Topic Posted by: Julianne
Date Posted: Tue Apr 29 2:52:40 2008
Additional Comments: I see them at the grocery story where you can buy them and they are already loaded with $25, $50, $100. I want one to order something from the Home Shopping Network but do not want to use my real visa card. Because sometimes those companies on tv send you stuff and then every 30 days send you another supply and charge it to your card. I want to make a one time purchase only so I was thinking those throw away visa cards are the way to go. Has anyone ever used one?
Posted by: Mitch Date posted: Tue Apr 29 20:53:01 2008
Message: I had one and bought a few small things with it. I couldn't remember how much was available on it so I called the 800 number on the back and they told me. So the next thing I purchased, which was more than the balance, I told the sales woman to charge the exact balance amount and I would pay the rest in cash. It worked out OK.
Posted by: Mz Chris Date posted: Tue Apr 29 12:29:13 2008
Message: mrchris gave me one he got as a little thank you thing at work. I took a friend to lunch, and it was refused. The lunch was under the $20 on the card, but (I now know) restaurants automatically authorize an extra amount for the tip (which I had cash I was going to leave on the table for) so it was denied because it was over the balance. If it hadn't been a close friend I would have been embarrassed, but it was a confusing pain.
Posted by: Stella Date posted: Tue Apr 29 11:34:28 2008
Message: I got one as a birthday gift. I don't like them. If you use it and have a balance YOU have to know what that balance is. There is no way a cashier can tell how much you have left. You have to tell them what the balance is and they have to try and run it through...if you are over a penny it will be refused. Cashiers don't like running it through numerous times trying to guess how much is on it. Using it for what you want to do sounds ok. But is there the same protection credit cards have?
I don't think you have the power of disputing a purchase. I have a credit card that I chose a maximum of $300.00. I use this for all my internet purchasing.
I got them a few times as a rebate. The only problem with them is can't go over the dollar amount on the card. The first time I used one it was a $50 card, and my purchase was 40 some odd dollars. I was left with a few dollars on the card. I couldn't use the card for any purchase over the few dollars that was on there, even if I was going to pay cash for the rest. The card will not work if the purchase amount is over what is left on the card. So I went to the grocery store and used the self-help lane, put in cash until my balance was exactly what I had on the card, then swiped the card.
The next time I got one of those in the form of a rebate, I went to a store I frequent and bought a store card because you don't have the same problem with those. If you only have a few dollars on the store card, they can swipe the card first and it will deduct what is left on the card from what you owe, then you can pay cash for the rest (or put it on a credit card).
Posted by: Denise Date posted: Tue Apr 29 9:11:36 2008
Message: I have purchased them as a gift for my nieces to use while travelling. You do pay a purchase fee.. I think it was something like $3.50 or so and there is an expiry date.
Posted by: Cassies grandma Date posted: Tue Apr 29 7:45:13 2008
Message: We just got 2 in the mail as rebates on our new cell phones. They are the same as a gift card. I think they would be great gifts too.
