Cards received as gifts may have been partially used. Cards bought from unofficial sources may have been tampered with.

What to Do If the Balance Is Wrong

If you check a gift card and the balance is less than expected or zero:

• If you bought the card from a retailer: contact the retailer with your purchase receipt. They may be able to investigate and replace the card.
• If you received it as a gift: contact the person who gave it to you. They may have the original receipt.
• If you bought it from an unofficial source (social media, secondary market): you have limited recourse. This is why buying from unofficial sources carries risk.
• If the card shows as already redeemed but you never redeemed it: the card may have been compromised. Contact the card issuer's customer support with the card details and any proof of purchase.

Always check your gift card balance before entering any trade. The 2 minutes it takes to verify can save you from losing the entire card's value.