Dangers of a pre-paid credit card?

DJ711 · Post by **DJ711** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:03 am

I want to get one of those pre-paid visa cards they sell at CVS or 711 because I need to get some tools and games off the internet and I don't have a credit card.

However, I'm afraid there is a catch or danger of buying one. Does anyone know of any dangers or catches affiliated in buying the card?

XCVG · Post by **XCVG** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:04 am

Like cash, if you lose it you lose the money.

DJ711 · Post by **DJ711** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:08 am

XCVG wrote:Like cash, if you lose it you lose the money.

Yeah, I figured that. But I'm afraid of hidden charges or something along the lines of that.

robm · Post by **robm** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:48 am

They'll probably have some nominal service charge, like a money order, but by and large, they act just like a gift card - balance remains the same, no monthly service fee or anything.

themadhacker · Post by **themadhacker** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:45 pm

I use them all the time. All you have to pay for other than the card is a small activation fee. The fee on a visa one I bought yesterday was $4.

DJ711 · Post by **DJ711** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:48 pm

I have a quick question: Can I buy a Dremel from my hardware store at my age? (I'm 16)

SonyPortableizer · Post by **SonyPortableizer** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:52 pm

yes, I bought one and im 15

themadhacker · Post by **themadhacker** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:53 pm

so am I

Post by **bicostp** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:05 pm

They usually charge you a few bucks to set the card up, and there's a monthly service charge (automatically deducted from the balance of the card) if you don't use it up within a year or so.

Just be warned that those Vanilla Visa cards do not work online, even if you register them with the company! I tried with Steam, and it didn't work.

Green Dot cards (including the Wal-Mart 'MoneyCards') require a valid SSN. Screw that, you might as well just get a real credit card from the bank with a low maximum. At least then you won't be giving your SSN to an additional company...

Simon Mall gift cards, on the other hand, work just fine online. (They're only $2 to set up as well; the prepaid ones are $3-5, depending on the denomination.) Just sign up on their website (you just need an email address and a physical address), enter the information, and you're good to go. They don't let you reload them, but you can use cash plus the remaining balance on a card to buy a new one. (You just have to pay the $2 fee every time, so you might as well load it up with $100 to minimize the cost. Don't worry, the $2 is a flat fee; it doesn't go up the more you put on a card.) There might be a Simon-owned mall near you. http://www.simon.com/findamall/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

EDIT: They might work, if they figured out how to fix their website. I bought one last summer and it didn't work on Steam.

themadhacker · Post by **themadhacker** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 1:16 pm

damnit. i bought a vannilla card yesterday.

EDIT: I just bought an ipod screen on ebay with it. So they do work online

palmertech · Post by **palmertech** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:28 pm

They work online for me, not sure what is up with yours, Bic.

I love them, they are awesome.

DJ711 · Post by **DJ711** » Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:30 pm

Damn it! I bought one of those green dot cards. (Excuse the language)

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