prepaid credit card vs basic bank account

kaloss

Hi, I was thinking to request a prepaid credit card to use it to make purchases online safely (I still can't get a credit card).

I then realize that maybe it is cheaper to open a basic bank account (i.e. Barclays cash card account, Halifax easycash) and using its debit card to make payment online having the same "security" of a prepaid credit card (I would put few money inside that using fast payment service and risking just those money since basic account does not provide overdraft).

Basic bank account are free to open, free and fast to load (using fast payment service or cash machine in branch) and are probably more reliable than prepaid credit card since I can always go in branch in case of problems.

What do you think?
I must forgetting something, otherwise I don't see the point of people getting prepaid credit card

jonesMUFCforever

I agree basic accounts are free as long as you only use your own available funds.
Pre paid credit cards MAY NOT offer you any security under S75 OF CCA as you never actually 'borrow' any money.
(Beware of any card issuers stating that you are covered - if they go bust you won't)

kaloss

Well, Section 75 just holds with credit card, not with debit card.
But I guess that basic account are protected with FSCS until 85.000£ if the bank go bust, while prepaid credit card usually aren't.

Is there any problem to use debit card online (providing that I just keep in the account a few amount of money)?

jonesMUFCforever

If the retailer goes bust or a fault develops with the product which the retailer won't put right then using a debit card is useless. You need a credit card.
I suspect you are confusing the £85k guarantee which is for bank deposits and nothing to do with debit or credit card use.

callum9999

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

If the retailer goes bust or a fault develops with the product which the retailer won't put right then using a debit card is useless. You need a credit card.
I suspect you are confusing the £85k guarantee which is for bank deposits and nothing to do with debit or credit card use.

Well not useless. Chargebacks work pretty well. I've even had chargebacks completed on things that the retailer did no wrong on (by accident! - I just queried something as I didn't recognise the name and they responded by reversing the charge). But yes, credit cards are a safer bet.

kaloss

Of course a credit card gives more protection. I will use it as soon as I can get one. But the point here is debit card vs prepaid credit card.
I still don't see any point to prefer a prepaid credit card rather than a debit card connected to a basic bank account.

Are usually fast payments between bank accounts free? (that would be the way to "load" the basic bank account using the main bank account)

jonesMUFCforever

callum9999 wrote: »

Well not useless. Chargebacks work pretty well. I've even had chargebacks completed on things that the retailer did no wrong on (by accident! - I just queried something as I didn't recognise the name and they responded by reversing the charge). But yes, credit cards are a safer bet.

Try a chargeback when the company has gone bust - see how far you get.
Credit card all the time for me.