Prepaid Credit Card and premium rate phone support

duncandunnit

Hello,
I have been using IDTprime as my prepaid credit card for some time. It kinda works. I was wondering can anyone recomend a better one. IDT do work for many things but today for instance I tried to use it on gumtree.com to place an advert but gumtree.com would not accept it. I drop an email to idtprime an just get as usualy the automated reply.

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Thank you for your email;

This issue could occurring for a number of reasons and we would need to gather more account specific information from you, some of which we cannot acquire by email for security reasons.

Please contact our customer services team to discuss your specific query in more detail on 0870 034 0030 or 0870 144 0289 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and we will be happy to help with your account.

Alternatively, please provide your contact details and one of our team will attempt to contact you in the next 2 working days

Kind Regards

Prime Card Customer Services

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What really gets on my nerves is this has happened many times with them before and they expect you to phone a premium rate number. The string the thing on and on.

Do you know a better prepaid credit card then idtpime.

I want something that works on all things not just a few sites etc.


cheers

Duncan

izools

First off, that isn't a premium rate number but a National rate number, which is included free of charge with BT and TalkTalk talk plans, and some Vodafone plans.

Secondly, they offered to call you.

So what's your gripe?

I personally use a Kalixa card, which I have found to be reliable, and they now offer contactless cards which is nice.

SammenForLivet2

If you have an Orange CashCard, they expect you to call an 0906 for support, and often say that there unable to do anything via e-mail too!:(

At least they are able to give you a free-callback and there open 24/7

Anthorn

duncandunnit wrote: »

I was wondering can anyone recomend a better one.

Personally, I'm not recommending any prepaid card at all which is issued by a third party due to the difficulties currently being experienced by cards from the program manager White Eagle (Europe) plc and the card issuer Transact Network Ltd:
http://www.fsc.gi/firms/prepaidcards.htm

So that narrows the field a lot: The two cards I would consider is Kalixa if all you want is P.O.S. at home and abroad and Cashplus if you want direct debits and standing orders.

cheesedoffwithdebt

HI- I've searched for a thread regarding prepaid cards as I am contemplating one to use and load up for business related expenses- so it would be petrol, hotel bills and train fares all of which get reimbursed to me- in other words my own line of credit.

I did some research and believe Kalixa are probably the most cost effective of the cards, my understanding is that as they have the Mastercard logo they can be used for the needs i have- many of the prepaid cards seem to be for peoples cash and use at ATM's.

However I cannot get a sensible answer from Kalixa- they emailed and said that I would not be able to use their card at a self service petrol pump but it would work inside a petrol station, ie at the counter, and they don't recommend using them for hotels because the hotels freeze your account up to a certain amount- but I know this- and there is no difference with that and using my debit card which I do currently.

I am being a little pedantic but you do have to pay for the card so I want to be absolutely sure that what I anticipate it's use will be, will work for me otherwise it's an expensive luxury.Would anyone mind answering? I thought I had a straightforward question but Kalixa seem to have confused the issue. Thank you!!:)

Anthorn

Prepaid cards cannot be used for pay at pump nor hotels because they place an advance charge on the card which is not accepted by prepaid cards. The exception is the Western Union Reloadable Prepaid which places £99 on hold in the case of pay at pump but the card only accepts cash loads at W.U. agents or online with a voucher purchased at branches of W.H. Smith.
http://wuprepaid.co.uk

cheesedoffwithdebt

Thanks Anthorn- all I wanted to know!!!

alanq

macfamilyent wrote: »

If you have an Orange CashCard, they expect you to call an 0906 for support, and often say that there unable to do anything via e-mail too!:(

Is that a recent experience? Another MSE member has been assured that this is no longer the case. The Ts&Cs are confused so at least until they are clarified I am avoiding the Orange card.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4434425

cheesedoffwithdebt

Anthorn wrote: »

Prepaid cards cannot be used for pay at pump nor hotels because they place an advance charge on the card which is not accepted by prepaid cards. The exception is the Western Union Reloadable Prepaid which places £99 on hold in the case of pay at pump but the card only accepts cash loads at W.U. agents or online with a voucher purchased at branches of W.H. Smith.
http://wuprepaid.co.uk

Just FYI kalixa have now replied, they said you can use them in hotels but obviously some of your account is frozen for a while. The petrol pump issue they say is because the pumps are not online whereas the machines inside a station are, I guess that's why you are saying it needs an advance charge facility. All very interesting anyway.

Anthorn

cheesedoffwithdebt wrote: »

Just FYI kalixa have now replied, they said you can use them in hotels but obviously some of your account is frozen for a while. The petrol pump issue they say is because the pumps are not online whereas the machines inside a station are, I guess that's why you are saying it needs an advance charge facility. All very interesting anyway.

Not exactly: All pre-paid cards are online cards and can't be used where the terminal is offline. I think the advance charge (actually placing funds on hold) is intended to prevent someone driving off without paying where the petrol station is unmanned.

But to tell the truth, it's all a bit of a mystery to me. Probably lucky I don't fill up at pay at pump stations.

cheesedoffwithdebt

Thanks again Anthon- it's quite mysterious and took ages to get a reply but it is important to understand the finer detail if you are going to buy one of these cards- a waste of money if they won't do what you had intended so I wanted to research it properly.

I agree with the rationale re petrol- I guess someone could scarper with a full tank otherwise- if only!!!