Author	[Modern View]
Slowpoke 08-04-2012 22:59:11 75.36.159.148 Report to Moderator	I want a prepaid card to use at a place that has recurring charges each month. I've heard it can be almost impossible to stop automatic payments on a regular card. I figure if there's only a couple month's amount on a prepaid card they can't get any more. But the card's fine print says that if there's not enough funds on the card, the card company will bill me for the difference + fees. Nothing is mentioned about a zero balance. Seems to me that would turn it into a regular credit card. And of course they all have fees to buy the card & reload it, most have monthly charges, non-use charges and cancellation fees. Pretty much except American Express, which seems to be the cheapest. Trouble is they don't take it at the place I want to sign up. Any helpful info from experience? [Reply]   [No Email]
oldfarmtractor 08-06-2012 08:45:42 71.155.239.64 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-04-2012 22:59:11   I use my credit union and its technology. I opened an second bank account with checking and savings and credit. My retirement check goes into the primary which also has my primary credit card. At the same time, part of the check goes to the second account from which I pay, via direct withdrawal, utilities and regular monthly charges, ie, cell phone, regular phone. I absolutely refuse to use a debit card due to the liability of charges made by an identity thief. I pay both credit cards by moving money from accounts to the credit card on a biweekly basis. [Reply]  [No Email]
Dick2 08-05-2012 16:33:53 174.26.218.15 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-04-2012 22:59:11   Just carry cash and avoid the charges. [Reply]  [No Email]
Wile E 08-05-2012 17:23:50 68.188.184.133 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Dick2, 08-05-2012 16:33:53   Amen to that Brother. [Reply]  [No Email]
Slowpoke 08-05-2012 16:44:07 75.36.153.233 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Dick2, 08-05-2012 16:33:53   I went to a reputable scaffolding sales company and tried to pay with a check, as I have in the past. Sorry, no more checks. I pulled out paper money and the guy said "Sorry, we no longer accept cash either. Credit or debit only" [Reply]  [No Email]
oldfarmtractor 08-06-2012 08:41:20 71.155.239.64 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-05-2012 16:44:07   I think that if a company refused cash, I would promptly turn them over to the feds. Cash is good for any debt, public or private. [Reply]  [No Email]
730d se 08-05-2012 15:51:52 68.189.186.53 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-04-2012 22:59:11   Prepaid debit cards (unless it is a gift from someone) rank down there with title loans and pawn shops. There is enormous profit in having someone spend their money BEFORE a transactions of goods or services. They make money on the float of your money, coupled with endless fees and extra charges if you so much as step outside of the "9 dots" of rules. Find another more credible company with which to do business. [Reply]  [No Email]
JDseller 08-05-2012 08:35:56 208.126.196.144 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-04-2012 22:59:11   Harold has the simplest way to do it and be safe. "Dedicated checking account with debit card" You will generate the fewest fees and the checking account would be easiest to stop. The reason American Express is not taken by many merchants it that they and Discover have a much higher processing/merchant fees. Most cards cost the merchant 2-3% Discover and American Express are 4-5%. Where do you think those refund dollars/perks come from?? They just charge the merchant more. Most of the dealers I have worked at just took Visa/Master Card. If you wanted to use the other we would charge you the additional fee that the card charged us. Think about it. You are buying a $3500 lawn tractor and want it on a credit card. The dealer may only be making $350-450 on the mower. You then want to use a Discover Card. They charge an extra 2% or $70. The way we did it was to pass that on to the customer. Back to your issue. I would not get a separate credit card just for this charge. A credit card will have much higher fees and are harder to limit your exposure. It could be abused up to the limit before you may catch it. A separate checking account/debit card would be limited to just the amount of money in the account. Most banks have checking accounts that will charge you nothing if you keep a few hundred dollars in the account. Plus the debit cards are cheap too. Mine cost me a $1 a month or $12 each year. That is cheaper than the average Credit card fee. [Reply]  [No Email]
Slowpoke 08-05-2012 13:58:57 75.36.157.163 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to JDseller, 08-05-2012 08:35:56   At one time I sold Frantz Oil Cleaners and accepted Bankamericard when it first came out. The fee was 7%. [Reply]  [No Email]
C.R. 08-05-2012 08:26:28 72.251.63.46 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-04-2012 22:59:11   dont use them to pay at the gas pump lots of places put a $75.00 hold on your account that you will not get back for about two months if you pay at the pump [Reply]  [No Email]
TomH in Pa 08-05-2012 07:00:53 67.235.10.94 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-04-2012 22:59:11   I would think very hard about signing up at a place that insists on automatic payments on a credit card. Usually it's because after the first month you realize you're not getting your money's worth. Remember those disks you used to get from America Online? Their business model was to sign people up and make it nearly impossible to quit; they're still collection millions of dollars a month from people who can't figure out how to stop it. [Reply]  [No Email]
Slowpoke 08-05-2012 14:16:18 75.36.156.109 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to TomH in Pa, 08-05-2012 07:00:53   Common places that insist on automatic charges to a credit card, called EFT or electronic funds transfer, are cable and satallite TV providers and gyms. So would the City run manditory garbage collection service if it could. At least that's the way it is on the West coast. [Reply]  [No Email]
TomH in Pa 08-05-2012 16:01:29 67.235.10.94 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-05-2012 14:16:18   EFT and automatic charges are different, you can transfer funds electronically whether it's an automatic charge or not. IF (and only if) it's a reputable company that you know and trust, then you can decide whether to give them permission to pull money out of your bank account whenever they want for as long as they want. Personally I'd shop elsewhere. None of the alternatives people are suggesting (special card, back account, etc) truly help because once you sign up for automatic payments you have signed a contract and they can go after you for the payments if you try to cut them off. They usually won't bother, but they can. Your only defense is when they make it nearly impossible to terminate (as AOL did). [Reply]  [No Email]
dhermes 08-06-2012 08:06:54 24.248.193.103 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to TomH in Pa, 08-05-2012 16:01:29   Agreed. As a business we have to allow EFTs to some governmental agencies (sales tax, use tax, etc..) and we set up a seperate account that we fund for those specific items. I don't want some 6 fingered government clerk to pull 200,000 out of the account when it is supposed to be 2000.00. If the money isn't there the EFT doesn't go through. Try getting your $200,000 back from the government once they have it. [Reply]  [No Email]
Slowpoke 08-05-2012 16:33:41 75.36.153.233 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to TomH in Pa, 08-05-2012 16:01:29   TomH, I like the way you put it. I found out that the company will accept checks, credit cards, debit cards, and POSTAL MONEY ORDERS. So there I have the answer. No need to worry about canceling or anything. When time is up it's up to me to renew or not! [Reply]  [No Email]
Harold Hubbard 08-05-2012 05:39:39 205.209.16.24 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-04-2012 22:59:11   Dedicated checking account with debit card. Deposit only what you want them to get. Don't use the card or the account for anything else. [Reply]  [No Email]
Slowpoke 08-05-2012 13:53:11 75.36.157.163 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Harold Hubbard, 08-05-2012 05:39:39   Hmmm...So if a debit charge comes in and there's no or very little money in the checking account, won't the bank hit me for insufficient funds? Or is that only when using a check? I already have a personal checking account with a Visa debit card but can't risk that one. So should I set up another one? [Reply]  [No Email]
MeAnthony 08-05-2012 19:33:31 204.106.253.41 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-05-2012 13:53:11   I'm no financial pro, but you should ask your bank about that one. At my bank, you have to sign up for overdraft protection. This means they will pay a charge that overdraws your account, but will then charge you a $32 overdraft fee. However, if you decline overdraft protection, any charge for which there are not sufficient funds already in the account will be declined. I deal with a small bank, Southern Michigan Bank & Trust headquartered in Coldwater, MI. Maybe their policies are different because they aren't a huge chain. They closed my local branch, so now it's a 12 mile drive to the next one for me. Out of my way, yes...but I plan ahead, take care of deposits when I'm in that direction anyway and their customer service has always been top shelf over the years that I've been doing business with them. Good luck, Anthony [Reply]  [No Email]
JDseller 08-05-2012 15:20:49 208.126.196.144 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-05-2012 13:53:11   I have not seen any bank charging a fee for Debit card transactions. They just will not allow a transaction if you don't have any money in the account. I have a card on a separate account for an association's dues that I belong too. That is the only thing paid out of that account. It is filled from my regular account with an automatic transfer each month. So if you look in the account after the dues are paid there is a zero balance. It was easy to setup and makes it safe. My main checking account does not have any electronic access. I have two other checking account that are tied to my debit cards. I just transfer money into them as needed. If I am away from home and suddenly need more o one of the cards I just call the bank and transfer some over. It make a little more work but it makes the potential lost be small if some one tried to get my money. I have not used a regular credit card for over ten years. I have never had any issues with them. It just takes one phone call to my bank to close the card. I did it once when a parts supplier tried to double bill me. [Reply]  [No Email]
patsdeere 08-04-2012 23:38:22 76.103.237.94 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-04-2012 22:59:11   I would avoid the prepaid MC/Visa things as the fees can kill you. What about a separate charge card that if they don't cancel the monthly fee you just cancel the card? No fees, no hassle and easy. [Reply]  [No Email]
Slowpoke 08-04-2012 23:59:23 75.36.148.67 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to patsdeere, 08-04-2012 23:38:22   What would be a separate charge card? A regular Visa/Master Card? I haven't had any mailed offers lately for new cards, most of the ones I do have send offers for balance transfers. [Reply]  [No Email]
patsdeere 08-05-2012 11:30:54 76.103.237.94 Report to Moderator	Re: OT: Pepaid Visa/Master/other Cards in reply to Slowpoke, 08-04-2012 23:59:23   That would be it. I have one that I use for "risky" situations ie first time purchase from less than known companies etc. And if it goes bad I simply cancel the card and get another one. Only have had to do it once, but it made it very easy. [Reply]  [No Email]