A lot of people have the tendency to get and buy products on impulse. Eventually, they find themselves regretting their sudden decision to buy or get the products offered to them. This also applies in choosing and getting prepaid debit cards and pre paid credit cards. If you want to get the right prepaid card suitable to your personal needs, you must be rational, inquisitive and diligent enough to shop around for the different prepaid card programs. But, how could you choose the right prepaid cards? To help you in this quest, this article will be providing tips in choosing and getting the right prepaid credit cards or debit cards.

Tip 1: Avoid the Costliest and Most Frequently Incurred fees. – This requires an individual to look closely at the fees and common charges imposed on prepaid debit cards. To get the right prepaid card, you need to look for cards which do not require transaction fees, charge less than $5 for maintenance fees, and charge at most $5 for loading fees. By taking these fees and charges into consideration, for sure you will be able to find a prepaid debit card or credit card that will not devoid you of much of your savings and income.

Tip 2: Look for a prepaid card program that provides an online feature of managing your credit and purchases. – A lot of credit companies and banks provide online platforms for checking and monitoring your prepaid cards. So, make sure that the card you are applying for provides this special feature so that you could be assured of knowing how you spend the money you load onto your prepaid cards and determine the status of your prepaid account.

Tip 3: Make sure that the prepaid debit card you will get is accepted everywhere. -  Make certain that the prepaid card that you select is backed by major card networks such as Visa and Mastercard. It is important so that you could be assured of having your prepaid card accepted in most Automated Teller Machines (ATM’s) and commercials stores and shops worldwide.

Use these helpful tips and soon you will be able to locate the right prepaid card that will suit your needs and provide you much convenience. By then you will realize the significance of being diligent, inquisitive and rational enough in choosing for yourself the right prepaid credit card or prepaid debit card.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Getting a prepaid debit card is easy, there is no question to that.  However, despite the convenience of getting a debit card, consumers must still spend time comparing and shopping around before making a choice.  Why?  Although you don’t have to worry about interest rate fees and late penalty fees, there are other costs that you need to be aware of.

Basic Fees Associated with Prepaid Cards

Activation Fee. Activation fees can range from $9 to as much as $100, depending on the issuer and the type of prepaid card.

Negative Balance Fees. Normally, debit cardholders are not allowed to overdraw.  However, there are cases when your bill can exceed your available balance, and you will be charged with a negative balance fee.

Decline Fees. Since overdraw is not allowed, your transaction will be declined if you try to use your debit card for payment without sufficient balance in your account.  However, you can get penalized with decline charges.

Daily Limit Fees. Some issuers impose a daily limit or a maximum amount of charge per day.  Thus, once you reached that limit, your transaction can still be declined even if you have existing funds in your account.

Cash Advance Charges. You can withdraw cash from your debit account using an ATM.  However, you can also incur cash advance charges.

Reloading Fees. If you reload your debit card by making a direct deposit, no extra fees shall be charged.  However, if you try to reload using other services, you may incur an additional reloading charge.

Additional Charges. Some gas stations, restaurants, hotels and car rental service who accept debit card payment may impose a “hold” or extra charge on your bills.

ATM Balance inquiry. There can be a minimal fee of $1 or less each time you check your balance from the ATM.

Maintenance Fees. Some prepaid card issuers charge a monthly maintenance cost, aside from the yearly activation fee.

Inactivity Charge. You may also get penalized if you fail to use your debit card on any transaction for more than 60 days.

Customer service Fee. Before calling your debit card’s Helpline, make sure that you understand the possible fees you can incur.  Not all issuer provide a free helpline.

Transaction Charges. Most prepaid debit card issuers will charge you an additional cost for each transaction you make- be it offline or online.

Account termination fee. If you want to close out the account, you can be charged with a termination cost as well.

Card replacement. In case of lost, you must pay a fee if you request for a replacement.

Card renewal. Your prepaid card will expire after a certain period (usually three years or longer).  After that period, you will pay an extra fee for requesting a new card.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards,prepaid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Prepaid Cell Phone cards can really save you money. Especially if your home phone doesn’t have a good international phone plan, you can get a phone card instead of having to cancel your whole service.

Not all prepaid phone card services are alike. You really need to make sure you are working with a reputable company.

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Some of the complaints I’ve heard and experienced have been

• bad (or no) customer service
• Shorted minuted
• Bad connections
• Being charged a minute even if the call didn’t connect
• Hidden fees for using a pay phone
• Maintenance fees in super small script!
• Pin numbers that don’t work – but you can’t get a hold of the issuerer since their 800 number is always busy

If you want to avoid this type of trouble, before you buy your next prepaid phone card, make sure you know the answers to these questions:

• Read the information provided carefully. They have to disclose all maintenance fees up front. Be on the look out for surcharges, fees for calling from a pay phone, fees for making calls to cell phones or 800 numbers.
• Look for expiration dates. Some cards have them and whatever minutes you haven’t used on the card when it expires are forfeited. You won’t get them rolled into a new card
• Look for a customer service phone number on the card. Call it if you can before you buy the card. Try to see how easy it is to get your questions answered. If you can’t get thru that can be an indicator of trouble ahead
• Is the rate really low? Much lower than most companies, BEWARE! That can mean that there maybe hidden fess that more than make up for the savings.
• Make sure the card comes sealed in a package with the pin number hidden. Its too easy for someone to write down pin numbers and activate a card without it ever leaving the store. Wouldn’t you hate to buy a card, get it home and find out there are no minutes left on it!
• Make sure you understand how to use the card and the instructions are clear
• Make sure you know what the rates truly are. International rates are generally more than the domestic rates.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!