3v Prepaid Credit Card

[Darkstar]

Just in case anyone doesn't know about it I wanted to point out the new 3V Card.

Its like a credit card that you top-up. Basically you get a card from participating stores or register online then bring your card to one of the said stores and have them top it up with anything from €20 to €350 in increments of €10, There is a €5 charge per top-up but its worth it.

You can use it anywhere you can use a Visa card. I've been using it for online game subscriptions, e-bay, just about everything. the best thing is you can't over spend.

www.3V.ie

[ciaran]

It's a great idea, although I do think €5 is a bit steep for every time you buy a voucher, I suppose it's to encourage you to buy the bigger ones when you do.

[pablo]

Mastercard have a similar new product in the UK
Not only do kids - or their parents - have to pay £9.95 to buy it, if they lose it it costs a further £4.99 to replace, £1 to get a replacement Pin and 85p for every cash machine withdrawal. Even more appalling, is that it costs parents every time they put money on it. A top up of less than £20 costs 85p, £20-30 costs £1 and so on - up to £4 if generous relatives want to stick £150 or more on it. BlueCorner - the pre-paid card issuer behind the product - argues that is has to pass on the 'merchant acquirer fees' paid every time the card is used. But would you sign up to a bank account if you had to pay to open it, pay to put money in and take it out and then never earn any interest?
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/cash/story/0,,1697040,00.html

The thing is, maybe they are handy for online purchases. But kids aged under 18 don't really need these types of cards IMHO. What it does (what the companies want) is to get the kids used to the idea of spending with cards from an early age.

[Jack B. Badd]

I dunno. It could be useful for one off spends like if you're booking a holiday online or something. If you were doing a lot of internet shopping you'd be better off getting a credit card from the bank.

[karilyn]

one question do you have to pay the nasty govnment levy on this card?

, as ok, 5 quid per top up if done for 1 large transaction is better value than the nasty visa bill + interest.
still thought you could get a once off credit card no from AIB.

[Darkstar]

nope :) its great for me because I cant get a credit card, whereas if i was a broke unemployed student they'd fling the things at me ><

[Jack B. Badd]

nope :) its great for me because I cant get a credit card, whereas if i was a broke unemployed student they'd fling the things at me ><

And how! The real bitch is when they send you a letter saying you are preapproved for such and such a card and have the form filled out for you so that all you have to do is sign it. That really pisses me off! If I want the bloody card I'll apply for it. Stop trying to do away with my already depleted funds! Phew, end of rant.

[ciaran]

Well you're paying the cash in advance so you wouldn't get charged interest, only the government levy which I don't think you get charged. But if you add up all those €5's you'd get up to the same amount pretty quickly anyway if you're using it much.

[giggles]

They are handy lil things alright

But they aren't the greatest.

You can get the money you dont use refunded but it takes ages


Its kind of annoying as well because you still have to actually go to a shop and top up your card...


And they are only valid for one month...

And because your number is on a bit of paper its so easy to lose one of them
(happened my friend)