Why can't i use the Vanilla MasterCard gift card i got for Xmas on steam?

[GrynnReaper]

I activated the card and registered a postal code. Could not buy game directly.
I tried (this worked last year) using the card to add funds to my steam wallet. Nope
Tried adding the card to PayPal, THEN buying the game. Nope.
Spent 2 hours-ish on hold for card support, nothing they can do.
At this point i am thinking of using the card at the gas station to get a steam gift card, but oh wait, Steam has so under-delivered on these cards in Canada that you can barely even find them in the big box stores. I am pretty discouraged at this point. And i am unwilling to spend hours on hold to talk to ANOTHER minimum wage call centre employee that i can barely understand repeating the same sentence because they have no idea what to do and that's what it says to do on the screen.

[itzRiceKrispies]

Steam is having server issues right now my dude. Idk when everything will be back up and running smoothly.

[GrynnReaper]

Dude it did this last year too, but thanks for the encouragement, imma go try my luck at GMG. Never had to try so damn hard to spend money

[Sangrifeld]

Normal MasterCard cards need to be "activated".
To prove that you are the rightful owner of the card, you must use it at least once with your pin code. (At an ATM or in a shop)

Probably the same for you.

[Haruspex]

Prepaid cards seem to be iffy as to whether they'll properly work on Steam or not. Some work. Some sort of work. And some just refuse. A simple workaround would be to use that card to buy a physical Steam gift card at a retailer instead.