Prepaid Cards Guide Discussion Area

jago25_98

RSteve wrote: »

Hi everyone.

I wonder if anyone could give me some advice.

I want a prepaid card purely for security - I have been the victim of debit card fraud twice now and at least once was definitely down to internet fraud. I no longer feel safe to enter my bank debit card details online, but I don't want to give up internet shopping so I thought if I got a prepaid card, at least it's not linked to my bank account and I can't lose any more than I load onto it.

Trouble is, the guides seem to recommend cards based on different types of use, but my type is kind of a hybrid of both. I don't want to use the card in physical shops in the UK or abroad, just online - but I do buy from non-UK based sites which sometimes charge in dollars and euros, and well as using regular UK sites which charge in pounds.

So I don't know what kind of card is best - they tend to recommend ones for internet use, which seem to assume you'll be shopping only on UK sites which charge in pounds, or if you want one which allows you to pay in dollars or euros they assume you'd looking for a card to physically use abroad.

Which card is best for use purely for internet shopping but which can also be used to pay on non-UK websites in dollars and euros? Any ideas?

Does anyone use their prepaid card on non-UK websites?

Also I applied for a Kalixa card and they said they'd contact me in a few days to say if they'd approved me or needed more info. I heard nothing from them for ages, then weeks later they e-mailed me to remind me I hadn't completed my application and needed to enter a funding source and load my card - but no card has been delivered and they hadn't contacted me to say I'd been approved. Now it looks like they have approved me but want my debit card details to load up cash. This makes me a bit suspicious of them, and it also means if I did complete my application I'd have to enter my new debit card details online, which is exactly what I want a prepaid card for - so I don't have to use my bank debit card online!

Anyone know if Kalixa is genuine and why this happened?

Can anyone recommend a card which is secure and trustworthy? The trouble is most of the companies offering them I've never heard of, so it makes it difficult to know who to trust.

I'd like the lowest fees possible of course but I'm happy to pay higher fees for a card which is from a trustworthy and secure company, allows me to shop online in dollars and euros, and allows me to top up in a shop or post office so I don't have to enter my bank card details online.

Any ideas on which card is best for me please?

A perfect case for Bitcoin... but I digress...

"Virtual credit cards" were invested for this very purpose. The Cahoot card was the bigger example. Nowadays the whole thing is riddled with shady companies it's hard to see clearly so it's easier to go with something physical.

I'd recommend the FairFX because you're going to have to pay annoying ~£2 fees everytime anyway afaik. This can link with a paypal account. I don't know how to topup a paypal account though in order to topup paypal balance and reduce those £2 fees though.

Let me know how you get on

jago25_98

confused_user wrote: »

Hi - help required,

The wife and I have gone through the process of getting rid of all of our credit cards but are going away to Spain in the summer and require a credit card for the car hire.

I am looking at the FxFair MC will this work? The credit card will only be required for the copy as a security as we will pay cash (debit card) before we travel.

Thank you for your help

I spoke to someone recently who wasn't able to hire a car after getting his credit card stolen but not his debit card and they wouldn't accept the debit card. The FairFX is like a debit card.

Hire car companies want the carte blanche. Some companies can't miss the difference between the cards though

jago25_98

Plxply wrote: »

RSteve, have you thought about opening a new current account and transferring money to that and using that card to spend online? It's a good make shift prepaid card and you don't have to worry about the fees associated with prepaid cards.

Because a bank account is a contract which you have to honor. They can put you into unauthorised overdraft. Can certainly happen with direct debits but it's possible with any means.

Prepaid cards are also a contract but it's less affordable for them to go after you. FairFX messed up and left me with a very small negative balance so it can happen... but they haven't bothered chasing me up yet

Anthorn

Not mentioned in the guide is the First Premier Prepaid Mastercard: This is a no-frills general use GBP card with free U.K. Point Of Sale transactions, £1.00p charge per U.K. ATM cash withdrawal and £1.00p monthly fee. Examples of top-up fees are 70p at Post Offices, 3% at Paypoint shops, free by debit card online, and free BACS transfers. Like most prepaid Mastercards it's issued by Newcastle Building Society.

Cost of the card is £8.95p and it's valid for only 18 months and renewal cost is the same.

It's being hailed as the least expensive prepaid Mastercard on the market but that depends on how many ATM cash withdrawals you intend to do. There are cheaper alternatives but with a higher monthly fee. Lettering on the card is silver embossed so it looks like a regular debit card but beware the £5 cancellation fee and you can't authorise direct debits and standing orders with this card.

I ordered one on 22nd April as a cheaper alternative to my cashplus card and it arrived today 26th April but haven't used it yet so can't report on it in use. I use a prepaid card for online purchases where they don't accept Paypal and also as a backup for my bank debit card.

Chrisblue1962

I recently signed up for an AA Spend and Earn prepaid card, which I load up when I get paid for my petrol and train travel purchases. Costs me nothing to load up or use and funds show up on card immediately.

I not only get points for the AA's points scheme but also get points at my local Shell garage too.

Given that I've got to purchase petrol, I might as well get some form of perk. Also, using the card "ringfences" my petrol budget and guarantees I always have the means to get to work

Anthorn

Xantiriad wrote: »

Has anyone encountered any problems using these Pre-Paid cards online, where the website uses 3D verification (i.e. Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode)? I've got a TravelEx Cash Passport and various online stores won't accept the card, reporting a '3D verification required by this vendor' error. I checked with MasterCard and there isn't any info about pre-paid cards?

I only have experience of Mastercard Securecode: It only works for participating card providers. Look for a Securecode link on the card provider website or in the members area where you can register your card for securecode or phone the card provider for info.

Think Banking has their Prepaid Mastercard which is issued by Newcastle Building Society linked to securecode so in theory all cards issued by Newcastle Building Society can support Securecode.

spinecho

Hi, total noobie to this forum & to pre-paid cards, so apologies in advance if I'm re-asking an old question!

I want a pre-paid card so I can purchase a gift for my wife from the internet. The reason for using a pre-paid card is the site I wish to use does not accept Pay-Pal and I'm cautious of such sites: I do not wish to provide them with my debit or credit card details as I have never used the site befor, even though I'm 99% it's legit!

The purchase is for about £99 and I only really would use the card once, so I don't wish to pay too large a fee for the card.

Also, although the site appears to be UK, it might be foreign, so would that make a difference to the card I apply for?

One last question: with the card I choose, how does one go about cancelling the card? Are you tied up in a contract etc?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Anthorn

spinecho wrote: »

Hi, total noobie to this forum & to pre-paid cards, so apologies in advance if I'm re-asking an old question!

I want a pre-paid card so I can purchase a gift for my wife from the internet. The reason for using a pre-paid card is the site I wish to use does not accept Pay-Pal and I'm cautious of such sites: I do not wish to provide them with my debit or credit card details as I have never used the site befor, even though I'm 99% it's legit!

The purchase is for about £99 and I only really would use the card once, so I don't wish to pay too large a fee for the card.

Also, although the site appears to be UK, it might be foreign, so would that make a difference to the card I apply for?

One last question: with the card I choose, how does one go about cancelling the card? Are you tied up in a contract etc?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Probably the Kalixa card is your best bet. The card costs £6.95p as opposed to £8.95p for most other cards. Point of sale transactions UK and abroad are free and there is no monthly fee. But beware the £1.75p fee for UK ATM withdrawals and £2.25 for foreign ATMs. It's also one of the few prepaid cards which have paypass tap & go.

But why get rid of it when you've used it? It's not going to cost you anything to keep it and you might need it again. Read the terms and conditions to see if there's a fee if you don't use it.

Most card providers provide for free cancellations within 14 days and some charge a fee for cancellation and some don't if there are no funds on the card. Again, read the terms and conditions.

Anthorn

Further to my previous post on the First Premier Prepaid Mastercard, I can now report on it:

(1) The initial payment by debit card for the card via Sagepay is identified on my card statement (cashplus prepaid mastercard) as a payment to a website, WWW.PCT.CO.UK. Checking on that URL reveals a page which states that the domain is up for sale. However, I did receive the card.

(2) Attempting to load the card online revealed that only VISA, VISA DEBIT and MAESTRO cards are accepted for that payment by Sagepay. So it can't be loaded with a Mastercard of any description whether prepaid or not.

(3) Creating an online account and logging in to the online account which is on their homepage is not on a secure (HTTPS) page although the online account itself is a secure page.

(4) There is no information on the website nor in the T & Cs about loading by BACS or wage transfer.

The above could be just a matter of honest mistakes and re-organisation although it does make their card look dodgy. I'll keep it but I'll be loading it at the Post Office or Paypoint outlet.

samwsmith1

spinecho wrote: »

Hi, total noobie to this forum & to pre-paid cards, so apologies in advance if I'm re-asking an old question!

I want a pre-paid card so I can purchase a gift for my wife from the internet. The reason for using a pre-paid card is the site I wish to use does not accept Pay-Pal and I'm cautious of such sites: I do not wish to provide them with my debit or credit card details as I have never used the site befor, even though I'm 99% it's legit!

The purchase is for about £99 and I only really would use the card once, so I don't wish to pay too large a fee for the card.

Also, although the site appears to be UK, it might be foreign, so would that make a difference to the card I apply for?

One last question: with the card I choose, how does one go about cancelling the card? Are you tied up in a contract etc?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Why not just use your credit card which will protect you in the event that the goods don't turn up?
(Or at least it did with me with First Direct)