Prepaid credit cards?
02-22-05, 10:10 AM
#2
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Just go to your bank and ask for debit card If you are looking for a gift card here Is the link http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/p...gift_card.html
02-22-05, 03:33 PM
#3
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Funny, I just did a bunch of research on this very topic last week. I wanted to get a card to use at Allofmp3.com, since PayPal won't work with them any longer, and since I'm a little leery of using my personal CC on a Russian website.
It boiled down to cost. I decided I didn't need a card that could be used at an ATM, so I went with a Simon Gift Card (from www.simongiftcard.com). The up-front cost was only $4.95, and as long as I use the balance within 6 months there aren't any other fees.
Follow the link Oleg23 provided above and click on the "Get a Gift Card" link. The "best card" for you will mostly depend on (a) whether you want to use it at an ATM or not, and (b) how long you plan to hold on to the card before draining it dry. The latter is very important, because AFAIK all of the prepaid cards have a monthly "maintenance fee" which kicks in after a few months and which will erode your stored value until it's gone completely. Be sure to check the card's Terms and Conditions to find out how much is charged up front, what the ATM use fee (if any) is, what's the monthly maintenance fee (anything more than $2.50 is a ripoff), when the maintenance fee kicks in (usually after 6 months, but it can vary from as short as 4 months to as long as 18 months), how long the card is good for (12 months on average), what's the reissue cost if you lose the card (shouldn't be more than $5.00), and how much they'll deduct if you close the account and have them cash-out the balance (almost all of them charge $15!!).
It boiled down to cost. I decided I didn't need a card that could be used at an ATM, so I went with a Simon Gift Card (from www.simongiftcard.com). The up-front cost was only $4.95, and as long as I use the balance within 6 months there aren't any other fees.
Follow the link Oleg23 provided above and click on the "Get a Gift Card" link. The "best card" for you will mostly depend on (a) whether you want to use it at an ATM or not, and (b) how long you plan to hold on to the card before draining it dry. The latter is very important, because AFAIK all of the prepaid cards have a monthly "maintenance fee" which kicks in after a few months and which will erode your stored value until it's gone completely. Be sure to check the card's Terms and Conditions to find out how much is charged up front, what the ATM use fee (if any) is, what's the monthly maintenance fee (anything more than $2.50 is a ripoff), when the maintenance fee kicks in (usually after 6 months, but it can vary from as short as 4 months to as long as 18 months), how long the card is good for (12 months on average), what's the reissue cost if you lose the card (shouldn't be more than $5.00), and how much they'll deduct if you close the account and have them cash-out the balance (almost all of them charge $15!!).
02-23-05, 09:30 AM
#4
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kenbuzz, did you order the card online or at a Simon mall?
I visit a Simon mall here in Omaha, and it's $1.50, not $4.95 for the card, and you can go anywhere from $20 to $500.00 with the $1.50 surcharge.
I visit a Simon mall here in Omaha, and it's $1.50, not $4.95 for the card, and you can go anywhere from $20 to $500.00 with the $1.50 surcharge.
02-23-05, 02:46 PM
#6
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There's a Simon Mall where I am currently, but since it's in Bloomington, they only offer the IU-branded cards (which come with a fixed $6.95 price.) If you've got a Simon mall nearby that can sell you a generic $1.50 card, go for it.
Generic Simon Giftcard
Otherwise, get it online (like I did) for $5.95. Go to http://www.simon.com/giftcard/ and click on "Buy Online Now"
PS - I mistakenly said the Simon card was $4.95... it's actually $5.95, unless you want one of their "branded" cards (Indiana U, Purdue, Stanford, U of Texas, etc), then it's $6.95.
Generic Simon Giftcard
Otherwise, get it online (like I did) for $5.95. Go to http://www.simon.com/giftcard/ and click on "Buy Online Now"
PS - I mistakenly said the Simon card was $4.95... it's actually $5.95, unless you want one of their "branded" cards (Indiana U, Purdue, Stanford, U of Texas, etc), then it's $6.95.
Last edited by kenbuzz; 02-23-05 at 02:52 PM.
02-27-05, 03:45 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by uli2000
I just use paypal's virtual debit card which will generate a one time mastercard number.
02-27-05, 11:51 PM
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Originally Posted by uli2000
I just use paypal's virtual debit card which will generate a one time mastercard number.
Thanks,
Sonic
02-28-05, 03:17 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by pinky
If you log in and go to withdraw money it shows you a whole bunch of options of which the virtual credit card is one.
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.
02-28-05, 08:45 PM
#13
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At our bank, we offer Privacash cards ( www.privacash.com ) - similar to the Simon's cards - they're $4.95 and can be loaded pretty high. They're just one use - though you can get refillable ones through the Privacash site. They might have them at other banks too.
