Advice on prepaid credit cards in the UK please?

Question

Hi. I have a bad credit history and have only got an electron card. I don't want to get anymore credit but would like a credit card so I am able to book things and buy online.Does anyone know anything about prepaid credit cards? Are there different ones? Which are cheaper etc? Any advice would be very useful thanks.

Answer 1

Hi Benchgirl,
First of let me say that there are a few misinformed individuals out there who are criticizing prepaid cards for no reason whatsoever. The simple fact is that prepaid cards are NOT for everyone but they can be absolutely godsent for some.

If you have a bad credit history, do not have a bank account or do not want to have a bank account or do not want to get into debt, then prepaid is fantastic.

In terms of choices, i'd list the following

1. Splash Plastic - http://www.splashplastic.com - the most stable offering, well priced and definitely one i would recommend.

2. Quidity Card - http://www.quiditycard.com - again very good but the fees are slightly higher than Splash although both splash and quidity are provided by the same firm

3. Cashplus - http://www.mycahsplus.co.uk - a good offering - more expensive than 1 and 2 above with one additional drawback - it is a mastercard product as oppossed to Maestro - so is the target of fraud more often - so if you are risk averse go for 1 or 2

4. ExtremeCred - http://www.extremecred.com - good looking card but 1,2 and 3 are definitely better. Also with extremecred, you need a debit card to apply for the card which kind of beats the purpose of having a card.

Now if you really want to confuse yourself, visit

1. http://www.moneysupermarket.com/cards/credit_card.asp
and select prepaid cards and quick search

or visit

2. http://www.which-prepaid-card.co.uk/features/compare-cards-prepaid.html

Lots of options, i'd recommend Splash or Quidity with Cahsplus a good alternative. Avoid anything provided by the firm Bluecorner (Affinity Cards) as the cards have lots of problems and the last thing you want to do is have to end up cleaning dishes in a restaurant cuz your card didnt work!!!

Hope all this helps and forget all the ignorant fools who say prepay is a rip off - they dont realise what it is because they dont need prepaid!!

Have fun!!

Cheers

Psycho_RudeBoy

Answer 2

Though prepaid credit cards are accepted at any regular retailer that carries the credit card logo, they are not a ‘credit’ card in the normal terms, since the issuer does not extend you any credit facility. Instead your spending limit depends on the amount of money you carry on the credit card at any point of time.

After the amount on the card is exhausted, you can either purchase another prepaid credit card or opt to transfer money to another card you hold, based on the nature of the card program.

Though prepaid credit cards resemble debit credit cards a lot, the two are vastly different. When you use debit cards for any purchase, your shopping will be automatically debited from your bank account. On other hand, the purchases made with prepaid cards are deducted from the balance present on the card.

The prepaid cards offer various benefits like:

Interest-free purchases

People with a bad credit history are eligible to apply for a credit card.

The credit limit varies according to the balance available on the card.

Answer 3

I've read a little about them. They are a rip-off. I'm sure they charge you to put money on them and charge you to use them. By the time you take this into account any money you have saved by shopping online has been wasted using the card. Best bet is try to resist the shopping, cut down on the money you owe and build up a better credit rating. It's not easy but hey, if you can't afford it, don't get it.

Answer 4

The Daily Mirror has been promoting one of these cards called Quidity. If you buy through the Daily Mirror you dont have to pay any initial charge provided you prepay more than about £20.

The product is being recomended by the Mirror so it is almost certainly not a rip off. The paper would not risk its reputation by promoting a dodgy product. Try www.quiditycard.com

Buy through the daily mirror to avoid £7.95 initial charge, you will have to look out for adverts in the paper.

Answer 5

I have one of these, it is brilliant for online shopping without the hassle of risky paypal. All the information on where to get it and how much it costs are on the website.
To those who sneer and say it is expensive, it costs less than the charges for missing a credit card payment or exceeding your credit limit.
And it is gold for that extra snob value.

Answer 6

I'd never heard of them but just had a quick look.You are charged to set one up and pay money into it and you can only spend what you save but it seems too easy to me.Don't take my word for it but the Maestro card looks the cheapest and it offers the lowest limit so you can keep your spending in check.Really you should talk to a professional and get the right advice.

Answer 7

To be perfectly honest, I have never heard of pre-paid credit cards.
I don't honestly know what country has this.
The only solution I would think, would be for you to get yourself a Pay Pal account.
Some companies honour this as a method of payment.
I believe it is quiet easy to open an account as long as you meet their criteria.
For more information visit www.paypay.co.uk
Good Luck!

Answer 8

I don't know about bank accounts but prepay credit cards are readily available and won't be a problem

Answer 9

To know more about credit card visit

http://creditcardbiz.blogspot.com

and also visit

http://onlinepaymentoption.blogspot.com

Answer 10

Try one of these cards,only £5 a month charges and no international charges if you travel abroad frequently.
http://www.mycashplus.co.uk