PrePaid Debit Cards

United States
January 21, 2013 5:07pm CST
You can get prepaid debit cards and load them to make your own spending limit. They are easy to get and it seems like once you get one, you end up with several. I have terrible credit so I had no other choice but to get one for my online shopping habit. I love my Netspend card and just counted five other cards in my purse that I don't even use. Does anybody else use these cards? Do you like them?
1 person likes this
5 responses
• United States
21 Jan 13
I lost my job a few years ago and had to file for an early retirement. I have no credit cards right now of course because of this, and bad credit. My bank gave me a Visa debit card but it can't be used as a credit card...only a debit card. This way I don't need any of those other cards like the prepaid debit card. And with the Visa logo, everyone thinks it's a credit card anyways so I'm good to go.
• United States
21 Jan 13
I was looking for ways to kind of fix my credit (I didn't know it was that bad) and all I could find was information that basically said beg for a second chance with your bank, make "arrangements" with your debtors and all that..My thing is, I didn't see myself going that far so I got the Netspend card and so far it's the best..they charge $1 for purchases and $2 for ATM but still its the only one that didn't have all those ridiculous fees..thats the funny thing about my card, they always process it as a Mastercard purchase. I kind of wish I could find a card that would count towards my credit score though...
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jan 13
You can do some research on "secured credit cards"....I think they are very similiar to what you have but will count towards your credit rating. Check into it. I remember reading about them a few years ago, but I know there are some good one's and some garbage one's. Maybe someone here will be able to help too.
• United States
21 Jan 13
I was reading your comment down below me about Paypal. If you can get a debit card from your bank which is a Visa or MC like I have, you can use that with your Paypal account. I do, even though it's not a credit card, it's the logo that they pay attention to.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
22 Jan 13
Unfortunately, those kind of cards are not available here in our country. But I sure think that it should be the answer for those people who might be over spending using their credit cards.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
22 Jan 13
There are debit cards here that act as ATM cards linked to a savings account. I have those kinds of debit cards. But I hear that prepaid cards there can sold in groceries and gas stations. Is that true? I am really not sure about it.
• United States
22 Jan 13
they should be allowed everywhere...overspending on credit cards..now that's how I got into this mess in the first place..it was only one card and they gave it to me when I was like 16..you don't give a 16 year old a $600 spending limit!! did you ever do research and find out if there are any cards available where you are? I suggest to do it if you haven't already..good luck!
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
22 Jan 13
I am not familiar with Netgspend card and the likes but I also use debit cards. I actually have two but those cards are my ATM Cards which can also be used as debit cards. Debit card is better than credit card because it does not allow me to spend more than I actually have. With debit cards I am not borrowing money but only using the money I have with the bank. It is more convenient to use debit card because instead of carrying cash I only take my card where every cost purchase is deducted from.
@silverfox09 (4708)
• United States
22 Jan 13
I was thinking of getting a Prepaid Debit Card , because its safer . I will only spend what I have and not take anything on credit . I will try to get one this year definitely .
• United States
22 Jan 13
I recommend the Netspend card..it's easy to load, easy to maintain an online account to manage your transactions and you can get the text or email alerts for when you use it..it's the only one I believe in right now!
@Raine38 (12257)
• United States
21 Jan 13
I have a fairly good credit, but since I am beginning to favor online shopping and I don't want to expose or use my real debit or credit cards (since most of them are linked to my bank accounts), I tried getting one from Walmart just to try it out. So far so good, but my issue is it takes a while before my payment gets confirmed so it also delays the processing of my orders and purchases.
• United States
21 Jan 13
So far, the only downside to the prepaid card is that I still can't seem to get one that works with my paypal account..I have the Walmart card (the black one with the logo on it) but I've never even used it..it's actually in the drawer somewhere. I think the fees kept me from using it. Or maybe it was the fact that it was hard for me to find the moneypaks to load it..the netspend card is pretty fast in processing..in fact, you can get notifications via email or text message when something happens with your card..