Mastercard Prepaid. Any quick Top-Up cards available?

Mishomeister

I am looking for a Mastercard prepaid card with a fewest fees, but don't mind to pay for buying it. The card is to be used purely for buying a Ryanair tickets and therefore awoiding a card fee.
I used to have an Escape Mastercard, but it was really annoying that the only way to top it up instantly was by going to Phones4you shop. All other top-up ways on it were Post office or Paypoint - but those were not instant, you have to wait 3 days until money is there. The problem is, that the ticket might not wait for you 3 days.
Once I have found a bargain ticket, went to Phones4you only to be told that their system is down, so I have to use a Post office etc(meaning payin top-up fee and waiting for 3 days). So I had to use my Credit Card to buy that ticket. As that stoey has really annoyed me, I have decided to cancel that card. At the moment I am looking for another Mastercard prepaid card and a main feature I am looking for is an abbility to top it up quickly(prefferably even instantly) either online or on the telephone, so I could keep it empty and only top it up if there is a bargain ticket to get.
Are there any cards like that available ?

jen245

I have a Fairfx pre-paid card, which can be topped up online. Top ups normally credit my account within about 10 minutes, although Im not sure if this card can be used to buy fee free flight tickets from the likes of Easyjet and Ryanair

adindas

Fairfx can be used to beat RyanAir fee.
For Easyjet, it will need "Visa Electron" debit card which normally ome with easy cash account ...

jen245 wrote: »

I have a Fairfx pre-paid card, which can be topped up online. Top ups normally credit my account within about 10 minutes, although Im not sure if this card can be used to buy fee free flight tickets from the likes of Easyjet and Ryanair

Mishomeister

Which card would you recommend me? Is Fairfx is the best option, or are there any better ones available, that are both quick to top up and have no/small fees ?

efundz1

there is the (https:// www. mypayzonemoney.com/default.aspx ) payzone card, and also the ( http: //www. moneybookers.com/ads/mastercard/) moneybookers prepaid mastercards, both are good and I have been using them for a while, I prefer the latter card though as there are more funding options and smaller transaction fees. You may be able to obtain the payzone card from resellers or their online sales, however the Moneybookers one can only be had online and will take longer to obtain due to their customer verification policies etc..

hth

PS: couldnt post links so pls edit the obvious spaces in the urls posted above

adindas

Mishomeister
I can not give comparison as I only have FairFx. but FairFx work well for me for instant top up using debit card.

But recently people reported in another thread that there is a problem with Ryan air website where people get problem to pay with FairFx and presumably with other pre-paid card (e.g. they claim Ryan air try to block it). I did not buy Ryan air ticket since recently so can not confirm about this.

Here is the link about this discussion:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3281928

Mishomeister wrote: »

Which card would you recommend me? Is Fairfx is the best option, or are there any better ones available, that are both quick to top up and have no/small fees ?

Lith

Try http://www.titaniumcashplus.co.uk

They seem to be 'Decent'

Mishomeister

Lith wrote: »

Try http://www.titaniumcashplus.co.uk

They seem to be 'Decent'

You have to go to the shop to top up, oyherwise "That's it! The money should appear in your Titanium Cashplus account the same day or the following day, depending on what time we receive the money."


Meaning, you might wait until tomorrow until you get the funds, which makes it not so good propposition

callum9999

adindas wrote: »

Mishomeister
I can not give comparison as I only have FairFx. but FairFx work well for me for instant top up using debit card.

But recently people reported in another thread that there is a problem with Ryan air website where people get problem to pay with FairFx and presumably with other pre-paid card (e.g. they claim Ryan air try to block it). I did not buy Ryan air ticket since recently so can not confirm about this.

Here is the link about this discussion:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3281928

It worked fine for me. I used my US$ fairfx travel card and Ryanair recognised that and charged me in US$. Therefore zero fairfx fees (either loading fees, transaction fees or buying the card in the first place) and very little from Ryanair (I assume they load their exchange rate - but it seemed very similar).

benjus

Mishomeister wrote: »

I am looking for a Mastercard prepaid card with a fewest fees, but don't mind to pay for buying it. The card is to be used purely for buying a Ryanair tickets and therefore awoiding a card fee.
I used to have an Escape Mastercard, but it was really annoying that the only way to top it up instantly was by going to Phones4you shop.

I have an Escape card. I just top up with my debit/credit card which is instant. OK, it's not free, but £1 is a lot better than what Ryanair charges.

rosmersholm

It makes my skin crawl to recommend - but Entropay offer a pre-pay "virtual visa" electron card (which I use for Easyjet) and a pre-pay Mastercard (in Plastic only) which I use for Ryanair.

Whilst I tend to find Entropay annoying (topping up online, my bank sneers at them and it takes 3 attempts to load) it has been very handy for my Easyjet / Ryanair bookings and has saved my £100.

Application process is nutty but online help is very quick.

EDIT: 4.95% loading and NEVER keep anything on the actual card (more than your flights) as they have an "in-credit-dormancy-charge" of £2.50 to whittle away anything stored on there.... totally barmy.