Finding the Best Prepaid Cards

Finding the best pre paid cards is typically a matter of locating the most appropriate card for your circumstances and what is 'best' for one person may not be 'best' for you. So you need to look at whether the card suits your needs, and whether you consider it to be value for money.

It may be worth taking a moment to look at a number of prepaid cards to compare the deals that they have on offer. Here are some questions that might help you make a decision.

What kind of card is it?

The best prepaid cards may be those that can be widely used, so well known systems like MasterCard would typically meet this requirement as its acceptance mark is shown in shops and restaurants all over the world.

Not only can you typically use prepaid cards in retail outlets, they can also typically be used for online purchases, and to withdraw cash at many ATMs.

How it can prepaid cards be topped up?

The most suitable prepaid cards for you may be those that can be topped up in a convenient manner that fits your lifestyle. So look for cards that:

• Can be topped up with cash at PayPoint terminals;
• Can accept electronic transfers of money from another bank account of yours, or from your workplace to pay in your wages.

What are the charges involved?

This is where you may be able to sort what you consider are the best prepaid cards from the not-so great. Remember that if you only use the card online, then that is the figure to be most concerned with. Alternatively, if you only use the card to withdraw cash, a card provider's charges for other transactions may typically be irrelevant.

Here are some of the things that card providers often charge for but do note that what is charged for by one prepaid card provider may not be charged for by another:

• Getting the card in the first place. Essentially an administration fee to cover the cost of the card itself;
• Lost or replacement cards. This is clearly an avoidable charge if you take good care of it;
• A management fee. Usually monthly, some prepaid card providers levy a fee similar to those charged by conventional bank accounts;
• Cash withdrawal charges. Some of the prepaid cards on the market will charge you for using an ATM, whether in the UK or abroad;
• Transaction fees. Some providers make a charge every time you make a purchase, which is worth bearing in mind so that you can do as few transactions as possible;
• Topping up fees;
• SMS messages (to keep you up to date with your card usage); and
• The cost of calling the customer service line. Make sure you are aware whether the telephone number is a premium one, as calls to customer service could be expensive.

When you have weighed up the pros and cons of each card, you should have a shortlist of the best prepaid cards to choose from.

Gary Miller-Cheevers is the CEO of Speed-e-card.com, a UK based prepaid debit card provider. The Speed-e-card is like a normal credit or debit card, but with no late fee or interest charges. It is unique in that a speed-e-loans payday loan can be loaded onto the card, once it is activated. Customers also get a free e-bank account, so can use the card as they would a bank account, having their salary loaded on to it and managing bills online. So if you are looking for a prepaid card [http://www.speed-e-card.com], please visit us.