Prepaid Card

Risinfromthegutter

Hi guys,

I'm looking for a Prepaid card (or rather two - one for my partner) simply to use on the Tube and other transport while we're in London for a few days. I don't want to use my normal bank card for obvious reasons.

It needs to be contactless and fee-free or as close to fee free as possible.

I've considered Kalixa and Orange Cash as they're free for most of the features we'd make use of. However in terms of the duration we're going to use them the application fees are exorbitant. I've asked each if there's any instances that they would waive said fee but it appears not.

The PayPal access card would also have been ideal but is invite only.

My only other idea is to open a joint current account and just put enough money in there to cover said travel costs but it seems a bit overkill for our purpose.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I would imagine someone amongst has faced the same predicament.

Any ideas would be most welcome

RVP991

You could try Cashplus? I've used it fine with no problems at all.

Risinfromthegutter

Thanks - is it contactless? What fees are there?

I'll check it out now, I've looked at loads over the past few weeks, if I've looked at Cashplus something must have put me off, can you think of any drawbacks of it?

Really appreciate your help

Archi_Bald

Risinfromthegutter wrote: »

I don't want to use my normal bank card for obvious reasons.

Millions of people use their normal cards in London every day

Risinfromthegutter wrote: »

My only other idea is to open a joint current account and just put enough money in there to cover said travel costs but it seems a bit overkill for our purpose.

Agree, totally OTT. Not least because it would create a financial association that neither of you may want to have.

Archi_Bald

ApplePay? https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-pay/

bPay? http://bpay.co.uk/home?cid=ppcb_sc15a00p00u01pa

If for Transport only: Oystercard https://account.tfl.gov.uk/oyster?App=8ead5cf4-4624-4389-b90c-b1fd1937bf1f&returnURL=https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/security_check

Risinfromthegutter

I'd be even more concerned at using my phone as a payment device on the tube than I would my regular bank card, maybe I'm being paranoid.

bPay looks a fab idea (Can't believe it's passed me by), but too expensive for my needs this time around

Appreciate your suggestions all the same:D

Archi_Bald

If it's a case of paranoia, which it very possibly is, then the Oystercard sounds the right thing for you.

There are threads on both, ApplePay and bPay on the forum.

Risinfromthegutter

Agree, totally OTT. Not least because it would create a financial association that neither of you may want to have.

We have a mortgage and two children together, we're associated whether we like it or not

...from past experience my bank would probably block my normal card as soon as I tried to use it in London anyway.

I was intending to get an Oyster card initially but the £3 fee (each) put me off. With the daily cap in place I would expect that we'd spend about £20 each over the course of the trip, in proportion the fees seemed too much but maybe I'm looking for a solution that simply isn't there...

...I'll reconsider an Oyster

grumbler

Risinfromthegutter wrote: »

I was intending to get an Oyster card initially but the £3 fee (each) put me off.

What £3 fee?
I am no expert, but what I see is £5 refundable deposit.

Risinfromthegutter

Apologies I was looking at a Visitor Oyster card...it looks like a regular Oyster card could be the one for me