pre-paid "credit" cards?

churchrat

hello all
do any of you have a pre-paid "credit" cards? I would like to use one mainly for the internet and to put some money on for my DS. are there any probs, hidden charges etc?
many thanks

debtman2007

The ones i have looked at charge a yearly fee of about £10, so they can poke that.

jojo8787

i got one with mycashplus, and paid £16 to set it all up, and when i came ot top the card up, was told i cant... a total waste of £16!!

debtman2007

why couldn't you top it up??

happyhappygal

jojo8787 wrote: »

i got one with mycashplus, and paid £16 to set it all up, and when i came ot top the card up, was told i cant... a total waste of £16!!

Thats ridiculous JoJo. You haven't wasted £16 at all. Who told you couldn't top it up?

I have a pre-paid mastercard also with CashPlus (www.cashplus.co.uk) and its fantastic. You do pay about £16 to set it up and you are charged to use it. This can be one of two ways - if you are using it VERY occasionally (no more than 4 times per month) then you can pay £1 per transaction. Alternatively, you can pay £4.95 per month and use it whenever you want without being charged anymore.

Topping up is pretty easy too. The post office do it for free, you can set up a standing order or you can go to an outlet who will do it for you (The Money Shop, for instance).

You can check your balance online and its the handiest thing I ever got - as you can probably tell.

So, as for hidden charges there are none. £16 to set it up and either £1 per purchase or £4.95 per month. (If you withdraw cash from a cash machine you have to pay but I don't see you would need to).

I also believe Virgin do one now as well, you may feel safer with a brand you know - I don't know about their charges though.

Hope that helps.

Happy. x

jojo8787

im just saying when i took my card to the money shop to top up, the assistant refused me, saying he had never heard of it before...

happyhappygal

jojo8787 wrote: »

im just saying when i took my card to the money shop to top up, the assistant refused me, saying he had never heard of it before...

I wouldn't say you had wasted £16. You have had a bad experience but if you honestly thought CashPlus had mis-sold you a card and given you something that you can't possibly use then you would be banging down the door of Watchdog by now.

I would try the Post Office or doing via your bank on a standing order.

You're right - no one wants to waste £16 - especially not in Debt Free Wannabe-land!

Happy x