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Post by pretzels on Mar 10, 2015 13:46:05 GMT
On someone else's post several months ago, someone talked about the cons of using prepaid Visa. My DS15 leaves for his band trip to Florida on Thursday, so DH and I need to make a decision about how we're going to send money with him, like now.
I had to run to the grocery store this morning for something, and saw their display. The card costs $5 or something like that, and then we can add up to $500 on one.
Can I reload it online from home? If it's lost, how does he get a replacement? Can we cancel it if he does lose it?
I bought him this lanyard pouch thing that's waterproof (he can wear it around his neck, but underneath his t-shirt), so he can keep his room key, his Disney ticket and his Visa/travelers checks/whatever in it.
I am so nervous about this, y'all. His best friend's parents are going on the trip (not as chaperones, but separate), so at least if he loses everything, we can wire money to them and they can get it to him.
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Post by underwatermama on Mar 10, 2015 13:54:01 GMT
My then 15 y.o. ds went on a California theme park trip last year and I debated the same thing. Ultimately, we sent him with ~$100 cash and his debit card. I hammered into him to never put his card or wallet on a tray or somewhere; always put it right back in your pocket and everything worked out fine. I was worried though since he can be rather absent-minded.
We decided against the visa card because I didn't see a way to reload it, plus, if you end up with not enough $ to purchase what you need, you can't use the card for a partial purchase.
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Post by eebud on Mar 10, 2015 14:26:55 GMT
My biggest issue with the prepaid cards are the ones that require you to know the exact amount on the card if there is not enough on the card to make your purchase. I don't think they are all like this anymore, but every prepaid I have had is. Someone on these boards has said they are not all like this but I have never had one that wasn't. You can make a partial purchase with the card but you have to be able to tell the person ringing you up that you want to put $27.58 (if that is what the balance is for a $35 purchase - for example) on the card and pay the rest in cash or other form of payment. Also, what I have run into before is a store that cannot split a payment onto 2 credit cards. The prepaid had to be run as a credit card. I was planning to put the balance on my regular credit card but their system could not handle 2 credit cards in one transaction. I had to dig around for enough cash to pay the balance. I have seen prepaids rejected by a cashier because the card doesn't have enough balance to cover the purchase and the person with the card may not understand that they needed to tell the person the exact amount to put on that card. They throw the card away because they think it is empty when it isn't.
Does your son have a bank account? If he does, I would get him a debit card to use against his own bank account. I don't every use a debit card because if my number is stolen, I don't want someone having access to my cash but this is probably one case where I would use a debit card.
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927 
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Post by freebird on Mar 10, 2015 14:34:10 GMT
I would just set up another checking account and get him a card with his name on it. I'd be able to view it from my online banking and see what he was buying and how much was left. It would take 30 seconds to put more money in his account.
Also, he should be carrying a wallet IMO.
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Post by giatocj on Mar 10, 2015 14:47:37 GMT
We use them frequently for our road trips...one for gas and another for food. That way we don't have to carry a lot of cash and we don't have to rely on our bank/debit card as much. We also give them as gifts to our grandson for most major holidays and his birthday.
The ones we buy are not re-loadable, but are very easy to keep track of the balance on (by phone and internet). I would never go on another vacation without them, but of course that is just my preference. It works for us because we always have back up cash to supplement with, but I can absolutely see it being a problem for kids on a trip that do not have that. Freebird's idea of a separate checking account sounds like a really good option.
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Post by pretzels on Mar 10, 2015 14:54:09 GMT
It's kind of too late to do the separate checking. He leaves Thursday at 2 p.m. I don't think we would need to reload it necessarily, but it would be nice to have that option if something serious happened.
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Mar 10, 2015 15:14:47 GMT
You might want to see if your bank has a pre-loaded card. It might be more flexible. I would also go just read the conditions on the cards available in your local stores and see what denominations you can get. It would be annoying to juggle ten $50 cards.
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Post by underwatermama on Mar 10, 2015 15:27:29 GMT
It's kind of too late to do the separate checking. He leaves Thursday at 2 p.m. I don't think we would need to reload it necessarily, but it would be nice to have that option if something serious happened. My ds walked out with a debit card the same day he opened his account. You should ask your bank if you are interested in that route. |
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Post by Dictionary on Mar 10, 2015 15:30:11 GMT
- ITA with this, and the fact that they are supposed to be better.
I also agree with opening debit card account for him. Then you can view the purchases, load $ if he needs more and if it's stolen it's protected by the bank. With the cash cards I know American Express will protect them if they are stolen or lost, but it takes time to get it reissued. They have to send you a new one which takes up to 10 days to get. That could be a real pain if your ds is moving around.
ETA - If you go to a local branch of your bank it takes mere seconds to get an account set up and the card loaded. You still have time.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Jun 2, 2024 14:58:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2015 15:31:57 GMT
It's kind of too late to do the separate checking. He leaves Thursday at 2 p.m. I don't think we would need to reload it necessarily, but it would be nice to have that option if something serious happened. Not necessarily. Most banks offer same day or next day delivery for new cards. |
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Post by kmk1112 on Mar 10, 2015 16:30:00 GMT
I have used them for travel before. We had problems with funds getting locked up because of a gas purchase (which it turns out we weren't supposed to use it for at the pump, that was in the small print of the pamphlet that came with it.) I think we also had money tied up by a restaurant tip issue.
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Post by holly on Mar 10, 2015 16:47:35 GMT
We use a bank card for our kids. It works just like a credit card or arm card and I can reload from my bank account. My DS had an automatic reload if it gets to a certain balance because he uses it to by gas and stuff. If uts too late for your bank to issue that I'd jut go with the Visa card and some cash. When I sent DD with the same card to NY she needed cash more than the card so she was limited there. Good luck, I know how stressful it is! On that NY trip one of the girls left her wallet at the airport with all her money and ID!
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by basketdiva on Mar 10, 2015 16:52:00 GMT
Take a photo of the card (front and back) before he goes so you have the account info in the event he loses it or it is stolen
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Mar 10, 2015 17:01:07 GMT
I use these a lot. You can get a visa prepaid gift card (no monthly charges) and those are NOT reloadable. I use a Visa GreenDot card. That can be reloaded . It has a monthly charge if $4.95 I believe. When you buy this card you have to put at least $20 on it at first. Also if you want to reload it thereafter you need something called a Moneypak card (usually they are right next to the GreenDot cards) you put money on the Moneypak card then you go online to the GreenDot site and to reload. It will ask for your Moneypak card number (long number on front of card) then your GreenDot card number (long number on front) exp date and security number then it loads the amount you put on the Moneypak card onto your GreenDot card. I hope all that makes sense...from what Im told all reloadable cards are like this now..which is a pain in the ass if you ask me. Again you only need the Moneypak card for reloading NOT the initial GreenDot card load/purchase .
Ok so now for the GreenDot card- you will get a temp card when you buy the card and load it. You will need to call the number on back and register it (they will ask for cardholder SS# that's normal) the permanent one will be mail to you within 10 days. Using the temp one online is easy and I has never ran into issues BUT If your son of using it for a trip where he will be sliding the card I would not send him with the temp card because sometimes the temps don't work at some places (I ran into this many times) also some places won't accept the temp card because his name isn't on the card (permanent one will has his name).
Also on the GreenDot card you can use them at a bank ATM to withdraw money (you set up a pin with you register your card) this can only be done on the permanent cards not the temp cards.
As for needing to know how much is on the card- I never had to know my amount for the cashier. If there is $20.00 on the card left and I spend $20.01 it will be rejected.
Honestly if your just needed something fast and simple that you're not worried about reloading I would get a Visa gift card. You open the package call the number to activate it and you're done. I would also send him with cash because you can't get money off the gift card from a ATM (at least from my experience)
Good luck.
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Post by vpohlman on Mar 10, 2015 17:07:29 GMT
Send a card, but send cash, too! I'm a band teacher and we take big trips. Theme parks sometimes don't take those cards! I had 2 kids bring $50 cards along last year and I had to loan them money. Cash. It's the best way. And, yes, they are forced to be responsible but that doesn't hurt them a bit! If you really don't trust him with cash, just give him some and have one of the sponsors or the director hold the rest. That's embarrassing enough to make a kid instantly more responsible! And the kids with their own accounts and a debit card were so much happier and it was easier for me and the sponsors. Good luck!
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Post by Jennifer C on Mar 10, 2015 17:56:17 GMT
Will he have one of the magic bands? If so you can attach a card to that.
Jennifer
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Post by Fairlyoddparent on Mar 10, 2015 19:03:46 GMT
It is too late to help you this time but we have found the student Paypal debit card to be very useful. It is linked to our Paypal account but the student can't use more money that you put onto the card. It is used as any other credit card and I can get online and add money at anytime. I can also see exactly where he is spending his money and I can direct deposit a specified amount on a regular basis. Check it out---it is really a good, safe way to let a student have a debit card.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Mar 10, 2015 19:33:31 GMT
I would send a small amount of cash($50) and a visa debit card.
I would take him to the bank and set up a teen checking account with a debit/visa card. Then you can monitor it, transfer money as needed and put a stipulation on there that if there are no funds available, then decline the purchase. Most banks, now give you a card at the time when opening a new account.
I would not send travelers checks, as many businesses will not accept them.
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Post by pretzels on Mar 10, 2015 19:37:30 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions, y'all. We bank at Wells Fargo. I called a local branch, and we can set up a teen checking account and he will walk out with a debit card that day. DH is going to pick him up from school tomorrow afternoon and take him in to open it. We'll send cash, too. They're stopping for supper on Thursday, and then breakfast and lunch on Friday before they get to their hotel, so he'll need it.
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Post by Dori~Mama~Bear on Mar 10, 2015 19:42:06 GMT
I had a prepaid visa card for years. my husband reloaded it from the bank account. It can be cancelled like a regular visa card if lost or stolen. The limit on it when I had mine was $2500.
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Post by anxiousmom on Mar 10, 2015 19:53:01 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions, y'all. We bank at Wells Fargo. I called a local branch, and we can set up a teen checking account and he will walk out with a debit card that day. DH is going to pick him up from school tomorrow afternoon and take him in to open it. We'll send cash, too. They're stopping for supper on Thursday, and then breakfast and lunch on Friday before they get to their hotel, so he'll need it. We bank at Wells Fargo and did exactly this. I have the boys' cards attached to my account so I can easily transfer money and monitor their accounts if I want. They both got a debit card and I love that they are learning about banking and money management in a fairly safe kind of way. |
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Post by pretzels on Mar 10, 2015 19:55:02 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions, y'all. We bank at Wells Fargo. I called a local branch, and we can set up a teen checking account and he will walk out with a debit card that day. DH is going to pick him up from school tomorrow afternoon and take him in to open it. We'll send cash, too. They're stopping for supper on Thursday, and then breakfast and lunch on Friday before they get to their hotel, so he'll need it. We bank at Wells Fargo and did exactly this. I have the boys' cards attached to my account so I can easily transfer money and monitor their accounts if I want. They both got a debit card and I love that they are learning about banking and money management in a fairly safe kind of way. We figure it will be good to transfer money for gas and stuff once he's able to drive. The only problem is if he loses the debit card at Disney World...but we can wire money to his best friend's parents and they will get it to him. |
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Post by darkangel090260 on Mar 10, 2015 22:16:27 GMT
You can wire him money if you need to. He should have a state issued ID. If not set up a pass word o use and tell them to use ID question first. You dont have o be 18 to pick up western union
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Post by eebud on Mar 10, 2015 22:43:23 GMT
I use these a lot. You can get a visa prepaid gift card (no monthly charges) and those are NOT reloadable. I use a Visa GreenDot card. That can be reloaded . It has a monthly charge if $4.95 I believe. When you buy this card you have to put at least $20 on it at first. Also if you want to reload it thereafter you need something called a Moneypak card (usually they are right next to the GreenDot cards) you put money on the Moneypak card then you go online to the GreenDot site and to reload. It will ask for your Moneypak card number (long number on front of card) then your GreenDot card number (long number on front) exp date and security number then it loads the amount you put on the Moneypak card onto your GreenDot card. I hope all that makes sense...from what Im told all reloadable cards are like this now..which is a pain in the ass if you ask me. Again you only need the Moneypak card for reloading NOT the initial GreenDot card load/purchase . Ok so now for the GreenDot card- you will get a temp card when you buy the card and load it. You will need to call the number on back and register it (they will ask for cardholder SS# that's normal) the permanent one will be mail to you within 10 days. Using the temp one online is easy and I has never ran into issues BUT If your son of using it for a trip where he will be sliding the card I would not send him with the temp card because sometimes the temps don't work at some places (I ran into this many times) also some places won't accept the temp card because his name isn't on the card (permanent one will has his name). Also on the GreenDot card you can use them at a bank ATM to withdraw money (you set up a pin with you register your card) this can only be done on the permanent cards not the temp cards. As for needing to know how much is on the card- I never had to know my amount for the cashier. If there is $20.00 on the card left and I spend $20.01 it will be rejected. Honestly if your just needed something fast and simple that you're not worried about reloading I would get a Visa gift card. You open the package call the number to activate it and you're done. I would also send him with cash because you can't get money off the gift card from a ATM (at least from my experience) Good luck. That is EXACTLY the reason that you DO need to know exactly how much is on the card. Your card is getting rejected even though there is money on it. It is not using the $20 that is on it and letting the cashier tell you that you owe .01 cent. When a card gets rejected, many people think it is empty and has no money left on it and they throw the card away. They just threw away $20. If you knew your balance was $20 but your purchase was $20.01, you would tell the cashier to put $20 on the card and then you would pay the other penny. Your card would not get rejected. But, this is a huge hassle and many people throw money away. |
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Post by ametallichick on Mar 10, 2015 22:57:21 GMT
My biggest issue with the prepaid cards are the ones that require you to know the exact amount on the card if there is not enough on the card to make your purchase. I don't think they are all like this anymore, but every prepaid I have had is. Someone on these boards has said they are not all like this but I have never had one that wasn't. You can make a partial purchase with the card but you have to be able to tell the person ringing you up that you want to put $27.58 (if that is what the balance is for a $35 purchase - for example) on the card and pay the rest in cash or other form of payment. Also, what I have run into before is a store that cannot split a payment onto 2 credit cards. The prepaid had to be run as a credit card. I was planning to put the balance on my regular credit card but their system could not handle 2 credit cards in one transaction. I had to dig around for enough cash to pay the balance. I have seen prepaids rejected by a cashier because the card doesn't have enough balance to cover the purchase and the person with the card may not understand that they needed to tell the person the exact amount to put on that card. They throw the card away because they think it is empty when it isn't. Does your son have a bank account? If he does, I would get him a debit card to use against his own bank account. I don't every use a debit card because if my number is stolen, I don't want someone having access to my cash but this is probably one case where I would use a debit card. My paychecks are deposited onto a B of A VISA prepaid card. I can go, for instance let's say I have a $4.00 balance and I am purchasing something that is $7.00, it will take the $4.00 off of the card and I pay the difference. I did not have to tell them what my balance was beforehand. |
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Mar 10, 2015 22:57:21 GMT
I use these a lot. You can get a visa prepaid gift card (no monthly charges) and those are NOT reloadable. I use a Visa GreenDot card. That can be reloaded . It has a monthly charge if $4.95 I believe. When you buy this card you have to put at least $20 on it at first. Also if you want to reload it thereafter you need something called a Moneypak card (usually they are right next to the GreenDot cards) you put money on the Moneypak card then you go online to the GreenDot site and to reload. It will ask for your Moneypak card number (long number on front of card) then your GreenDot card number (long number on front) exp date and security number then it loads the amount you put on the Moneypak card onto your GreenDot card. I hope all that makes sense...from what Im told all reloadable cards are like this now..which is a pain in the ass if you ask me. Again you only need the Moneypak card for reloading NOT the initial GreenDot card load/purchase . Ok so now for the GreenDot card- you will get a temp card when you buy the card and load it. You will need to call the number on back and register it (they will ask for cardholder SS# that's normal) the permanent one will be mail to you within 10 days. Using the temp one online is easy and I has never ran into issues BUT If your son of using it for a trip where he will be sliding the card I would not send him with the temp card because sometimes the temps don't work at some places (I ran into this many times) also some places won't accept the temp card because his name isn't on the card (permanent one will has his name). Also on the GreenDot card you can use them at a bank ATM to withdraw money (you set up a pin with you register your card) this can only be done on the permanent cards not the temp cards. As for needing to know how much is on the card- I never had to know my amount for the cashier. If there is $20.00 on the card left and I spend $20.01 it will be rejected. Honestly if your just needed something fast and simple that you're not worried about reloading I would get a Visa gift card. You open the package call the number to activate it and you're done. I would also send him with cash because you can't get money off the gift card from a ATM (at least from my experience) Good luck. That is EXACTLY the reason that you DO need to know exactly how much is on the card. Your card is getting rejected even though there is money on it. It is not using the $20 that is on it and letting the cashier tell you that you owe .01 cent. When a card gets rejected, many people think it is empty and has no money left on it and they throw the card away. They just threw away $20. If you knew your balance was $20 but your purchase was $20.01, you would tell the cashier to put $20 on the card and then you would pay the other penny. Your card would not get rejected. But, this is a huge hassle and many people throw money away. I should clarify- I never have been asked but I was always aware of how much I had on it. Once it was rejected for a online purchases (the monthly fund was taken out and I forgot). I automatically knew it was for lack of funds. Now I did have a Visa gift card I was given for Christmas and I have right now $2.49 on it and I tried using it and paying the rest of my bill in cash just to use the card up and the clerk told me she can't do that with those cards. I'm not sure if that's the same with the reloadable ones or not. If a card was rejected I would think most people would call first for balance inquiry instead of tossing the thing. |
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Post by eebud on Mar 10, 2015 23:47:57 GMT
That is EXACTLY the reason that you DO need to know exactly how much is on the card. Your card is getting rejected even though there is money on it. It is not using the $20 that is on it and letting the cashier tell you that you owe .01 cent. When a card gets rejected, many people think it is empty and has no money left on it and they throw the card away. They just threw away $20. If you knew your balance was $20 but your purchase was $20.01, you would tell the cashier to put $20 on the card and then you would pay the other penny. Your card would not get rejected. But, this is a huge hassle and many people throw money away. I should clarify- I never have been asked but I was always aware of how much I had on it. Once it was rejected for a online purchases (the monthly fund was taken out and I forgot). I automatically knew it was for lack of funds. Now I did have a Visa gift card I was given for Christmas and I have right now $2.49 on it and I tried using it and paying the rest of my bill in cash just to use the card up and the clerk told me she can't do that with those cards. I'm not sure if that's the same with the reloadable ones or not. If a card was rejected I would think most people would call first for balance inquiry instead of tossing the thing. They probably have some fees they have to pay like they do with credit cards so they probably don't want to do it with that card. The only prepaids I will have now are the ones that are forced on me with a rebate. These are not reloadable cards. I usually hold the card until I have a purchase that is over the amount on the card so that I can use the whole thing at one time but I have had smaller amounts put on the card and paid the rest with another payment. However, a lot of places will not use 2 credit cards as the methods of payment so they won't take the prepaid and use that balance along with using another type of credit card. I have been in line behind people that have thrown away cards because the cashier told them there was no money on it when in reality, the card was only rejected due to not enough money. I stopped people once and told them not to let him throw the card away and to go home and check their balance. Many people do not understand how many of these cards work. |
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Post by eebud on Mar 10, 2015 23:50:00 GMT
My biggest issue with the prepaid cards are the ones that require you to know the exact amount on the card if there is not enough on the card to make your purchase. I don't think they are all like this anymore, but every prepaid I have had is. Someone on these boards has said they are not all like this but I have never had one that wasn't. You can make a partial purchase with the card but you have to be able to tell the person ringing you up that you want to put $27.58 (if that is what the balance is for a $35 purchase - for example) on the card and pay the rest in cash or other form of payment. Also, what I have run into before is a store that cannot split a payment onto 2 credit cards. The prepaid had to be run as a credit card. I was planning to put the balance on my regular credit card but their system could not handle 2 credit cards in one transaction. I had to dig around for enough cash to pay the balance. I have seen prepaids rejected by a cashier because the card doesn't have enough balance to cover the purchase and the person with the card may not understand that they needed to tell the person the exact amount to put on that card. They throw the card away because they think it is empty when it isn't. Does your son have a bank account? If he does, I would get him a debit card to use against his own bank account. I don't every use a debit card because if my number is stolen, I don't want someone having access to my cash but this is probably one case where I would use a debit card. My paychecks are deposited onto a B of A VISA prepaid card. I can go, for instance let's say I have a $4.00 balance and I am purchasing something that is $7.00, it will take the $4.00 off of the card and I pay the difference. I did not have to tell them what my balance was beforehand. That is good that not all of the cards are like this where you need to know the balance but they are still out there. I have one in my wallet right now because of a rebate. I wish they could all recognize the balance and use what is on the card and let you pay the rest with some other form of payment. |
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