Welcome to the world of getting a prepaid card
This information has been prepared to help you find out more about prepaid credit cards and how you can use them best. Although they're relatively new, prepaid cards are becoming more and more popular.
Many stores offer prepaid gift cards' - you may have already used one! But prepaid payment cards aren't just limited to gift cards. There are prepaid cards for everything, from sending money to family and friends, to managing travel funds, to shopping over the Internet.
Independent research tells us that, by 2010, people across Europe will collectively have around 360 million prepaid payment cards in their pockets at any one time.
Prepaid cards an introduction to what they are
A prepaid card is a payment card that can be loaded with money by you or someone else. A prepaid card looks just like a normal credit or debit card, with a card number, signature strip and company branding like MasterCard. But prepaid cards are unlike credit cards, which provide you with a line of credit. Cards are usually a Prepaid Visa MasterCard or Maestro card
They are also very different from debit cards that are linked to a bank account with an overdraft facility. This is because you can't borrow money with a prepaid card - you can only spend the money you have loaded onto it. As your prepaid card is a Visa MasterCard or Maestro card, you can use it anywhere in the world that accepts the branded logo..
How prepaid cards work Without the technical bits
You can use a prepaid Mastercard in the same way that you would use a debit or credit card. It's easy to use your card.
• At the shops - Simply hand your card to the salesperson at the till
• Telephone shopping - Read out the card details over the phone
• Mail order shopping - Complete the order form, including the card details
• Internet shopping - Input the card details at the check-out' step of your Internet purchase.
Top Up or Reloading your Mastercard
When the amount remaining on your prepaid card is low or at zero, you may be able to reload (or top up') your Mastercard in a number of ways, such as:
Cash top-up at post offices or convenience stores
Funds transfer from a bank account
On-line through an Internet account
Please check with your card provider for details.
What you need - to get a Mastercard
You may need to provide proof of your "ID" identity and your address when applying for a prepaid card - but that's all. There are no credit checks or any other information that you need to provide. Once you have been given or sent your prepaid card, you will need to activate the card by following the instructions from your card provider.
When you buy a prepaid gift card', you don't usually need to provide address or identity details. These cards may be given to family and friends, who can then use the card like a gift voucher until the money loaded onto the card has been spent. This type of card cannot be re-loaded.
Choosing a prepaid card
There are many types of prepaid cards for you to choose from. Look at the features of each card and consider those, which are important to you, such as on-line account management, the ways in which you can reload the card and the cost, and the availability of additional cards on the same account. It makes sense to choose a card that has low fees and charges for the way in which you want to use the card most.
For example, if you just want to use a prepaid card for traveling abroad, a card that has low foreign exchange fees and overseas charges is likely to be the most appropriate. Shop around to find the card that has the best deal for you, and then compare the features and benefits on offer.
Ideal solutions
A prepaid Mastercard is an ideal solution for you if you:
Want to give someone a gift - Prepaid MasterCard or Prepaid Maestro card is more widely accepted than vouchers or store gift cards.
Traveling abroad and don't want to carry cash or traveller's cheques. A prepaid card is more secure because it can be blocked if it's lost or stolen.
Help younger family members learn about managing their money. They can only spend as much money as is loaded onto the card, and the spending can be viewed on-line.
Mmanage your money by separating it into different places for different purposes. You could have one card for everyday shopping, one for travel, one for on-line purchases, etc.
Having difficulty opening a bank account or getting a credit or debit card for some reason.
Things that a prepaid credit card may be used for
Everyday shopping - Internet shopping - Topping up your mobile phone
Mail order and telephone order - Paying bills - Paying monthly subscriptions
Withdrawing cash from ATMs - Alternative to bank accounts
Convenience - prepaid cardholders
Prepaid cards can be used wherever MasterCard and/or Maestro cards are accepted
Anyone can get one no need for credit checks or a credit history
Prepaid Money management
Can help you budget your money
No interest charges on the card
There is no danger of going overdrawn on the card.
Security
Carrying a prepaid card is safer than carrying cash. The card can be blocked if it's lost or stolen.
