Mark Carolin

Posts Tagged ‘Prepaid Credit Card’

Large corporations need to keep track of how the executives are spending their money on business expenses. The busy executive does not have time to spend doing a lot of paper work explaining how he is using his allowance on conducting business. The prepaid credit card helps both the corporation and the busy executive because they keep an accounting record and send it to both parties. This has been a great innovation for large corporations who have many people working and needing multiple things. Instead of having to get a purchase order the executive gets a budget based on the type of work they are doing along with the budget they get a Prepaid Credit Card that they can use to maintain business as usual. This saves a lot of time plus it frees the executive to make decisions on some of the transactions that must be made.

Prepaid Credit Cards

Prepaid credit cards usually have a logo from one of the major companies such as MasterCard(TM), Visa(TM) and Discover(TM) which depicts to the merchant that he is protected by the lending institution. This makes it much easier for the user to buy the things he needs and make the reservations that he wants. Now you can create your own card and have your picture placed on the card if you like. Major corporations like for business to know that it is their company s they may have their corporation logo on the card. You can have the card made to your liking while still holding the major holders logo in the bottom corner.

Prepaid credit cards have been around for over ten years now, although they are just now coming into the spotlight. Prepaid credit cards are basically credit cards backed by major credit card companies that offer you the ability to deposit money onto the card and then use it for purchases. You are not allowed to spend anything more than you have deposited in most cases. It is a great way to teach students good financial responsibility. There are a lot of advantages to prepaid credit cards, and only a few disadvantages. However, before committing to any prepaid credit cards, you should be clear on the company’s rules and fees.

No Credit Checks

One great thing about prepaid credit cards is that there is usually no credit check required. This makes prepaid credit cards ideal for those with lousy credit scores or even those without any previous credit to build their credit. If you have bad credit, this is a nice way to slowly rebuild your credit score. Creditors will see the card on your report and see if you use it responsibly and often.

No APR

Many prepaid credit cards offer no APR on money deposited and your purchases. Some do charge high interest rates on your balances however, so beware. There is no reason you should pay a monthly interest rate on money you have deposited or on purchases. Therefore, you should certainly look for cards that offer no APR.

Fees

Just like the bank, some prepaid credit cards charge fees on your transactions. Some prepaid credit cards will charge you ATM fees or cash withdrawal fees. These are the most common fees with prepaid credit cards. Some cards however may try to charge you a monthly usage fee. Try to get a
prepaid credit card that does not charge this monthly fee. They exist out there, so just search. You will save yourself a lot in the long run by avoiding a monthly fee on your prepaid credit cards.

Direct Deposit

Prepaid credit cards often have the ability to allow you to directly deposit your check onto your card. This eliminates the need to go to the bank each week. This is the perfect option for the cardholder that uses their prepaid credit card for everything. Take advantage of these convenient options, as they can save you time. The truth is, prepaid credit cards are responsible ways to spend money. They give you the option
of using your money anywhere credit cards are taken without leaving you with a high monthly bill.

Prepaid credit cards can also offer reward programs and other incentives similar to regular cards. They are convenient and low risk. As with any credit card, make sure your prepaid credit cards have terms which with you agree. It is better to read everything before rather than later.

Most people could not live with their credit cards today, using that little piece of plastic for everything from buying groceries to traveling abroad. However, those with less than stellar credit histories may be hard-pressed to find a company that will offer them a revolving line of credit without any collateral attached. This is where prepaid credit cards come into play.

What is a Prepaid Credit Card?

Prepaid credit cards are attached to a checking or savings account. When the card is used to make a purchase, the money comes directly out of the account. The card allows you to continue to charge as long, as there is money in the account. When the balance is gone, the card can no longer be used until cash is deposited into the account once again. Because the card holder is not charging up debt when using the card, there is no interest payment or risk of taking on more debt than you can handle.

Benefits

Prepaid credit cards may be a good choice for someone who is unable to get approved for a standard credit account. Some companies, such as hotels and rental car agencies, require a credit card number to make a reservation. You can use a prepaid card for these purposes without running up debt or paying interest charges on the amount. The card is much easier to get than other types of credit, and you don’t have to worry about the risk of taking on more debt than you can handle and putting yourself in a difficult financial position.

Drawbacks

While prepaid credit cards can be a good option for some, there are some drawbacks to using these for difficult financial situations. First, the funds must be in your checking or savings account in order for you to be able to use the card. This is little help is you are in a tight spot and need a little extra help to make ends meet until the next paycheck. The other problem is that some companies may not accept prepaid cards for payment of monthly expenses because they worry that the money may not be in the account when it comes time to pay the bill.

Alternatives

There are additional options to these credits cards when you are in a financial pinch. An emergency line of credit deposits money directly into your checking account so you can write checks or pay bills without worrying about overdraft or late fees while you wait for the next paycheck to come. These accounts are only used when you need them, and the balances can be paid back in full at any time or in minimum monthly payments for a small finance charge.

The advantage to an emergency line of credit over prepaid cards is that the money you need goes directly into your account. The person or company you write a check to never needs to know that the money came from an emergency fund. This is an excellent choice for covering payments when money is tight.

In today’s society the convenience of credit cards are making them more and more popular, this means that more people are apply for a card to make purchasing both goods and services much easier. This can actually be a difficult task because you generally need to have good credit and a reasonably high and stable monthly income so the bank will be confident with your ability to pay back your debt on time. Unfortunately, there are people that do not meet these requirements and get rejected by the financing companies. For them there is an alternative to a traditional credit card in the form of a prepaid visa. This can be used as practice to owning a more traditional card and will teach you the right way to use credit without any negative effects when you make a mistake.

Maintaining Good Credit Standing

In today’s world of finances it is vital to keep your credit rating as high as possible so lenders will be confident in your ability to own and use a credit card responsibly. It is actually better to begin making good financial decision early in your adulthood so when it comes time for you to own a card you will have the proper understanding of your finances and can make responsible financial decisions. A good way to practice this is by using a prepaid visa; it will allow you to make mistakes when it comes to figuring out your budget without having a negative effect on your credit. That way you will be more confident in your abilities when it comes time for the more traditional lines of credit.

Increasing your Debt History

When it comes to debt in general life will inevitably get in the way which may force you to increase the amount of debt that you owe. Things such as purchasing vehicles, homes, or emergencies that may arise can all lead to a very large amount of debt that can become overwhelming if you let it get out of control. This can also have a negative impact on your creditworthiness which will make it more difficult when you need access to more funds. If you have more debt than you can pay back it will make you life more stressful and it will be difficult to get your finances back on track quickly.

This is why it is important to begin with a good credit score and to maintain it religiously. This is also where they lessons learned from having a prepaid visa card will come in handy, because it will have already taught you what you will need to know when it comes to budgeting your finances. A good credit rating is a must if you want to get a credit card or any other type of loan that you may need. This also means that you will be able to get better rates or even a higher credit limit on your credit card as opposed to someone who has less than perfect credit.

Be a Responsible Credit Owner

It is no secret to have a better credit rating you need to be responsible when it comes to your finances. A prepaid visa credit card will give you the tools you need to learn how to manage your money better, so that when it comes time to get a credit card you will not become overwhelmed. Being responsible when it comes to managing your money will allow your lending institution to see that you are a credible individual and that you will have the money or resources that you will need to pay back your debt on time.

It is no secret that a visa card can give you limitless possibilities or purchasing power, but with that comes a great responsibility to manage your debt wisely. If you do not want to constantly see debt in your future then it will allow you to consider what you are spending more carefully, which will allow you to maintain a good credit score. This will give you far more advantages in the future than one credit card can, but it is a starting place for everyone.

Perhaps the first thing to be said is that a prepaid credit card is something of a misnomer. If something has been prepaid, then it is not strictly speaking, of course, a “credit” transaction. But the name has caught on because prepaid “credit” cards can be used – for most intents and purposes – just like a standard credit card.

The principle behind the prepaid credit card is rather akin to the – now old-fashioned – idea of a book or record token, or a prepaid phone card. In other words, a payment is made in advance against an anticipated future purchase and, provided there are sufficient funds represented by the token or the prepaid card, the transaction can proceed without the need for any cash payment at the time of the purchase.

Prepayment is made by “loading” the card with cash paid in at the Post Office, a bank, a PayPoint or Payzone till. This can be made through an employer, a transfer through a bank, or by using a standard credit card. The prepaid card is then ready to be used in just the same way as a normal credit card would be used.

To complete a purchase, you will need to key in a PIN number at the shop counter and the amount of the transaction is deducted straight away from the balance on the card. The prepaid card can be used in the same way for shopping online.

There are a number of benefits to using a prepaid credit card:

o Perhaps the most important is the control it exercises over spending. Since all purchases are prepaid, it means that you are accumulating no debts through its use and spending is limited to however much has been pre-loaded onto the card:

o It can be a good way of controlling a child’s spending, for example, with a monthly statement of how the money has been spent;

o Carrying a pre-paid card is also somewhat more convenient and safer to carry than cash;

o For similar reasons, many such cards are also an ideal alternative to travellers’ cheques when travelling abroad. Some providers of prepaid credit cards now also offer currencies such as Euros and US Dollars for easier use when withdrawing the pre-loaded cash abroad. Once again, they are more convenient and probably safer than carrying local currency.

Because prepaid credit cards involve no actual spending on credit, an applicant’s credit history or rating is irrelevant to the card-provider, so they will be issued without the usual credit reference checks.

Of course there are charges involved in obtaining and using a prepaid credit card and these are probably the main drawback. Some providers may charge an application fee when the card is first issued and others might charge a monthly subscription fee. There may be fees for loading the card with cash and/or fees for making purchases and withdrawing cash. If the card is lost or stolen, some providers might charge for the issue of a replacement and still other providers might charge a renewal fee when the existing card expires.

When considering just how useful prepaid credit cards might be for you and your family, therefore, it would be important to consider how much you are likely to pay for their use.