Vanilla Visa Gift Card Silverton Bank, N.A. Unbridled Robbery with plastic seemingly approved by our elected financial guardians. Fortson, Georgia

Received a $25 Vanilla gift card December '08. Tried to use it in restaurant on July 18, '09; came back as "insufficient funds".  Called Vanilla Visa, they said there is indeed $25 on that gift card, never mentioned that there would be a monthly charge of $2.50 levied for non-use.  Tried again to use the card at another restaurant on 10/11/2009. Came back AGAIN as "insufficient funds". Called Vanilla Customer Service that same day and they said we now have $17.50 on that card. That's when we found out that the first levy was imposed on 7/20/2009, two days after we called them the first time and that successive debits of $2.50 were levied on 8/20 and 9/20/09. This whole issue is usurious and absurd. This card has a "valid until" date of 06/2012, which is a lie as it could never be valid by their own rules. Seven months after its purchase the first $2.50; which is 10% of its original value, is debitted agianst the card. In just 17 months ( the first 7 months " grace period ", if you will ), then the 10 months of a criminally usureous practice the card is depleted of any value which would be on April 20, 2010. Vanilla Gift Card company AND the Silverton Bank N.A. should be put out of business. They are money grabbing thieves.