Pre paid cards

8 Jul 2007

Hi guys & gals,
We currently have a visa electron card, after having a few credit problems in the past we are having difficulty in changing that to a visa debit card.
Now most places these days do accept electron, but there have been a few occasions where electron has not been accepted. (eg some restaurants etc). Now have been having a search online and have found this:

So we were wondering, has anybody here had any experience of this type of card where you pre pay/top up in a similar way to topping up a mobile phone?
Any feedback would be appreciated,
Cheers
M&T xx

8 Jul 2007

I`m looking at that link and cant see if there is any kind of annual charge for this card service. Some card providers charge a fee, does anybody know if a fee is charged by Mastercard?

8 Jul 2007

Ok, I found it!
It seems that you will be charged £10 to take on the card, you`d be charged £10 to cancel the card if or when you wanted to. There`s a monthly subscription, AS WELL as a payment processing fee (not sure if that`s every time you use the card or every time you top it up--but in any case, what was the for then? :shock: ). If you decide to use an ATM to take your money back off the card you get charged £2 and if you use it abroad you get charged a hefty %.
These banking tw@ts make me so annoyed.....it`s aimed at people who, for whatever reason, cant have a credit card but my god dont they penalise them for it when they`re probably quite tight on money as it is!
IMO....stick to paying by cash! Even buying a postal order to send off for things wouldnt cost you as much as this pre paid card would.
Rant over! redface

8 Jul 2007

Quote by Hungrypussy69
I`m looking at that link and cant see if there is any kind of annual charge for this card service. Some card providers charge a fee, does anybody know if a fee is charged by Mastercard?

I have a mastercard and am charged £12 annually for it. Other than that the usage is free unless I draw money out of the ATM's with it. Or spend abroad with it. As I always take Euros abroad with me and use my debit card for cash withdrawals its great.
DD

8 Jul 2007

It's a shame about all those charges.. it seems a really good card to have and would be ideal for those wanting to have the facility of a credit type card especially abroad without the worry of having the debt when you come back home.
Some things in life are never that easy tho.. :cry:

8 Jul 2007

I know-I thought that too Jaymar, it does sound like a good idea.
But then my usual philosophy is that you dont get anything for nothing.
This site may be of help to compare some of the prices that these types of cards charge.....some of them dont seem as bad as the Mastercard one.

8 Jul 2007

i tried to avoid having a credit card for a long time, i have experienced debt before , got out of it and never wanted the temptation again... however when you need to book a hotel hey will not let you do thi sunless you have credit card details. they dont take the money you can pay cash on check in.
i know i could ask a friend or family member to use their card, but not always what you want to do when booking a hotel for swinging lol
there are some credit cards out there that will have bad credit history people, their intrest is higher but if you use it just for booking not paying then it does not really matter.
i bank where its a solo card issued, seems to be more accepted than the electron.
xxx fem xxx

8 Jul 2007

Thanks for this, but after posting this on another website (yes there are others than SH lol) somebody suggested Yorkshire Bank where they issue Maestro cards as standard, so should solve our problems,
Cheers

8 Jul 2007

Oh really glad you got it sorted out ... hope all goes well with your application for a maestro card.
DD

8 Jul 2007

Quote by tonmar01
Thanks for this, but after posting this on another website (yes there are others than SH lol) somebody suggested Yorkshire Bank where they issue Maestro cards as standard, so should solve our problems,
Cheers

Untill last month I worked in the subprime finance sector and yep Yorkshire bank is the way forward, they are pretty forgiving when it comes to taking on customers with credit problems. I sent most of my customers to the Yorkshire when they couldn't get an account anywhere else and needed to set up direct debits to pay the finance. If you've had credit problems in the past (like myself) it's just a case of credit reestablishment. Little things like paying your house hold bills on time and perhaps having a contract mobile all go towards building up your credit history again.
Now I know its a bit of a sensitive subject for some having a poor credit score but be leave me a bigger proportion of the country suffers than you would think.
If anyone wants any advice on this sort of stuff feel free to PM me biggrin

8 Jul 2007

I looked nto this as a form of taking money abroad and decided against it.
Look at money saving is a link there to explains all the diferent cards and charges. Personally i would not bother. To expensive for my taste.
Paul H

27 Aug 2007

Try talksport card. can be found on and only has a one off charge of £10

28 Aug 2007

i have a visa electron i have never had any problems with it but saying that as you can only spend money on it thats in your bank anyway you may as well just get the money out the cash point and pay cash confused