Virtual Visa/Mastercard topup card?

Oonagh16

Hi all
New to forums so not sure if this is in the right place!
Can anyone advise me! I do not have credit cards-never have and never will! Personal choice but I KNOW Im a comfort shopper and would not be a god financial decision for me. I have a very tight budget and not much room for getting into debt!
I have heard of a virtual visa or mastercard top up card, amd was wondering could anyone give me anymore information? or has any experiences of?

I research purchases online and sometimes I know Im missing out on bargains because of my credit card phobia!

Thanks! :eek:

Fedz

I was reading a thread late last night about these PAYG mastercard cards.

I came to the conclusion what's the logic of paying fees and charges for these type of cards when you can get it all free from a current account debit card, even a basic bank account from eg: yorkshire bank gives you a maestro debit card

Zebedee69

Fedz wrote: »

I was reading a thread late last night about these PAYG mastercard cards.

I came to the conclusion what's the logic of paying fees and charges for these type of cards when you can get it all free from a current account debit card, even a basic bank account from eg: yorkshire bank gives you a maestro debit card

Unless your a BR/CCJ have a very poor history and the bank says no you cant have a debit card.......:rolleyes:

Having said that why doesnt the OP go to their bank and ask about a VISA electron or Maestro?............. Could be the ticket!

CopperPlate_2

Oonagh16 wrote: »

Hi all
New to forums so not sure if this is in the right place!
Can anyone advise me! I do not have credit cards-never have and never will! Personal choice but I KNOW Im a comfort shopper and would not be a god financial decision for me. I have a very tight budget and not much room for getting into debt!
I have heard of a virtual visa or mastercard top up card, amd was wondering could anyone give me anymore information? or has any experiences of?

I research purchases online and sometimes I know Im missing out on bargains because of my credit card phobia!

Thanks! :eek:

Are you looking for the 'security' aspect of using a credit card online, but still being able to spend with the money that you have (as opposed to putting it onto a credit card)? There's always the cahoot webcard which is connected to the cahoot current account?

http://www.cahoot.com/cahoot_products/other_products/cahoot_webcard/webcard.html

Might be useful? At least that way it's coming out of your current account, but you have some added security when buying online.

moneyman84

Hi there;

There are a few options for the product you are talking about.

I personally use 3v cash (https://www.3vcash.com/)

You order a card from them which takes around 5 days to arrive. When you want to buy something, just take the card to a payzone outlet, top up with the amount of money you need, and it gives you a virtual visa number, expiry date, CCV etc, just like a normal Visa card. The credit lasts for a month or two once topped up, and you can check the balance and transactions online. As for fees, its free for the card and free to get 20.00 vouchers, above 20.00 is a 2 pound fee.

Other than that you can get prepaid mastercards/visas etc, which work in the same way, but takes longer to top up and charge more fees. You also have to pay for the card. A quick search on the forums will provide some links.

Hope that helps

edi79

As I could understand these VCC can be loaded with many payment methods.
In my case I need VCC which can be loeaded with moneybookers and then used on all sites.

Is that possible ?

UnderPressure

There is a big difference between a "virtual credit card" and a pre pay credit card.........................

Pre Paid cards are as described above by moneyman84, they are available from many different organisations, I have had a splash plastic maestro card in the past and also a Virgin Money Pre Paid Mastercard that I still have, they are OK watch out for the fees though, you dont really want to be using them for drawing money from a cash machine you can but it costs, the main idea with these is see something online you want to buy go along to the post office, pay zone outlet or your bank for a standing order transfer the money to your card then hey presto spend away. You can also use these kind of cards in virtually any shop in the high street, they are not however suitable for car hire, I think there is one of them that can "activate" a car hire facility but I believe it can be a nightmare to get done, I think that card is the cash plus card.

A virtual credit card is one that is used solely online, you dont actually get a card you get an account you can log into where your card number and card details are stored again charges apply, I have found these on the whole better value than the prepaid versions, they usually charge a % for topping up your card but after that you can spend whatever is on the card with no further charges, well at least that is the way it works with the company I use which is Entropay google them to find out more. The other great thing about these is they are completely "disposable", you can use them onetime and then shut them down and move onto a new virtual card, you have a section in your account pages where you can buy more virtual cards, they are also great to use as gift cards for relatives and friends, you can register a new card, load it with say £50 christmas present then simply pass the card details onto them to spend anywhere online, when they have the card can then be securely destroyed from your online account. There is no limit to the number of these cards you can have

I know where you are coming from being worried about handing over card details online, I was a victim of fraud a few years ago through ebay and paypal still to this day dont know how it happened, if I am buying from a big high street name online I will use my normal everyday cards, now for anything else including ebay I use the pre paid one or more commonly now 1 of the many virtual ones I have with Entropay.

HTH

FIK

Entropay are a really bad idea. I used them to book a couple of tickets and thought to put a little bit on the card for next time. 6 months later I went to book a ticket but could not logon. The accounts go dormaint after 6 months. Then if you want to use you have to reactivate. I tried and it did not work. I did not really understand it was deactivated as it was not clear. I was in a hurry so bought my flights with my normal visa. Now 12 monts later they close the account. You don't get any warnings and when they close the account THEY KEEP YOUR MONEY!

This is their clause
"5.5If there has not been a transaction (for the avoidance of doubt a load, withdrawal or spend from one of the Card(s) on the EntroPay Account for 12 months or more, then the Service Provider may close the EntroPay Account without notifying the User at any time and terminate this Agreement in accordance with Clause 12.4. In such a scenario any Funds on the EntroPay Account will become the property of the Service Provider."