Pre-paid Visas

[paulbot24]

I purchased a pre-paid Visa the other day and I couldn't believe how much information I had to give them when I called to activate it. I would have ended the process but it was non-refundable! Street address, SS number, phone number, etc for an $80 card purchased at a grocery store? Are there any you can buy that are not as intrusive or are they all this way?

[Chester Copperpot]

I would like to know the answer to this as well.

[Steven Douglas]

You won't be able to get a card (from inside the US) that is reloadable and can hold more than $500. That is due to the money laundering requirements of the Patriot Act, which treats them as financial instruments, and requires issuers to collect information, including SSN.

For those wanting anonymity, but are forced to use debit/credit cards, like for online purchases, about the best you can do at this point is a Simon Gift Card [LINK]. They are debit cards that can be used anywhere, like any other debit/credit card. You can't reload them, but they can be purchased for amounts up to $500. Plus, they accept cash, and do NOT require a name, address, or SSN. Also, through their web interface, they allow you to connect the card to ANY name and address you want for any card, for those Merchants that do AVS checks.

Here's a good blog on the subject.

[Zippyjuan]

I don't like the idea that you have to pay money (the fees on such cards) to be able to spend your money.

[squarepusher]

I purchased a pre-paid Visa the other day and I couldn't believe how much information I had to give them when I called to activate it. I would have ended the process but it was non-refundable! Street address, SS number, phone number, etc for an $80 card purchased at a grocery store? Are there any you can buy that are not as intrusive or are they all this way?

prepaid Visa's are activated as soon as you purchase them. The registration is for other features of the card, possibly online shopping.

[MelissaWV]

prepaid Visa's are activated as soon as you purchase them. The registration is for other features of the card, possibly online shopping.

And often fraud prevention, or other things you would expect from a credit card.

I was wondering if it had somehow changed.

[psi2941]

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