Prepaid Debit Card Reviews, Complaints, Etc

Author: Chris Warren

  • American Express

    American Express

    The American Express Prepaid Debit Card offers the user the same convenience and security of a typical Prepaid Debit Card, but also offers benefits typically reserved for credit card users.  With features such as Purchase Protection, Roadside Assistance, Global Assist Services and Entertainment Access, American Express offers advantages not typically available with most prepaid debit cards.

    American Express is one of the few cards with no recurring fees.  Check out these features:

    • No Annual Fees
    • No Monthly Fees
    • No Customer Service Fees
    • No Transaction Fees
    • One Fee Free ATM Withdrawal Monthly

    American Express’ new prepaid debit card, Bluebird, presents some exciting opportunities to rack up points.  Points can even be earned on expenditures that you can’t ordinarily use a credit card for, like mortgages, insurance, and homeowners fees.  Like other prepaid debit cards, getting the card does not affect your credit.

    Bluebird doesn’t carry any of the usual fees for prepaid cards.  There are no transaction fees, load fees, ATM fees are waived when you set p direct deposit, and use a MoneyPass ATM, no foreign transaction fees and most importantly no bill-pay fees.

    You can load up to $10,000 on this card, unlike other prepaid cards with much lower limits around the $2,500 mark and it can be linked to a checking or savings account.

  • MasterCard Prepaid Debit Card

    MasterCard Prepaid Debit Card

    With promises of giving you a world beyond cash, MasterCard Prepaid Debit Card is the card of choice for many corporations, such as PayPal, Western Union and H&R Block.

    Debit MasterCards are reloadable debit cards that display the MasterCard logo.  They can be used worldwide anywhere MasterCard is accepted.  The user is required to load a deposit in advance before the card can be used.  After which, the card can be used until the balance is depleted.  With the Debit MasterCard, the user can avoid expensive overdraft fees, bill payment fees and check cashing fees, which can add up quickly.  Debit MasterCards are not only convenient, but they keep your funds secure while still allowing you 24/7 access to your money.

    They require no credit check or approval process and you don’t need a bank account to get one.  Many of them are even associated with a routing and checking account number to allow the user to receive direct deposits, saving you time and money with check cashing fees.  Further benefits include Purchase Protection, online bill pay and some even offer roadside assistance.

    We invite you to visit our review section for more information and to find out which card is right for you.

  • Prepaid Visa Debit Cards

    Prepaid Visa Debit Cards

    Prepaid Visa Debit Cards are pre-funded reloadable cards that display the Visa logo.  They can be used anywhere the Visa Card is accepted worldwide and online.  As with any debit card, The Visa Prepaid Debit Card requires a deposit in advance before use, after which, the card can be used until the balance is depleted and reloaded.

    Visa Prepaid Debit Cards require no credit check or approval process and you don’t need a bank account to get one.  In fact, many of them are associated with a routing and checking account number to allow the user to receive direct deposits, saving you time and money with check cashing fees.  Adding to the benefits, many offer Purchase Protection as well as the ability to pay your bills online.

    The user can escape expensive overdraft fees, bill payment fees and check cashing fees, which can add up quickly.  The Visa Prepaid Debit Card is not only convenient, but it keeps your funds secure while still allowing you access to your money at all times.

    We invite you to visit our review section for more information and to find out which card is right for you.

  • Should you give a prepaid debit card to your teenage kid?

    Should you give a prepaid debit card to your teenage kid?

    Did we ever dream of getting ourselves a prepaid debit card when we were a teenager? I bet we didn’t since we hardly earned enough money to meet expenses on time and protect our financial records from harm. Nor did our parents get allowances or expect anything. However, times have changed.  Nowadays all kids have their own phone and even get certain allowances from their parents.

    This is the reason teenagers should be allowed to use prepaid debit cards instead of using cash.  They need to learn to manage their money—and you need to be able to help. A prepaid card allows you and your teenager to track spending at a glance. Although there are high fees associated with some prepaid cards, they’re certainly safer than credit cards for those new to plastic.  And, with a little research you can find a card with minimal fees for your intended usage.

    Know the benefits touted by the prepaid debit card issuers

    Prepaid debit cards offer a number of benefits. If you want to gift your teenager with such a card, have a look at some of them.

    • Financial education tool: Many parents love to gift their teenage kid with a      prepaid debit card as this poses to be a great financial tool. Teens can get a firm grip on budgeting by using a prepaid card since they have to manage the prepaid amount on the debit card.       It helps them understand the connection between swiping plastic and actual money.
    • Debit cards are safer than cash: A teenager is certainly going to be less responsible than an experienced adult.  Since a prepaid card is typically safer than cash it’s usually a better option.  Even if he loses the card, it’s unlikely that he’ll  have to pay anything for unauthorized use of the card.
    • Ensures peace of mind:      As a parent, you must be worried about your teen and his debit card while he is traveling. But when he owns a prepaid card, you can be sure he has more protection than when traveling with cash.  Knowing you’re able to add funds almost      instantly in case of an emergency should also help ease your mind.
    • Ensures financial independence: Using a prepaid card will allow your teen to make responsible purchases without borrowing money from a financial institution.  He also doesn’t need to carry a lot of cash if he has a single debit card.
    • Debit cards are flexible: Most students love the flexibility of the debit cards since they can use it almost anywhere; including online.
    • Students love the security: The fact that your teen alone can use the card and no one else can use it as the online account information is protected, entices most students. They love this feeling of security, and it can also grow their sense of responsibility.  However, you have the ability to monitor their spending on most cards if you’re not ready for your teenager to have that much freedom just yet.

    If you’re worried about the exact age at which you should get him a prepaid debit card, the decision entirely depends on you. Each child matures at his own pace, only you know when he is responsible enough to learn to use plastic.  Use prepaid debit cards to avoid the risk of overdraft fees and debt.

     

  • The American Express Prepaid Debit Card

    The American Express Prepaid Debit Card

    The American Express prepaid debit card stands out from its peers in several ways. Other than the media attention it attracted during its launch, there is much more to write about; and you can already guess that most of it is positive. It’s only by looking further at its features that you begin to understand why it generated so much publicity.

    One of the most attractive features about the debit card is the fees. Fees are one of the most important considerations to make when comparing prepaid debit cards—and the American Express prepaid debit card scored big on this one. Its fee is what most people who deal with financial institutions would call free. The only fee that the card holder pays is the ATM withdrawal charges. They are still offering you an incentive in that you pay absolutely nothing for the first withdrawal.

    For any other subsequent withdrawals you pay $2 dollars, of course to this, you will have to add the charges levied by the ATM owner. Unlike most other prepaid debit cards, there will be no charges levied on you when you are activating or reloading the card. Better still, there are no fees charged when you use the card.

    The American Express prepaid debit card has several benefits over the other such cards in the market. For instance, one is allowed to have up to three cards as long as you are above 18 years of age. You can choose to have all the three cards in the name of the children or you can have one of the cards. Very few prepaid debit card providers will allow you such a privilege. This means that a parent with teenage children can acquire the prepaid debit cards for them so that they don’t have to keep asking for cash to refuel or other routine expenses.

    Since the prepaid card is being shared with teenagers, you might feel that the kids might overspend which can have very adverse effects in these hard economic times. American Express thought of that too and put measures in place so that a parent can monitor the spending that goes on using the card. It’s possible to view the transaction history so as to keep track of how the cash is being used and detect misuse if any. You are also able to suspend the card if you feel it is being misused and you can reactivate the card again when you’re ready.

    Most people will tell you that a card that allows you to track every transaction carried out on it is good enough, but American Express prepaid debit card has gone a step further. You receive an email alerting of every transaction made on the card. This makes it very conducive for parents with teenagers since you can track their every purchase from home. The card even allows you to load it from your bank account.

    Overall, the American Express prepaid debit card is one of the best prepaid debit cards you can use. It has very low fees and is accepted wherever American Express credit cards are accepted.

    For more from this author visit:  Tameka Riley’s Author Page

  • AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Debit Card

    AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Debit Card

    Nowadays very many people are more warmed up to the idea of prepaid services. One type of prepaid service that has gained wide usage is prepaid debit cards. These cards are replacing the traditional credit cards. If you are looking for a better way to manage your money then you should consider applying for the AccountNow.com Gold Visa Prepaid Debit Card. This prepaid debit card is licensed by Visa USA. This card allows you to load cash online; you can login at www.accountnow.com or through direct deposit.

    This prepaid debit card is associated with numerous benefits. The first and very important benefit offered by AccountNow.com is that you can never use more money than you have. It has been said that you should bite only what you can swallow. Many individuals and families have found themselves in very compromising situations when they accumulate very large amounts of debts through the use of credit cards. The AccountNow prepaid debit card will save you from such kind of situations and embarrassments since you can only spend what you have loaded.

    The card goes ahead and ensures that you can use it anywhere that Visa debit cards are accepted. This is unlike other types of cards that can only be used in specific places. This means even when you travel, may it be from one side of the globe to the other you can make your purchases. Furthermore, you can use the prepaid card just like a debit card in ATMs and withdraw money for a very small fee. This does not mean the security of the card is compromised. Rather the card has very secure fraud liability protection just like the conventional credit cards issued by Visa.

    The AccountNow.com prepaid debit card allows you to make various online transactions including shopping, renting a car and booking airline tickets. You can also pay your bills online. For those receiving benefit or pay checks, they can be directly remitted to your account saving you the hustle of having to cash checks and the fees associated with them. You will also get free direct deposits and can qualify for a $25 direct deposit bonus within 6 months after opening the account if you deposit at least $500 per month through the recurring deposit in two or more consecutive months

    When you want to apply for the AccountNow.com prepaid debit card, you are not required to pay any fee. The subscription process is free and very efficient since it is not long. Once you open your account, you will be charged a $9.95 the first time you deposit your money. However, there is no minimum balance for this account. Each time you make an ATM withdrawal you will be a charged $2.50 fee. Every month you will be charged a $9.95 usage fee but you can be exempted from this fee if you deposit $3000 dollars or more into your account in a month. The account does not charge the annual percentage fees. Just like other prepaid cards, the AccountNow card does not require a credit check thus you can open the account regardless of your credit score.

    The AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Debit Card is not the best prepaid debit card on the market and there are cheaper debit cards with lower fees out there.

    For more from this author visit:  Tameka Riley’s Author Page

Prepaid Debit Card Reviews, Complaints, Etc